► The Official Animal Wildlife & Nature Thread (feel free to post pics, articles. vids, links, Youtube, Twitter, IG, etc)
How the tables turned. A group of cape buffalo toss a dead lioness around. Lions are the second largest big cat and one of the most formidable land predators on the planet. That being said, it takes teamwork and perseverance to single out and take down one of these buffalo. Subduing, killing and eating an animal that has 4 times the strength of an ox and are notorious for killing more hunters (human or otherwise) than any other African animal, using nothing but your claws, your wits and your face, is no small feat. And it doesn't always go the way you want it to.
African painted wolf carrying some fast food, the head of a departed Savannah hare. African hares can maintain their 45mph top speed for up to 20 minutes if need be. While that might be sufficient in evading the majority of their would-be predators, African wild dogs employ a hunting strategy that all but nullifies it. Hunting as a team, they'll simply take turns chasing their quarry until it can't run any more. They apply this to everything they hunt, including medium/large prey items. They can do this for over an hour, trading the lead back and forth until their lunch finally gives up. It is worth mentioning, that while they would eventually wear out an African hare, I feel like they are not big enough to waste that amount of time and energy chasing for that long. Then again, hunger makes for poor choices sometimes. Still, the coordination and absolute persistence of these incredible creatures makes them the most successful hunters in all of Africa.
Male lion with a Topi calf in is jaws. Young are often targeted by predators for a few very simple reasons: they are easy to kill and pose virtually no risk of injury as they are absolutely defenseless without the protection of the adults. That's not to say there's no risk at all, an errant hoof to the eye can be catastrophic to any hunter who relies on sight when selecting their prey. This is why lions will sometimes use pandemonium as a weapon by barreling at heards when they're altogether: the ensuing chaos will often create a few stragglers, thus making their selection of whose turn it is to die much easier. Larger animals that are injured during the ruckus are also on their radar, as these unfortunate souls will provide more food than several calves. It all depends on the outcome of the chaos they design.
Nile crocodile with a mouthful of zebra foal. Your average Nile crocodile consumes roughly 50 meals per year. While most of these beasts live in remote areas away from people, their large population dictates that human encounters are inevitable. And while solid statistics are hard to come by, it is estimated that approximately 200 people die each year in the jaws of a Nile crocodile. If you were to look at the world through their eyes, this might make a little more sense. In extreme circumstances, adult crocodiles are able to live off of their own stored up energy for over a year, meaning they can survive without a meal for at least that long.
The crocs that go long stretches without eating aren't on a new fad diet, trying to look their best for next year's mass migration, they are starving. Opportunistic in nature, they will take anything they can get, including a hapless villager that might be too close to the wrong rivers edge. Other elements contribute to these crocodile/human interactions, but one of the main ones seems to be the outside temperature. Crocodiles are cold-blooded, meaning they draw their energy and warmth from the sun - so the hotter it is, they more active they are. Inversely, when its cold they are lethargic and passive. So not only are they stalwart survivalists, they are also solar powered.
The crocs that go long stretches without eating aren't on a new fad diet, trying to look their best for next year's mass migration, they are starving. Opportunistic in nature, they will take anything they can get, including a hapless villager that might be too close to the wrong rivers edge. Other elements contribute to these crocodile/human interactions, but one of the main ones seems to be the outside temperature. Crocodiles are cold-blooded, meaning they draw their energy and warmth from the sun - so the hotter it is, they more active they are. Inversely, when its cold they are lethargic and passive. So not only are they stalwart survivalists, they are also solar powered.
Hungry black bear is caught stealing 17 pounds of honey
CCTV footage shows the giant animal eagerly reaching for the beehives secured in a barred cage before licking the sweet fluid off its paws. The incident occurred in China's Sichuan province.
Huge Shire horse becomes stable mates with Shetland pony HALF her size
Shona, a 28-year-old miniature Shetland pony is best friends with Anna, a six-year-old Shire horse twice her size. The unlikely duo who in Cheshire are the tallest and shortest residents at the stud farm.
Damn: Bull Kicks Dog For Not Leaving Him Alone!
Dog is okay.<br><br /> Posted By PSmooth
Around 200 'murder hornets' will be 'extracted alive and killed'
The Washington State Department of Agriculture wiped out the nest Saturday to protect native honeybees, marking the first successful attempt to locate and remove a nest on US soil.
Huge spider thought extinct in Britain discovered on MoD training site | Spiders | The Guardian
Described as ‘gorgeous’ by the man who found it, the great fox-spider has not been seen since 1999
Huge spider thought extinct in Britain discovered on MoD training site | Spiders | The Guardian
Described as ‘gorgeous’ by the man who found it, the great fox-spider has not been seen since 1999amp.theguardian.com
Great Fox: Endangered British spider seen for first time in 27 years
The specimens of the Great Fox (alopecosa fabrilis) were found on a Ministry of Defence training area in Surrey by Mike Waite, spider enthusiast at Surrey Wildlife Trust.
Rare Great Fox-Spider Discovered In UK For The First Time Since 1990s
Cuddly little thing, isn't it?
Great fox-spider spotted for first time in 25 years in Surrey
The rare spider has not been seen since the early 1990s.
Black-headed ibis completing her Halloween look (or trying to eat a snake that simply will not go down easy, whichever works for you)
Spotted hyena holding the heart of a Topi in its mouth, proving once and for all that valentines day is any day you want it to be. Spotted hyenas have exceptionally powerful jaws, the force of their bite has been measured at 1100psi (pounds per square inch). Their bite force is strong enough that crushing up the bones of their prey and eating them is not out of the question. For comparison, their eternal enemies (lions) have a bite force of only 650psi, and with the exception of the cheetah (450psi) they have the weakest bite of all big cats.
Two cheetahs turn a springbok into Laffy Taffy
* backstreet sings chorus: " let me see you toss it uuuuppppp!!!"How the tables turned. A group of cape buffalo toss a dead lioness around. Lions are the second largest big cat and one of the most formidable land predators on the planet. That being said, it takes teamwork and perseverance to single out and take down one of these buffalo. Subduing, killing and eating an animal that has 4 times the strength of an ox and are notorious for killing more hunters (human or otherwise) than any other African animal, using nothing but your claws, your wits and your face, is no small feat. And it doesn't always go the way you want it to.
Florida man catches whopping 13ft-long, 1,000-pound alligator
Florida fisherman Corey Capps caught a massive 13ft-long, 1,008 pound alligator in Blountstown, Florida that he claims 'stalked him' for years in Blountstown.
Dead shark found on Libyan beach with 11
A dead 14-foot-long thresher shark was found on a beach in Libya that was killed by a swordfish. Scientists pulled an 11-inch rostrum from the shark's back that had punctured its heart.
Magpies trained to exchange bottle caps for food
A computer scientist trained magpies to collect bottle caps and drop them into a birdbox in exchange for food. The feeder includes a computer and sensors to detect when caps are placed in a hole.
Whale Damn Near Swallows Kayakers in California's Avila Beach
A whale nearly swallowed 2 kayakers in California and it was all caught on video
www.tmz.com
Pod of Dolphins Glows Blue in Bioluminescent Waves, Really Cool Video
A pod of dolphins glowed as they glided through bioluminescent waves in Newport Beach.
www.tmz.com
Sperm Whale Caught in Fishing Net Freed by Divers, Up-Close POV
Italian divers rescued a sperm whale trapped in a giant fishing net off the coast of Lipari.
www.tmz.com
Caught On Ring: Amazon Delivery Driver Gets Attacked By Dog... Screams For Help!
Submitted by Ceetserrant<br /><br>Posted by Thrillz<br>
Duckbilled dinosaur unearthed in Morocco crossed oceans to get there
Paleontologists from the University of Bath and others found the fossilised remains of the unusual dinosaur, dubbed Ajnabia odysseus, in rocks in Morocco.
Two new species of marsupials discovered in Australia
Australian researchers have identified two new mammals in the Land Down Under — both cousins of the doe-eyed flying marsupials known as greater gliders, according to a report.
nypost.com
Here's The Genius Trick USDA Is Using to Infiltrate Nests of Giant 'Murder' Hornets
The successful eradication of the first nest of Asian giant hornets ever discovered in the US made headlines last week, and now scientists have shared new details on the technology and techniques they're using to counter the encroaching menace of this invasive pest.
www.sciencealert.com
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