26 May 2021
Earth Mazing
- The “Tree of Life” baobab or reniala is a prehistoric species dated back to over 200 million years ago. Reniala means “mother of the forest” in Malagasy.
- This is the sacred Tsitakakantsa, (Adansonia Grandidieri), the largest baobab in Madagascar with a girth of 28.88 m recorded in May 2018.
- These gigantic and ancient trees are extremely useful to mankind due to just about anything on it can be used – from its edible and nutritious use, to its amazing use in healthy cosmetic products. It is also named 'the Tree of Life' due to its value in saving much human life and wildlife, particularly in Africa's hot and dry season. They are native to Africa, Madagascar and Australia and have been introduced to other countries and can live up to 6,000 years.
- Unfortunately, the mighty baobab is a threatened species and nothing is like them, so we can't have another fill its void. This magical tree is greatly threatened by climate change.
Photo: zhihu.com
Some great news!
This enormous continent is home to many fantastic wild animals and the two we identify with the most, or most iconic, most popular. Well... 'most' of everything, is the lion and then the elephant. I have much to say about the prey animal – the elephant, but this post is about Africa's two top predators – The African lion and the largely ignored, Spotted hyena – Africa's two top predators. I am, however, focussing and highlighting that phenomenal intelligent fighter that is unfortunately greatly underestimated – the spotted hyena. They are and will always be Africa's greatest warrior. The first clear sign is that they are born into brutality and only the strongest will survive. Spotted hyena cubs are born with eyes open and already armed with teeth. The reason for that is that they have to fight for their survival from the moment they are born. The mother only has two teats and sometimes three cubs are born – not the usual amount, one or two. Competition for food is fierce and to survive the cubs have to fight from the moment they are born. Even if there are only two cubs born – the competition for food never fades and this they carry forth to adulthood – and in the end only one or more rarely, only two cubs will remain if there were three (an example).
It is considered that the female trapdoor spider builds the most protected hole/tunnel out there.
An owl is not the only animal with enormous eyes and can turn its neck, effortlessly, 180 degrees.
A baby Aardvark is called a cub or a calf. Although the name means 'earth pig' in Afrikaans – the baby is not called a piglet.
I honestly find them the most interesting, loveable and admired insect on the planet. There is always something about bees, besides intelligent, social behaviour, that moves them forward – not one, but more than one wrung up the ladder of fascination.
The harmless pangolin (native to Africa and Asia) is an extremely peaceful animal and incredibly unique as it is the only living mammal to be covered with scales.
Some of us tend to believe that a platypus (a monotreme – mammals that lay eggs) its eyes remain open as it swims through water. Nope.
Due to mankind's involvement, they are no longer kings, except in the minds of a few. The mighty is now reduced to 'vulnerable to extinction' and found in threatened and small, scattered populations over the continent as most of their original hunting grounds have been turned into agricultural lands (one reason, but a big one). The highest, but greatly threatened, wild lion populations are found in southern Africa.
Awful and shocking photo, I know, but please read further:
