Taveta Golden Weaver

Species: Taveta Golden Weaver
Habitat: Plains and Woods of Kenya and Tanzania
Status: Least Concern
DAK Locale: Pangani Forest Trail

The Taveta golden weavers are best known for their nest building. These are made by the males in an effort to attract females. The bigger and better the nest the male bird builds, the better chance he has at finding a mate. The birds have very strong claws and bills which allow them the create their masterpieces with reeds and grasses.

The weaver lives in colonies and often single trees will boost numerous nests. The Pangani Forest Trail has a great example of this. The males, like many other bird species, are more brightly colored. The golden feathers, however, are duller on the back, but this bird is still striking. Females are more olive colored. Both are about the size of a sparrow and the species are closely related to sparrows, as well.

Females lay 2 to 3 eggs in the nest. The female generally takes care of the young, being the primary feeder. Mostly, this species of bird eats seeds. They are found in the coastal regions of Tanzania and Kenya, living in swamps, brushlands and more forested areas.

Black Rhino

Species: Black Rhino
Habitat: African Savanna
Status: Critically Endangered
DAK Locale: Kilimanjaro Safari

So why are they called black rhinos? Well, white rhinos are called "white" due to a corruption of the word "wide," which describes its lip. Then to avoid confusion, they just called this species of rhino, black. The animals are similar in color. The white species, however, is about twice the size of the back kind.

Another difference between the two species of African rhino is, as noted, the lip. The wide lower top lip of the white species is replaced with a nimble hooked lip. This allows it pull up specific types of plants. Its known to eat over 200 species of vegetation. Typically, they feed in the early morning and late afternoon or early evening. The plants provide most of the moisture the animal needs, so it can go without drinking for days if it eats right.

Rhinos are notorious for having bad vision. Just looking at the animal you will notice how small its eyes are. This means the animal is quick to agitate even though it has excellent hearing and sense of smell. The black rhino is obviously fast, reaching speeds over 30 mph which makes it a dangerous animal in the savanna.

The black rhino is quite versatile, being found in many kinds of habitats including grasslands, semi-arid plains, dense brush and woodlands. However, it does prefer areas with a lot of cover to hide and eat. Historically, it was found throughout the lower half of the African continent. However, intense hunting pressures have splintered the population. In fact, it is thought that one subspecies. the western black rhino, is likely extinct. Unfortunately, the animal repopulates slowly giving birth only every two to five years. The total population is around 3,700 animals and as demand for the ivory of its horns continues to grow, the danger to all rhinos increases.

Saddle-billed Stork

Species: Saddle-billed Stork
Habitat: African tropical lowlands
Status: Least concern
DAK Locale: Tree of Life Trails

This large wading bird is common in sub-Saharan Africa. It is very distinct in appearance thanks to its tall stance and vibrant colors. The bill is bright red with a black center, i.e. the saddle. The wings are black, as well. And males look similar to females. As for being tall, it can reach a height of nearly 5 feet which makes it the tallest of storks.

Generally, the birds are quiet with the exception of some bill clacking around the nest. The nests themselves are large and kept in trees near water sources. They do not form colonies and are instead found alone or in pairs. Like most storks, it feeds primarily on fish and invertebrates. While in the water, they move slowly and deliberately.

They are also unusual looking in flight. It flies with its neck stretched out like most storks but the bill, being heavy is kept below the belly. Its large size and somewhat strange appearance has led to belief that this bird is the origin of legends of large thunderbirds.

Okapi

Species: Okapi
Habitat: Tropical Rain Forest of Central Africa
Status: Near Threatened
DAK Locale: Pangani Forest Trail, Kidani Village

The okapi is a confusing animal to the general public. They have white stripes on their front legs and hindquarters. This leads many to believe its related to the zebra, but it is not. Look closely at their heads and faces and you will see the resemblance to its closest relative, the giraffe. They also have a long, prehensile tongue used to pull leaves high in the forest. They also share this with the giraffe.

Okapis are difficult to find. In fact, they were one of the last animals discovered by western science, not being identified in scientific journals until the turn of the 20th century. Those zebra like legs and dark reddish upper torso are surprisingly difficult to spot in the thick Congo jungle. It makes for great camouflage in the broken sunlight. The reddish velvety fur is quite oily allowing the rainwater to slide off.

Okapi are solitary in nature. Males tend to keep other males out of their territories which can be up to 2.5 miles in area. The animals tend to be active in the late afternoon and evening. Females are slightly taller than males but the biggest difference to the animal watcher is that males have horns, although they are short and covered in fur. This is so the horns do not get entangled in the dense vegetation.

Okapi are near threatened, but the thick jungle, great camouflage, and political situation of the area makes it difficult to get a good idea on the status of the animal. However, it is estimated that there are 25,000 in the wild and they are not listed as endangered at this time.

Black Necked Swan

Species: Black necked swan
Habitat: lakes and marshes of South America
Status: Least Concern
DAK Locale: Discovery Island Trails

The black necked swan is both the smallest member of its genus as well as the largest waterfowl in South America. It is also the fastest, reaching flight speeds of 50 mph. It is common throughout the southern part of the continent including Patagonia and the Falkand Islands. In winter, it migrates north to the middle of the continent going only as far as southern Brazil.

The body plumage is basically white. The neck, of course, is black as are the head feathers. The bill is grayish. There is a large red knob on the bill, as well. The bird has a distinctive white stripe behind the eye. Both sexes are similar in appearance with the female being only slighty smaller. The cygnets are a light gray color. The pairs essentially mate for life and develop a territorial body of water.

The bird is relatively quiet, making few calls. Unlike many swans, the males will carry their young on their backs just as females do. Nests are built close to their territorial waters whether that's a lake, pond or swamp. It is basically a large mound of vegetation. The diet of the bird consists of aquatic vegetation, insects and fish spawn. They are excellent swimmers, the fastest of all swans. However, this is accomplished by having legs set farther back on their bodies, which unfortunately means they can barely walk on dry land.

Warthog

Species: Warthog
Habitat: African Plains
Status: Least Concern
DAK Locale: Kilimanjaro Safari

Warthogs are members of the wild pig family. They are found in the sub-Saharan grasslands of Africa. The name comes from the four large wart like protrusions on the top of their snout. These act a fat reserves and are used by males in fighting. They also have two pairs of tusks. These are used for digging, in defense, and fighting amongst themselves like the "warts."

The warthog is the only pig that has adapted to life on the plains. It eats grasses, roots, and berries as well as insects and carrion. The diet depends mostly on the climate. During the rainy season, they mostly graze. During leaner times of the year, the diet is much more "whatever they can find."

 Warthogs are common prey on the savanna. They are hunted by all the major predators: lions, hyena, wild dogs, leopards, cheetah and, of course, man. Females will defend their young against predators, even being known to give their own lives. However, the main method of defense is flight and the warthog is surprisingly fast. If cornered, the tusks are used as a last defense and can be very dangerous.

They live in groups called sounders and are very territorial. The groups are made up mostly of females with males living in territories they guard fiercely. The males have ranges that typically overlap several female sounders.

Warthogs are fairly numerous with estimated populations somewhere above 250,000. They are hunted for their tusks which are popular with the tourist trade. They are also susceptible to drought.

Nicobar Pigeon

Species: Nicobar Pigeon  
Habitat: Nicobar Islands
Status: Near Threatened
DAK Locale: Maharajah Jungle Trek  

This bird stands out in the aviary of the Maharajah Jungle Trek due to its metallic green and gray coloration. The tail on this large pigeon is nearly pure white and is seen clearly while the bird is in flight which may serve as a guide to keep flocks together while traveling. Females are only slightly smaller than the males. Females also have a smaller bill and browner underparts. Unlike many birds, the females are nearly as colorful as the males.

The bird's range includes the islands of Thailand and Myanmar as well as the Nicobar islands off the coast of India from where it got its name. They are also found on numerous island groups throughout the rest of Southeast Asia. The pigeon can be found in flocks going from island to island. Food includes seeds, fruits and grains. They do not shy away from human dominated areas.

The Nicobar pigeon is hunted for food locally. Also, the bird has a gizzard stone that grinds food for digestion. This stone is also sought after by poachers. It has suffered from the illegal pet trade, as well. However, most importantly, the bird is suffering from habitat loss. For nesting, it relies on offshore islets which are far from its natural predators. Unfortunately, these islets are being destroyed by the logging industry as well as being damaged from pollution.

Galapagos Tortoise

Species: Galapagos Tortoise
Habitat: Galapagos Islands
Status: Vulnerable  
DAK Locale: Discovery Island Trails

The Galapagos tortoise is one of the largest reptiles on Earth. In fact, it is the 10th heaviest and can grow to nearly 6 feet in length. It is also incredibly long lived, often surpassing 100 years of age. One captive animal lived to be over 170 years old.

There are several different subspecies of the animal spread over different islands. Also, shell shapes are different depending on whether the tortoise lives in dry or humid areas. These different shapes are called saddleback, which are found in the drier climate, and domed. There is also an intermediate type of shell.

The tortoise is ectothermic, or cold blooded, and will spend some hours warming up at dawn. After that, they will spend 8 to 10 hours foraging. They eat leaves, lichens, grasses and berries. They acquire most of the water they need through the vegetation they eat.  Females build nests by digging holes and will lay up to 16 eggs in the ground before covering it up. The temperature plays a role in determining whether males or females are born.

When westerners first discovered the islands in the late 1500s, there were approximately 250,000 tortoises. However, they became a staple food source and the population declined to just about 3,000 in the late 1970s. The animal is now protected and it is believed there are about 20,000 animals in the wild with a fairly healthy zoo population, as well.

Black and White Colobus Monkey

Species: Black and White Colobus monkey
Habitat: Congo Forest  
Status: Least Concern
DAK Locale: Pangani Forest

The black and white colobus monkeys are common throughout the African rain forest. They very rarely venture to the ground. In fact, it is possible some of them never set foot on the jungle floor throughout their entire lives. They do not need to even drink from rivers and ponds. Water collected in the leaves they eat is enough.

For the most, colobus monkeys eat leaves. However, they also eat fruits, flowers and even certain types of bark. Their stomachs are unusual in that they have two compartments. It is similar to ruminants (such as cows), kangaroos and sloths and is unique in the primate world.

These monkeys live in groups of three to fifteen individuals. Babies are born snow white in color. The groups are highly social calling out to one another in the forest as the thick vegetation can often block visual contact. Grooming is important like with most social primates.

Black and white colobus monkeys are not deemed endangered as a whole. However, locally some populations are due to the fur trade and deforestation.

Blue Crane

Species: Blue Crane
Habitat: Dry Grasslands of Southern Africa
Status: Vulnerable
DAK Locale: Kidani Village

The Blue crane is also known as the Stanley crane and is the national bird of South Africa. Among cranes, it is relatively small. It is also fairly obvious how it got its name. The bird is a light blue color which is darkest along the neck and back, where other areas are nearly white in coloration. Long wingtip feathers can touch the ground.

They generally live in dry upland areas that have access to wetlands. Feeding occurs almost exclusively in the drier areas of its range. Food is mostly insects but can include snails, frogs and small reptiles.  Of all the cranes, it is the most limited in distribution being found almost only in South Africa.

These birds are not overtly social. However, dominant males are at the top of the hierarchy. Males will dance to attract females, flinging objects and leaping into the air. Both males and females will incubate eggs, which usually number two in a clutch. The young are able to walk within two days and swim shortly thereafter.

It is believed there are about 26,000 birds left in the wild. It is no longer seen in parts of its historic range. The decline of the species is partly due to human hunting and habitat loss. It is currently listed as Vulnerable.