This Pacific Imperial-pigeon (Ducula pacifica) was photographed eating palm fruit on Rarotonga island within the Cook Islands.
This pigeon is 36–41 cm (14–16 in) in overall length and weighs 370–420 g (13–15 oz).
The back, tail and wings are blackish-green, the head and neck are light grey. The breast is grey with a pinkish tinge.
The under-tail coverts are brown. The bill is black with a knob on the upper mantle. The iris is red. The female is slightly smaller.
This juvenile lacks the knob on the bill, is duller and lacks the pink on the breast.
File: zR23H8788
Tags: Rarotonga Raro Cook islands pigeon bird Pacific
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As seen here behind the Elephant's eye, Musth is characterised by the secretion of a hormone rich substance called temporin from the temporal gland (on either side of the elephant’s head).
Musth involves a rise in the reproductive hormones in the Bull Elephant’s body. This causes the animal to feel more restless, energetic, aggressive or unpredictable – and generally irritable and oversensitive to sounds and movements. Musth is seen in healthy adult Bull Elephants.
In the wild, female elephants live in herds, and form strongly bonded family units. Males only remain in the herd while they are young, and eventually leave to become solitary animals.
Photographed in Kruger National Park in Timbavati South Africa.
Ref: wildlifesos.org/animals
File: z19TS1713
Tags: Timbavati Elephant Kruger Africa South Africa
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Nyala, (Tragelaphus angasii), slender antelope of southeastern Africa, the Nyala is notable for its extreme gender differences (sexual dimorphism) and specialized habitat preferences that limit its distribution to the Lowveld of southern Africa.
Females and young sport short, bright chestnut coats with 8–13 white stripes on the torso, spots and bands on the legs, chest, and cheeks, and a bushy tail with a white underside. Females have a shoulder height of 92 cm (36 inches). Males are much larger, standing 106 cm (42 inches) tall.
Photographed in Kruger National Park, South Africa.
Ref: www.britannica.com
File: zx-19B0259
Tags: Antelope Kruger South Africa Timbavati AFRICA
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Impala developed from an alcelaphine ancestor and has continued in its basic form for at least five million years.
Impala are the only species to feature the black metatarsal glands above the hoof of the hind legs. These glands release scent trails as the animal runs, enabling lost individuals to regroup after a scare, particularly useful at night.
Impala can run at speeds faster than 60km/h and can leap 10m in length and 3m in height.
Photographed in Timbavati Private Nature Reserve on the western boundary of the Kruger National Park, South Africa. Our guides told us they could not promise we would see all that we hoped to see but we would definitely see Impala. They are the most prolific antelope in Kruger.
Ref: z19TS0885 - (2)
Tags: Kruger National Park Timbavati South Africa AFRICA
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In Explore ... Southern African Leopard (Panthera pardus). With my camera on silent this animal actually heard me press the shutter and instantly turned to focus on me. We got lucky and spotted this young male at rest around midday at Timbavati Private Nature Reserve on the western boundary of the Kruger National Park, South Africa.
There are nine subspecies and are distinguished by the unique characteristics of their coats, which range from tawny or light yellow in warm, dry habitats to reddish-orange in dense forests. Their coat is covered in dark, irregular spots called rosettes. These spots are circular in east African leopards, but square in southern African leopards which is the case with this leopard (best observed on the flanks).
"Although difficult to spot on safari, leopard numbers are said to be higher than any other big cat species in Africa. Leopards can be found in a variety of habitats ranging from desert to equatorial forests, high mountains to coastal regions, although they prefer woodlands or grasslands. Leopards have also been spotted on the outskirts of large cities like Harare, Johannesburg and Nairobi. "
Ref: www.awf.org/wildlife
Ref: www.kingscamp.com
File: z19TS0418
Tags: Leopard Cat Africa South Africa Timbavati Kruger Explore
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