1-6-2019 LINYANTI, BOTSWANA - SOUTHERN DARK CAPPED BULBUL (Pycnonotus barbatus ssp. layardi)

The "southern dark-capped bulbul" is likely referring to the Dark-capped Bulbul (\(<<!nav>>Pycnonotustricolor<<!/nav>>\)), a common bird in southern Africa that has a dark head, a grayish-brown body, and white or yellow underparts depending on its range. 

These omnivorous birds are known for their noisy calls and are frequently found in gardens, parks, and plantations alongside their diet of fruit, insects, and nectar. 

Identification Plumage: Grayish-brown upperparts and breast, with a dark brown to blackish head.

The underparts are whitish, but can be yellowish in the southern part of its range.Underparts: Has a bright yellow vent.Size: Medium-sized, around 20 cm in length.Other features: A peaked crown on the head, with black eyes and bill. Habitat and behavior Habitat: Common in various habitats with fruit trees and bushes, including urban gardens, parks, and plantations.Social structure: Usually seen in pairs or small groups, and they become territorial during the breeding season.

Vocalization: Known for noisy, repetitive, and powerful songs, as well as harsh chattering calls. Diet Omnivorous: Eats a varied diet of fruit, insects, and other invertebrates.

Nectar: Feeds on nectar and plays a role as a pollinator at certain times of the year. Reproduction Nesting: Mates are monogamous, and the female builds a cup-shaped nest in dense foliage using materials like grass and twigs.

Eggs: Lays two to three eggs that are incubated for approximately 15 days.

2-6-2019 LINYANTI, BOTSWANA - AFRICAN FISH EAGLE (Haliaeetus vocifer)

The African fish eagle (Haliaeetus vocifer) or the African sea eagle, is a large species of eagle found throughout sub-Saharan Africa wherever large bodies of open water with an abundant food supply occur. It is the national bird of Malawi, Namibia, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. As a result of its large range, it is known in many languages. Examples of names include: Vis Arend in Afrikaans, nkwazi in Chewa, aigle pêcheur in French, hungwe in Shona, inkwazi in isiZulu, and ntšhu (pronounced "ntjhu") in Northern Sotho. 

This species may resemble the bald eagle in appearance; though related, the two species occurs on different continents, with the bald eagle being resident in North America.

2-6-2019 LINYANTI, BOTSWANA - AFRICAN OPENBILL (Anastomus lamelligerus)

The African openbill, Anastomus lamelligerus, is a medium-sized stork with a distinctive bill that is adapted to its diet. Adults measure between 80–94 cm in length and weigh 1–1.3 kg. The species shows little sexual dimorphism, though males are marginally larger with a more substantial bill. The adult's bill, brownish and measuring 135–196 mm, features a notable gap between the upper and lower mandibles, which is absent in juveniles but develops with age. The plumage of adults is predominantly black with a shimmering green sheen on their backs, coverts, and abdomens, while juveniles display a duller, browner coloration with paler tips on their underparts. Legs and feet are black, and the eyes are grey without distinct eye-ring coloration.

When identifying the African openbill, look for the unique gap between the mandibles of the bill, which only meet at the tip. The iridescent green feathers on the back and the overall black plumage are also key characteristics. Juveniles are less vibrant and have brownish plumage with pale-tipped underparts.

The African openbill is typically found in freshwater wetlands with nearby tall trees or shrubs for nesting. They inhabit environments where their preferred mollusc prey is abundant.

This stork is widely distributed across Sub-Saharan Africa and western Madagascar. It has a patchy distribution but is considered common to locally abundant within its range.

The African openbill is an agile flier, capable of performing steep dives and acrobatic maneuvers. It can be seen foraging in shallow waters, often standing on the backs of hippopotamuses to access snails dislodged by the mammals. In flight, the neck and head are extended, and the broad wings are adept at soaring and gliding on air currents.

ften accompanied by bill clatters, a common trait among Ciconiidae. The African openbill also emits croaks and honks loudly.

Breeding seasons vary with location, timed to coincide with the emergence of snails. African openbills form monogamous pairs and nest in colonies, which can be mixed with other waterbirds. The nests are constructed in tall trees, and both parents share in the incubation and care of the young.

The closest relative to the African openbill is the Asian openbill (Anastomus oscitans), which shares the large and peculiarly shaped bill.

The African openbill's diet is specialized, consisting primarily of aquatic snails and occasionally freshwater mussels, frogs, crabs, fish, worms, and large insects. They forage by wading in shallow water, using their bills to grasp and carry prey to shore for consumption. The species is adept at extracting mollusc meat without breaking the shells.

The IUCN lists the African openbill as Least Concern. While the species is not currently threatened, its large size and low reproductive success mean that habitat changes could significantly impact populations.

5-7-2019 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - HOUSE SPARROW (MALE) (Passer domesticus)

The house sparrow (Passer domesticus) is a member of the sparrow family Passeridae. This small bird typically measures around 16 cm (6.3 in) in length and weighs between 24–39.5 g (0.85–1.39 oz). The species exhibits sexual dimorphism, with females and young birds displaying pale brown and grey plumage, while males are characterized by more vibrant black, white, and brown markings.

Males can be identified by their bright black, white, and brown markings, with a distinctive black bib, white cheeks, and a grey crown. Females lack the striking head patterns of males and are predominantly buffish with softer coloration. Juveniles resemble adult females but are generally paler with less defined markings.

The house sparrow is highly adaptable and can thrive in both urban and rural environments. It is commonly found in close association with human habitation and avoids dense forests, grasslands, polar regions, and deserts far from human development.

Native to Europe, the Mediterranean Basin, and much of Asia, the house sparrow has been introduced to various regions worldwide, including parts of Australasia, Africa, and the Americas, making it one of the most widely distributed wild birds.

5-7-2019 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - SPECKLED WOOD BUTTERFLY (Pararge aegeria)

The speckled wood (Pararge aegeria) is a butterfly found in and on the borders of woodland areas throughout much of the Palearctic realm. The species is subdivided into multiple subspecies, including Pararge aegeria aegeria, Pararge aegeria tircis, Pararge aegeria oblita, and Pararge aegeria insula. The color of this butterfly varies between subspecies. The existence of these subspecies is due to variation in morphology down a gradient corresponding to a geographic cline.

The background of the wings ranges from brown to orange, and the spots are either pale yellow, white, cream, or a tawny orange. The speckled wood feeds on a variety of grass species. The males of this species exhibit two types of mate locating behaviors: territorial defense and patrolling. The proportion of males exhibiting these two strategies changes based on ecological conditions. The monandrous female must choose which type of male can help her reproduce successfully. Her decision is heavily influenced by environmental conditions.

The average wingspan of both males and females is 5.1 cm (2 in), although males tend to be slightly smaller than females. Furthermore, males possess a row of grayish-brown scent scales on their forewings that is absent in the females. Females have brighter and more distinct markings than males. The subspecies P. a. tircis is brown with pale yellow or cream spots and darker upperwing eyespots. The subspecies P. a. aegeria has a more orange background and the hindwing underside eyespots are reddish brown rather than black or dark gray. 

The two forms gradually intergrade into each other. Subspecies P. a. oblita is a darker brown, often approaching black with white rather than cream spots. The underside of its hindwings has a marginal pale purple band and a row of conspicuous white spots. The spots of subspecies P. a. insula are a tawny orange rather than a cream color. The underside of the forewings has patches of pale orange, and the underside of the hindwing has a purple-tinged band. Although there is considerable variation with each subspecies, identification of the different subspecies is manageable.

2-6-2019 LINYANTI, BOTSWANA - CAPE BUFFALO (Syncerus caffer caffer)

The African buffalo (Syncerus caffer) is a large species of true buffalo native to Sub-Saharan Africa, where it is found in a number of disjoint ranges stretching from Senegal south-eastern Senegal through West and Central Africa to South Africa. The adult African buffalo's horns are its characteristic feature: they have fused bases that form a continuous bone shield, referred to as a "boss", across the top of the head. The African buffalo is more closely related to Asian buffalo (Bubalus) species than it is to other bovids such as American bison or domestic cattle. Its unpredictable temperament may be part of the reason that the African buffalo has never been domesticated and has no domesticated descendants, unlike the wild yak and wild water buffalo, which are the ancestors of the domestic yak and water buffalo, respectively. Natural predators of adult African buffaloes include lions, African wild dogs, spotted hyenas, and Nile crocodiles. As one of the Big Five game animals, the Cape buffalo (Syncerus caffer caffer), the largest subspecies native to eastern and southern Africas, is a sought-after trophy in hunting.

The African buffalo is a very robust species. Its shoulder height can range from 1.0 to 1.7 m (3.3 to 5.6 ft) and its head-and-body length can range from 1.7 to 3.4 m (5.6 to 11.2 ft). The tail can range from 70 to 110 cm (28 to 43 in) long.[4] Compared with other large bovids, it has a long but stocky body (the body length can exceed that of the wild water buffalo, which is heavier and taller) and short but thickset legs, resulting in a relatively short standing height. Cape buffaloes weigh 425 to 870 kg (937 to 1,918 lb) (males weigh about 100 kg (220 lb) more than females). In comparison, African forest buffaloes, at 250 to 450 kg (600 to 1,000 lb), are only half that size.[6] Its head is carried low; its top is located below the backline. The front hooves of the buffalo are wider than the rear, which is associated with the need to support the weight of the front part of the body, which is heavier and more powerful than the back.

Savannah-type buffaloes have black or dark brown coats with age. Old bulls often have whitish circles around their eyes and on their face. Females tend to have more reddish coats. Forest-type buffaloes are 30–40% smaller, reddish brown in colour, with much more hair growth around the ears and with horns that curve back and slightly up. Calves of both types have red coats.

A characteristic feature of the horns of adult male African buffalo (southern and eastern populations) is that the bases come very close together, forming a shield referred to as a "boss". From the base, the horns diverge downwards, then smoothly curve upwards and outwards and in some cases inwards and or backwards. In large bulls, the distance between the ends of the horns can reach upwards of one metre (the record being 64.5 inches 164 cm).

The horns form fully when the animal reaches the age of 5 or 6 years old, but the bosses do not become "hard" until it reaches the age of 8 to 9 years old. In cows, the horns are, on average, 10–20% smaller, and they do not have a boss. Forest-type buffalo horns are smaller than those of the savanna-type buffaloes from Southern and East Africa, usually measuring less than 40 cm (16 in), and are almost never fused.

Unlike other large bovines, African buffalo have 52 chromosomes (for comparison, American bison and domestic cattle have 60). This means domestic cattle and bison are unable to create hybrid offspring with cape buffalo.

There are five subspecies of buffalo in Africa: Cape buffalo, Congo buffalo, Sudan buffalo, Nile buffalo and Virunga buffalo. The subspecies found at Kariega Game Reserve is the Cape buffalo, which is the largest of all the buffalo subspecies.

A cow or female Cape buffalo can weigh up to 530 kg (1168 lbs) and a bull can reach up to 830 kg (1830 lbs).

Buffaloes prefer the stay in large groups. The collective term for a group of buffalo is called a herd but can also be called a gang, troop or an obstinacy.

Buffalo calves suckle from between the back legs of their mothers. This is an adaptation to help make feeding easier for the calf as their mother, and the rest of the herd, is on the move all the time.

The Cape buffalo is sometimes referred to as the mafia of the bush. They have the tendency to take revenge when messed with and have been known to circle back, stalk and attack or kill hunters. Talk about the hunter becoming the hunted!

You can distinguish between adult males and females by looking at their horns. If the base of their two horns come together and form a solid structure (called a boss) then it is a male. The horns of an adult buffalo cow don't touch. When male Cape buffaloes fight they use their horns and their massive muscular bodies to administer heavy blows to their opponents.

Buffalo are excellent swimmers and won't hesitate to cross a river to escape a predator or to reach new grazing lands.

A buffalo has a four-chambered stomach. They are called bulk feeders as they need to eat a large amount of grass to sustain their body size. They also need to drink about 40 litres of water per day to keep their digestive system operating optimally and ensure that they can produce enough saliva to swallow and regurgitate their food for re-chewing.

Buffalo have to constantly manage the external parasites on their bodies. This is done by wallowing in the mud to kill off ticks and other parasites on their skin. They also have a secret weapon to help keep them clean. They allow oxpecker birds to eat the ticks on their legs, tails, backs, inside their ears and even inside their noses!

The main predator of Cape buffaloes is the lion. It usually takes quite a few lions to bring down an adult buffalo. Buffalo will defend themselves fiercely and are capable of killing a lion.

2-6-2019 LINYANTI, BOTSWANA - COMMON HAMERKOP (Scopus umbretta ssp. umbretta)

The hamerkop (Scopus umbretta), also called the umbrette, is a medium-sized bird. It is the only living species in the genus Scopus and the family Scopidae. The species and family was long thought to sit with the Ciconiiformes but is now placed with the Pelecaniformes, and its closest relatives are thought to be the pelicans and the shoebill. The shape of its head with a long bill and crest at the back is reminiscent of a hammer, which has given this species its name after the Afrikaans word for hammerhead. It is a medium-sized waterbird with brown plumage. It is found in mainland Africa, Madagascar and Arabia, living in a wide variety of wetlands, including estuaries, lakesides, fish ponds, riverbanks, and rocky coasts. The hamerkop is a sedentary bird that often shows local movements.

The hamerkop takes a wide range of prey, mostly fish and amphibians, but shrimps, insects and rodents are taken too. Prey is usually hunted in shallow water, either by sight or touch, but the species is adaptable and will take any prey it can. The species is renowned for its enormous nests, several of which are built during the breeding season. Unusually for a wading bird the nest has an internal nesting chamber where the eggs are laid. Both parents incubate the eggs, and raise the chicks.

The species is not globally threatened and is locally abundant in mainland Africa and Madagascar. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has assessed it as being of least concern.

27-5-2019 SOMALISA CAMP, ZIMBABWE - ARID CROWNED LAPWING (Vanellus coronatus ssp. xerophilus)

The crowned lapwing (Vanellus coronatus), or crowned plover, is a bird of the lapwing subfamily that occurs contiguously from the Red Sea coast of Somalia to southern and southwestern Africa. It is an adaptable and numerous species, with bold and noisy habits. It is related to the more localized black-winged and Senegal lapwings, with which it shares some plumage characteristics.

The crowned lapwing is easily recognized by its combination of brown and white colours, with most tellingly, a black crown intersected by an annular white halo. Adults are noisy and conspicuous.

Males measure on average 3% larger than females. Juveniles are dull versions of adults, vermiculated on the wings and mantle, the legs yellowy rather than red and the bill lacking the red base.

Crowned lapwings prefer short, dry grassland which may be overgrazed or burnt, but avoid mountains. In higher-rainfall areas such as parts of Zambia and Zimbabwe, they occur mainly as dry-season visitors. In dry regions of northern Botswana, however, they are attracted in large numbers when good rainfall occurs. In southern Africa their highest concentrations are to be found in the dry central Kalahari region.

27-5-2019 SOMALISA CAMP, ZIMBABWE - TAWNY FLANKED PRINIA (Prinia subflava)

The tawny-flanked prinia (Prinia subflava) is a small passerine bird belonging to the genus Prinia in the family Cisticolidae, a family of Old World warblers. It is widespread and common in most parts of Africa south of the Sahara. The plain prinia (P. inornata) of southern Asia was formerly included in this species but is now usually considered to be a separate species.

The tawny-flanked prinia was formally described in 1789 by the German naturalist Johann Friedrich Gmelin in his revised and expanded edition of Carl Linnaeus's Systema Naturae. He placed it with the wagtails in the genus Motacilla and coined the binomial name Motacilla subflava. The specific epithet combines the Latin sub meaning "beneath" or "somewhat" with flavus meaning "yellow". Gmelin based his account on a hand coloured engraving by François-Nicolas Martinet that was published to accompany the Comte de Buffon's multi-volume work, the Histoire Naturelle des Oiseaux. The tawny-flanked prinia is now one of 30 species placed in the genus Prinia that was introduced by the American naturalist Thomas Horsfield in 1821.

The tawny-flanked prinia is 11–12 cm (4.3–4.7 in) in length with a long, narrow, graduated tail and a fairly long, slender bill. The tail is often held erect or waved from side to side. The upperparts are grey-brown with rufous-brown edges to the flight feathers and a rufous tinge to the rump. The throat and breast are whitish while the flanks and vent are warm buff. There is a whitish stripe over the eye and the lores are dark. The tail feathers have a white tip and a dark subterminal band.

The sexes are similar in appearance. Non-breeding birds have a longer tail than breeding birds. Juveniles have pale yellow underparts and a yellowish bill. There are many recognised subspecies.

The call is short, wheezy and rapidly repeated. The song is a monotonous series of shrill notes. The male often sings from an exposed perch.

The pale prinia (P. somalica) of North-east Africa is similar but paler and greyer with whitish flanks. It inhabits drier, more open habitats than the tawny-flanked prinia. The river prinia (P. fluviatilis) of West Africa is also paler and greyer and has a longer tail. It is restricted to waterside vegetation.

There are ten subspecies distributed across most parts of sub-Saharan Africa except for the driest and wettest areas. It is absent from much of the Congo Basin, southern Namibia, south-west Botswana and the western half of South Africa. It is found amongst shrubs and grass in a variety of habitats including woodland, savanna and cultivated areas. It adapts well to man-made habitats and is not considered to be threatened.

It feeds on insects and other invertebrates. It forages in small flocks which move through shrubs and undergrowth.

The nest is purse-shaped and made of strips of grass woven together. It is built one to two metres above the ground. Two to four eggs are laid; they are variable in ground colour and usually have brown or purple spots or blotches.

27-5-2019 SOMALISA CAMP, ZIMBABWE - SWALLOW TAILED BEE-EATER (Merops hirundineus)

The Swallow-tailed Bee-eater, a member of the Meropidae family, is a slender bird adorned with a palette of vibrant colors. Its distinctive forked tail, a feature from which its name is derived, is a visual delight. The bird's plumage is primarily green, complemented by a yellow throat, a striking blue gorget, and a pronounced black eye stripe and beak. Both males and females share a similar appearance and can reach a length of 20 to 22 centimeters, inclusive of the elongated forked tail feathers that may exhibit green or blue hues.

Inhabiting the savannah woodlands of sub-Saharan Africa, the Swallow-tailed Bee-eater is a bird that exhibits partial migratory behavior, often influenced by the ebb and flow of seasonal rainfall. This species shows a preference for areas with a denser tree presence compared to its bee-eater counterparts.

The Swallow-tailed Bee-eater is known for its approachability and its aerial prowess in capturing insects. True to its name, it predominantly feeds on flying insects such as bees, wasps, and hornets, which it deftly snatches from the air during sallies from an open perch. Among its preferred prey are honeybees. These birds are also known to nest either as individual pairs or in small colonies, burrowing into sandy banks to lay their 2 to 4 spherical, white eggs. Communal activities extend to feeding and roosting, where they gather in groups.

The Swallow-tailed Bee-eater is currently classified as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List, indicating that, at present, there are no immediate threats to its population levels that would warrant a higher degree of conservation action.

27-5-2019 SOMALISA CAMP, ZIMBABWE - COMMON JOKER (Byblia anvatara ssp. acheloia)

The Common Joker Byblia achelonia is a butterfly of the family Nymphalidae, found in Yemen, south-western Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Ethiopia, Somalia, Kenya, eastern Tanzania, Zambia, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Botswana, northern Namibia, Eswatini, South Africa: Limpopo, Mpumalanga, North West, KwaZulu-Natal, Eastern Cape. It has a wingspan of 38–43 mm in males and 40–45 mm in females and fly year-round. It is similar to the Spotted Joker Byblia ilithyi with both seen together at the Raydah escarpment in the southwest of the Kingdom, near Abha.

Byblia anvatara, the common joker, is a butterfly of the family Nymphalidae, found in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Wingspan: 38–43 mm in males and 40–45 mm in females. Its flight period is year round.

Larvae feed on Tragia glabrata and Dalechampia capensis.

27-5-2019 SOMALISA CAMP, ZIMBABWE - SPIDER WASP (family pompilidae)

Wasps in the family Pompilidae are commonly called spider wasps, spider-hunting wasps, or pompilid wasps. The family is cosmopolitan, with some 5,000 species in six subfamilies. Nearly all species are solitary (with the exception of some group-nesting Ageniellini), and most capture and paralyze prey, though members of the subfamily Ceropalinae are kleptoparasites of other pompilids, or ectoparasitoids of living spiders.

In South America, species may be referred to colloquially as marabunta or marimbondo, though these names can be generally applied to any very large stinging wasps. Furthermore, in some parts of Venezuela and Colombia, it is called matacaballos, or "horse killers", while in Brazil some particular bigger and brighter species of the general marimbondo kind might be called fecha-goela/cerra-goela, or "throat locker".

27-5-2019 SOMALISA CAMP, ZIMBABWE - SOUTHERN YELLOW BILLED HORNBILL (Tockus leucomelas ssp parvior)

The southern yellow-billed hornbill (Tockus leucomelas) is a hornbill found in southern Africa. Yellow-billed hornbills feed mainly on the ground, where they forage for seeds, small insects, spiders and scorpions. This hornbill species is a common and widespread resident of dry thornveldt and broad-leafed woodlands. They can often be seen along roads and water courses.

It is a medium-sized bird, 48–60 cm (19–24 in) in length, 132–242 g (0.29–0.53 lb) in weight and is characterized by a long yellow and down-curved beak. This beak is huge in comparison to its body and can account for up 1/6th of the entire body length. Male beaks are on average 90 mm long while female beaks are an average of 74 mm. Males are generally bigger than females but there is overlap between the sexes. The size difference of the beak is a fairly reliable way of differentiating sex in wild hornbills.

The casque that characterizes all hornbills is of a very modest size in the southern yellow-billed hornbill. It is small, but it covers almost the entire length of the beak in males (less so in females), and may give the impression that they do not actually have a casque. As in all hornbills, the size of the beak actually intrudes on the frontal vision of the bird and the first two neck vertebrae are fused together.

Also, like most other hornbills, they possess a long tail, long eyelashes, stubby legs and stubby toes. The front three toes are fused together near the base.

They have white belly, grey neck, and black back plumage with abundant white spots and stripes. The neck has gray spots and the chest is lightly striated with black. Southern yellow-billed hornbills have no plumage pigmentation save for melanin, which can only produce shades of black and white. The eyes are usually yellow, though brown has also been seen. The skin around the eyes and in the malar stripe is pinkish. The related eastern yellow-billed hornbill from north-eastern Africa has blackish skin around the eyes.

These birds are near endemic to the dry savannas of southern Africa, where they can be found across all longitudes, from Angola and Namibia in the west to Mozambique and KwaZulu-Natal in the east, including Botswana, Zimbabwe and northern South Africa.

The southern yellow-billed hornbill lives mostly in the dry, open savannas, but they are also very partial to woodlands when they can find them. When in woodlands, they seem to prefer acacia and broadleaved woodlands. The highest reported concentration of southern yellow-billed hornbill is in open mopane scrub.

27-5-2019 SOMALISA CAMP, ZIMBABWE - SOUTHERN LION (MALE) (Panthera leo ssp. melanochaita)

Panthera leo melanochaita is a lion subspecies in Southern and East Africa. In this part of Africa, lion populations are regionally extinct in Lesotho, Djibouti and Eritrea, and are threatened by loss of habitat and prey base, killing by local people in retaliation for loss of livestock, and in several countries also by trophy hunting. Since the turn of the 21st century, lion populations in intensively managed protected areas in Botswana, Namibia, South Africa and Zimbabwe have increased, but declined in East African range countries. In 2005, a Lion Conservation Strategy was developed for East and Southern Africa.

Results of a phylogeographic study indicate that lion populations in southern and eastern Africa form a major clade distinct from lion populations in West Africa, Central Africa and Asia. In 2017, the Cat Classification Task Force of the IUCN Cat Specialist Group subsumed lion populations according to the major clades into two subspecies, namely P. l. leo and P. l. melanochaita. Within P. l. melanochaita three subclades are clearly distinguishable. One from northeastern Africa, another one from southwestern Africa and a third one from southeastern Africa.

The type specimen for P. l. melanochaita was a black-maned lion from the Cape of Good Hope, known as the Cape lion. Phylogeographic analysis of lion samples from Gabon and the Republic of the Congo indicate their close genetic relation to P. l. melanochaita samples from Namibia and Botswana. It has been referred to as the Southern lion, Southern African lion, East-Southern African lion and the "southern subspecies".

The Serengeti and Maasai Mara National Parks and Selous Game Reserve are lion strongholds in East Africa with stable lion populations

In East and Southern Africa, lion populations declined in:

In Ethiopia, where lion populations declined since at least the early 20th century due to trophy hunting by Europeans, killing of lions by local people out of fear, for illegal sale of skins and during civil wars.[40] As of 2009, between seven and 23 lions were estimated to live in Nechisar National Park located in the Ethiopian Highlands. This small protected area is encroached by local people and their livestock. In 2012, lions were documented in cloud forest habitat of Kafa Biosphere Reserve.

Somalia since the early 20th century. Intensive poaching since the 1980s and civil unrest posed a threat to lion persistence.

Uganda to near extinction in the 20th century. In 2010, the lion population in Uganda was estimated at 408 ± 46 individuals in three protected areas including Queen Elizabeth, Murchison Falls and Kidepo Valley National Parks. Other protected areas in the country probably host less than 10 lions. Lions in Queen Elizabeth National Park form a contiguous population with lions in Virunga National Park.

Kenya in the 1990s due to poisoning of lions and poaching of lion prey species. At least 108 lions were killed between 2001 and 2006 in the Amboseli−Tsavo West−Tsavo East National Park network. As of 2006, there were an estimated 675 lions in the Tsavo national parks, out of the 2,000 total in Kenya. Between 2004 and 2013, lion guardians around Amboseli National Park identified 65 lions in an area of 3,684 km2 (1,422 sq mi). Lion populations in Kenya and Tanzania are fragmented over 17 patches ranging in size from 86 to 127,515 km2 (33 to 49,234 sq mi).

Rwanda and Tanzania due to killing of lions during the Rwandan Civil War and ensuing refugee crisis in the 1990s. A small population was present in Rwanda's Akagera National Park, estimated at 35 individuals at most in 2004. Lions were reintroduced to this national park in 2015.

Malawi and Zambia due to illegal hunting of prey species in protected areas.

Botswana due to intensive hunting and conversion of natural habitats for settlements since the early 19th century. In Northern Tuli Game Reserve, 19 lions died between 2005 and 2011 due to poaching, trophy hunting and snaring.

Namibia due to massive killing of lions by farmers since at least the 1970s. In 2010, the small and isolated lion population in the Kalahari was estimated at 683 to 1,397 individuals in three protected areas, the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, the Kalahari Gemsbok and Gemsbok National Parks.

South Africa since the early 19th century in the Natal and Cape Provinces south of the Orange River, where the Cape lion population was eradicated by 1860.

A few decades later, lions in the Highveld north of the Orange River were also eradicated. In Transvaal, lions occurred historically in the Highveld as well, but were restricted to eastern Transvaal's Bushveld by the 1970s. Between 2000 and 2004, 34 lions were reintroduced to eight protected areas in the Eastern Cape Province, including Addo Elephant National Park. In Venetia Limpopo Nature Reserve, 18 lions were trophy hunted and 11 euthanized between 2005 and 2011.

Contemporary lion distribution and habitat quality in East and Southern Africa was assessed in 2005, and Lion Conservation Units (LCU) mapped. Between 2002 and 2012, educated guesses for size of populations in these LCUs ranged from 33,967 to 32,000 individuals. The LCUs Ruaha−Rungwa, Serengeti−Mara, Tsavo−Mkomazi and Selous in East Africa, as well as Luangwa, Kgalagadi, Okavango−Hwange, Mid−Zambezi, Niassa and Greater Limpopo in Southern Africa are currently considered lion strongholds. These LCUs host more than 500 individuals each, and the population trend is stable there as of 2012.

Lions usually hunt in groups and prey foremost on ungulates such as gemsbok (Oryx gazella), Cape buffalo (Syncerus caffer), blue wildebeest (Connochaetes taurinus), giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis), common eland (Tragelaphus oryx), greater kudu (T. strepsiceros), nyala (T. angasii), roan antelope (Hippotragus equinus), sable antelope (H. niger), plains zebra (Equus quagga), bushpig (Potamochoerus larvatus), common warthog (Phacochoerus africanus), hartebeest (Alcephalus buselaphus), common tsessebe (Damaliscus lunatus), waterbuck (Kobus ellipsiprymnus), kob (K. kob) and Thomson's gazelle (Eudorcas thomsonii). Their prey is usually in the range of 190–550 kg (420–1,210 pounds). In the Serengeti National Park, lions were observed to also scavenge on carrion of animals that were killed by other predators, or died from natural causes. They kept a constant lookout for circling vultures, apparently being aware that vultures indicate a dead animal. Faeces of lions collected near waterholes in Hwange National Park also contained remains of climbing mice (Dendromus) and common mice (Mus).

In Botswana's Chobe National Park, lions also prey on young and subadult African bush elephants (Loxodonta africana). They successfully attacked 74 elephants between 1993 and 1996, of which 26 were older than nine years, and one bull over 15 years old. In October 2005, a pride of up to 30 lions killed eight African bush elephants that were between four and eleven years old.

In the 1890s, two Tsavo Man-Eaters attacked workers during the building of the Uganda Railway. Their skulls and skins are part of the zoological collection of the Field Museum of Natural History. The total number of people killed is unclear, but allegedly 135 people fell victim to these lions in less than a year before Colonel Patterson killed them.

The Njombe lions were a lion pride in Njombe in former Tanganyika, which are thought to have preyed on 1,500 to 2,000 people. They were killed by George Gilman Rushby.

Between 1990 and 2004, lions killed more than 560 people in Tanzania, mostly during harvest season in crop fields and in areas where natural prey is scarce.

In February 2018, lions killed a suspected poacher near Kruger National Park.

In February 2018, Kevin Richardson took three lions for a walk at Dinokeng Game Reserve in South Africa. A lioness pursued an impala for at least 2 km (1.2 mi), and killed a young woman near her car.

In July 2018, human remains were found in the lion enclosure of a privately owned reserve in South Africa. They were suspected to have been rhino poachers, as they had a high-powered rifle with a silencer, an axe and wire cutters.

African lions are included in CITES Appendix II. Today, lion populations are stable only in large protected area complexes. IUCN regional offices and many wildlife conservation organisations cooperated to develop a Lion Conservation Strategy for Eastern and Southern Africa in 2006. The strategy envisages to maintain sufficient habitat, ensure a sufficient wild prey base, make lion-human coexistence sustainable and reduce factors that lead to further fragmentation of populations. Local communities in several Southern African lion range countries generate significant income through wildlife tourism, which is a strong incentive for their support of conservation measures.

Establishing corridors between protected areas is important for facilitating dispersal of lions. Makgadikgadi Pans National Park and Central Kalahari Game Reserve are key dispersal areas in Southern Africa.

27-5-2019 SOMALISA CAMP, ZIMBABWE - SENEGAL COUCAL (Centropus senegalensis)

The Senegal coucal (\(Centropus\) \(senegalensis\)) is a medium-sized bird from the cuckoo family, found across much of sub-Saharan Africa in habitats with dense undergrowth like tall grasslands and savannas. Its plumage is black on the head and upper parts, with a long black tail, and creamy white underparts, though juveniles are browner and barred. These birds are known for their distinctive descending "boop" call, are often heard before they are seen, and have a diet that includes insects, small vertebrates, and eggs. 

Appearance 

Adult: Glossy black head and neck, black wings with a chestnut color, and a long, black tail. The underparts are creamy white, sometimes with reddish reflections on the flanks and abdomen. Red-ringed red eyes give the bird a stern look.

Juvenile: Browner and more heavily barred on the back, wings, and tail.Size: Approximately 39 cm (15 inches) long. 

27-5-2019 SOMALISA CAMP, ZIMBABWE - SCALY FEATHERED WEAVER (Sporopipes squamifrons ssp. fuligescens)

The Scaly-feathered Weaver, scientifically known as Sporopipes squamifrons, presents itself as a charming bird with a distinctive appearance attributed to its namesake scaly feathers. This species, also colloquially referred to as the Scaly-feathered Finch, is a member of the Ploceidae family.

The Scaly-feathered Weaver (Sporopipes squamifrons) is a small, social weaver bird from southern Africa, common in dry woodlands and savannas, known for its pale brown/grey plumage with distinctive black and white markings, feeding on seeds and termites, and roosting communally in ball-shaped nests. 

Upon observation, one may note the unique pattern of the bird's plumage, which resembles scales, giving it a rather reptilian aspect amidst the avian world. The adult bird can be seen attending to its spherical grass nest, a testament to its industrious nature.

The Scaly-feathered Weaver thrives in the savannas and dry bushland, where it can find the materials it needs for its intricate nest-building.

This species graces the African continent with its presence, specifically found across Angola, Botswana, Namibia, South Africa, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.

The Scaly-feathered Weaver is known for its sociable demeanor, often seen in flocks, and its remarkable nest-building skills.

Bird enthusiasts can breathe a sigh of relief knowing that the Scaly-feathered Weaver is currently classified as Least Concern by the IUCN, indicating a stable population in the wild.

Appearance: Primarily pale brown/gray with black forehead/crown featuring white arrow-shaped tips, black lores/chin, white throat, and black malar streaks; bright pink bill.

Diet: Seeds (especially grass, millet, sorghum) and termites (caught on ground/air).

Habitat: Arid/semi-arid regions of southern Africa (Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, South Africa).

Behavior: Forages on the ground, hops briskly, drinks water regularly when available, roosts communally in grass nests.

Nests: Ball-shaped, made of grass, sometimes clustered; spout entrance. 

27-5-2019 SOMALISA CAMP, ZIMBABWE - AFRICAN SAVANNA ELEPHANT (JUVENILE) (Loxodonta Africana)

The African bush elephant (Loxodonta africana), also known as the African savanna elephant, is a species of elephant native to sub-Saharan Africa. It is one of three extant elephant species and, along with the African forest elephant, one of two extant species of African elephant. It is the largest living terrestrial animal, with fully grown bulls reaching an average shoulder height of 3.04–3.36 metres (10.0–11.0 ft) and a body mass of 5.2–6.9 tonnes (5.7–7.6 short tons); the largest recorded specimen had a shoulder height of 3.96 metres (13.0 ft) and an estimated body mass of 10.4 tonnes (11.5 short tons). The African bush elephant is characterised by its long prehensile trunk with two finger-like processes; a convex back; large ears which help reduce body heat; and sturdy tusks that are noticeably curved. The skin is grey with scanty hairs, and bending cracks which support thermoregulation by retaining water.