Great Argus Pheasant

Species: Great Argus Pheasant
Habitat: Malaysian Forest
DAK Locale: Maharajah Jungle Trek
Status: Near Threatened

Not as brilliantly colored as some other pheasants, this large ground bird is mostly dark brown with the males having light blue heads, The one pictured below is a female. The males make up for its lack of color with tremendous displays in an attempt to attract females. Loud calls are accompanied by fan-like feathers that appear to have numerous eyes.

The bird is now listed as near threatened. Habitat destruction of its forest home is a major conservation for the bird. Also, locally it has been hunted for food and for its feathers. 

By Safari Mike

Northern Pintail Duck

Species: Northern Pintail
Habitat: Open wetlands of North America, Europe and Asia
DAK Locale: Oasis
Status: Least Concern

This ducks species is quite widespread being found throughout the northern half of the globe. It is migratory, flying south to the equator for breeding season. In some areas the population is in decline, but overall it is estimated that there are at least 5 million pintails across its range.

It will live near open wetlands and will nest on the ground, although some distance from the water. Nests are frequently preyed upon by foxes and raccoons. It is a dabbling duck, feeding mostly on aquatic plants. It does have a longer neck than other dabblers, allowing it to feed a bit lower in the water than most.

Naked Mole Rat

Species: Naked mole rat
Habitat: African underground
DAK Locale: Pangani Forest
Conservation: Least Concern

Underneath the arid grasslands of Eastern Africa lives a very remarkable animal, the naked mole rat. It is incredibly adapted to live in the tunnels they call home. Their eyes are small leaving them virtually blind. Their legs are also small being built to move quickly through tunnels both forward and backward. They have very small lungs and their blood is rich in oxygen which helps them breathe in their limited oxygen homes.

They also do not regulate their body temperatures like other mammals. Their body temperatures are influenced by the environment unlike other "warm blooded" mammals. They will huddle together in tunnels to warm up and if their temperature gets too high, they will retreat to the colder, deeper tunnels.

For its size, the naked mole rat lives an incredibly long time, up to 30 years. They are also apparently virtually immune to cancers.

Perhaps the most unusual characteristic is the social structure which resembles those of ants and termites. There is a queen as well as one to three breeding males in every group. There are workers, who are sterile. When the queen dies, a worker female becomes sexually active. All naked mole rats are involved with the care of the young born to the queen.

Spider Tortoise

Species: Spider Tortoise
Habitat: Coast of Madagascar
DAK Locale: Pangani Forest
Conservation: Critically Endangered 

We have mentioned on the show how bad things are in Madagascar as a whole. Well over 90% of the land animals (such as reptiles) are endemic to the island. That is, they are found nowhere else in the world. When that fact is combined with the fact that the island nation is one of the 10 poorest nations in the world and habitat is being destroyed at an alarming rate, things are critical for many of the species such as this small tortoise.

The animal is named after the spider web like pattern on the male's shell. In fact, it has become a popular victim of the illegal pet trade as many are captured and sold as such. It is critically endangered.

In the wild, it lives in the sandy coastal areas of Madagascar where they live mostly on vegetation. 

Eld's Deer

Species: Eld's Deer
Habitat: Forests of SE Asia
Status: Endangered
DAK Locale: Maharajah Jungle Trek

The Eld's deer is an endangered species located in Asia with three different subspecies found in India, Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Vietnam and China. It is also sometimes called the thamin or the brow-antlered deer.

The Eld's Deer has been at the Animal Kingdom since the Jungle Trek opened in 1999, like this male

The species is generally found alone or in pairs. However, during mating season, a bull male will try to create a harem of several breeding females. He will spend a large portion of the time attempting to fight off rivals for his females. There is usually a single calf born which like many other types of deer have spots as camouflage for the broken light of the forest floor.

They are endangered. As a large deer species with impressive antlers, they are a popular game prize. They are also a favored prey for local hunters. In times of war, they would be slaughtered in mass to feed armies. In many areas, there is very little suitable habitat left thanks to deforestation.

By Safari Mike

Kigelia

Species: Kigelia
Habitat: Tropical Africa
Status: Not Endangered
DAK Locale: Harambe Village

The Kigelia is more popularly referred to as the sausage tree. It is named as such for obvious reasons as it has fruit that grows as a peduncle, hanging down from the leaves. They look much like sausages hanging from the branches. In some areas, it is also referred to as the cucumber tree for the same reasons.

It is an unusual plant as it is the only species in its genus. However, it is fairly widespread throughout its home continent from Chad in the Sahara all the way to South Africa.

It can grow to be 20 meters in height. The fruit is a type of berry that is commonly eaten by many species like monkeys, bush pigs, giraffe, elephants and hippos. The fruit is also used by local people as a medicine for all types of ailments from syphilis to snake bites to evil spirits. It is also used to make beer and is found in some skin care products.

By Safari Mike

Sarus Crane

Species: Sarus Crane
Habitat: Wetlands of India, SE Asia, Australia
Status: Vulnerable
DAK Locale: Maharajah Jungle Trek

This species of crane is nonmigratory although it will move short distances during the rainy and dry seasons. It is the tallest flying bird with some specimens measuring in at nearly 6 feet tall. Its generally grayish color is in stark contrast to the bright red feathers found on its head.

In India, this bird is the symbol of marriage. It is believed in myth that these birds mate for life and will actually starve themselves to death if they lose their partner. The latter is not really true, however. And frankly neither is the former in all circumstances (although many do mate for life). Nevertheless, the bird is revered and in the Hindu culture, eating the meat of the crane is taboo. In India they are sacred and left alone, and often the birds feel not threatened by man.

The sarus is known for its loud trumpeting calls which are often used in courtship. The male dances in order to attract a mate. Dancing is also used when the bird feels the young or nest are endangered as a way to distract would be predators.

The bird is officially listed as Vulnerable. However, it is locally extinct in Malaysia, Thailand and the Philippines. The biggest threat to the bird is the conversion of their wetlands to farms. Many farmers believe the species is damaging to rice fields. The species is in greater danger in Southeast Asia. The populations in India and Australia, while down from historical records, are stable.

By Safari Mike

Bongo

Species: Bongo
Habitat: Dense Forest of Africa
Status: Near Threatened
DAK Locale: Kilimanjaro Safari

Many of us know the safari driver line about the "ghost of the forest," that is the bongo. It is called that due to its ability to blend into the broken light and foliage of the jungle. The chestnut brown fur and white stripes are deceptively good camouflage. Adding to its mystery is the fact that is mostly nocturnal (a trait generally not true for its savanna brethren). Also, it is one of the largest of Africa's antelopes and certainly one of its most beautiful.

The bongo lives in the densest jungles of Africa. There, it eats mostly leaves, grasses and roots as well the occasional fruit. It has a long prehensile tongue that it uses to pull up grass and pull off leaves. It will also eat the burnt bark of trees scorched by lightning, a behavior it shares with okapi. It is believed these animals do this to obtain otherwise hard to come by minerals.

This antelope species is currently listed as Near Threatened and estimates put the total population at around 28,000. Habitat destruction being the biggest culprit in the animal's decline, although its beautiful coat makes it a favorite poacher's target. It is part of the SSP program throughout North American zoos.

By Safari Mike

Spiny Devil Walkingstick

Species: Spiny Devil Walkingstick
Habitat: Papua New Guinea, New Caledonia and the Solomon Islands
Status: Not Listed
DAK Locale: Rafiki's Planet Watch

There is little doubt as to how this huge insect got its name. It lives in the forests of the some of the islands of Australasia and due its camouflage can be quite difficult to spot. But its so large (sometimes as much as 15 cm) it is often called the New Guinean land lobster. The legs are used by local fisherman as hooks.

Like all stick insects, these guys are vegetarians eating leaves and the like. They have very strong mandibles for pulling apart vegetation. They mostly feed at night using the protection of their camouflage during the day. They will form groups and will even migrate from foraging area to foraging area, an unusual behavior for this family of insects.

They are not listed by the IUCN, however there are some dangers to this species. Most importantly is of course, habitat destruction as the native forests of the area are its home. It is also commonly taken as a pet.

By Safari Mike

White Stork

Species: White Stork
Habitat: The Old World
Status: Least Concern
DAK Locale: Tree of Life Gardens

On a hidden path behind the Tree of Life, one can find these graceful birds living along the Discovery river. They are nearly a global species being found throughout the old world. It is a long distance migrant, breeding in Europe (all the way to Finland), northern Africa and Southwestern Asia, while wintering in Sub-Saharan Africa and the Indian subcontinent. When traveling from Europe though, it detours around the Mediterranean sea, over the straights of Gibraltar.

Like all storks, it has a long beak, neck and legs, to help catch its food, insects, reptiles and amphibians. They are quite social, with sometimes thousands making up a flock in migration. Although the social structure is loose, there is behavior like allopreening that helps maintain bonds, They also make a noise called bill clattering that sounds like a machine gun and is made with a rapid clicking of the bill amplified by a throat pouch.

In the 1980s, this bird was considered Near Threatened but it is now classified as of Least Concern. Due to its widespread distribution, it is the focus of many cultural stories. Not the least of which is the belief in European folklore that storks delivered newborns. German folklore had storks finding babies in caves only to bring them to deserving parents. Slavic folklore held that storks carried unborn souls to Earth. Because one stop on migration routes was Mecca, the bird is revered in Islamic cultures. In Ancient Egypt, the bird was associated with the hieroglyph for soul. Also, this one species is focus of at least three Aesop fables.