Africa - Through the Eyes of Carlos Lopes

Africa

Through the Eyes of Carlos Lopes

Giraffe

This one was taken in the Pilanesberg. I was surprised how close it came to the 4x4 window and couldn't resist pressing the shutter. World's tallest land animal, browses with no other competitor, the top canopies of trees. With a 45cm tongue, delicately picks the minutest of green from within the thorn riddled branches of Acacias. The long neck with seven vertebrae, like other mammals, has to be lowered to reach water at rivers and waterholes. To compensate for the sudden increase of blood pressure when lowering the heads, giraffes have extremely elastic blood vessels and special valves in the veins of the neck to control the sudden rush of blood to the head; it would lose consciousness otherwise. Most photogenic animal.

Wild Dog

I remember this one clearly, especially for two reasons: the dog was drenched and I was drenched too! This carnivore also known as 'the painted dog', was classified as vermin to be shot on sight, not so long ago. Shooting it, and the fact that it is an exceptionally sociable animal - always licking one another within the pack, thus enabling the transmission of rabies, distemper from member to member - was behind the reason for the decrease in numbers throughout Africa - save for closed up areas such as Selous Game Reserve. Wild dogs run their prey, which includes the larger antelope like the Kudu. Tired, they virtually start eating it whilst alive (though in shock) - for a most terrible sight. They regurgitate chunks of meat when back at the den to feed their young.

Ground Hornbill

The envy of women when it comes to eyelashes. One of the big six of birds and a rarity. The male has a bigger and redder pouch, which I think must play an important role in attracting females for mating. Inhabiting grasslands and forests, this strange looking bird has disappeared from it's former range due to human encroachment and poisoning. Branded as 'carnivorous' at times, as it relishes small tortoises, actually managing to pluck these from the shell; also eats fruits and insects. They are known to live for some 60 years and are great walkers, seldom seen flying. I've seen these birds attacking their own image on a mirror... a first for me, indeed.