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Hippopotamus
This photo was taken from the Bar Deck at Mkuze Falls.
Hippos can weigh up to two tons and
consume up to 40 kg each day. Being semi-aquatic, these
animals can stay under water for up to six minutes. Maybe the hippos on
the photo were practising scrumming
tactics to support the South African Rugby
Team!
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Giraffe and Baby
A single
calf, averaging 100 kg, is dropped after a gestation period of
about 14.5 months. This newly born calf can stand and walk within
an hour of birth, but will remain isolated for about one to two
weeks. Giraffes can eat up to 60 kg of food per day and run up to
60 km per hour
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Tawny Eagle
(Aquila
rapax)
This is a medium to
large eagle and is quite common is most game reserves. They
normally prey on small mammals ( up to the size of hares),birds,
reptiles, amphibians, fishes, insects and carrion. On this photo
it is seen with a Rock Monitor that it had killed..
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Spotted Hyena (Crocuta
crocuta)
Most people see this sixty to eighty
kilogram animal as a slowly scavanger, but contrary to this popular
believe the Hyena is in fact a very skilled hunter. Although they
prey on animals like antelope, buffalo, zebra and ungulates, they
are not above driving other predators, such as lions, from their
kills. In this picture is one of four hyenas that were recently
brought in to supplement our population.
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Death's Head Hawk
Moth(Acherontia atropos)
The larvae of the death's head hawk
moth are normally found in most natural and urban habitats where it
feeds on plant matter like cotton, Lantana, Cannabis and
vegetables like patato and tomato. The adult moth preys on beehives.
It can make a squeak sound through its proboscis that sounds like
the queen bee. By doing this it immobilizes the worker bees and thus
safeguards itself from any attack.
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