4-5-2018 EL PERELLO, VALENCIA - LITTLE BITTERN (Ixobrychus minutus)

The little bittern or common little bittern (Ixobrychus minutus) is a wading bird in the heron family, Ardeidae. Ixobrychus is from Ancient Greek ixias, a reed-like plant and brukhomai 'to bellow', and minutus is Latin for 'small'.

The little bittern is native to the Old World, breeding in Africa, central and southern Europe, western and southern Asia, and Madagascar. Birds from temperate regions in Europe and western Asia are migratory, wintering in Africa and further south in Asia, while those nesting in the tropics are sedentary. It is rare north of its breeding range.

In Britain there were intermittent reports of breeding in the nineteenth century, and again in 1946 and 1957, but none of these records were proven. The first proven British breeding record is from Yorkshire in 1984, and the second from the Avalon Marshes in Somerset in 2010, by 2017 this species had been present in this area for nine consecutive years.

Carl Linnaeus described the little bittern in 1766. Member of a cosmopolitan superspecies with I. exilis (North and South America), I. sinensis (Asia) and I. dubius (New Guinea, AUS). I. [m.] minutus itself consists of three clearly differentiated subspecies (groups) to which all-species status could be assigned:

I. m. minutus – (Linnaeus, 1766): nominate, found in Europe, Asia, northern Africa; winters in sub-Saharan Africa and southern Asia

I. m. payesii – (Hartlaub, 1858): found in sub-Saharan Africa, resident

I. m. podiceps – (Bonaparte, 1855): found in Madagascar, resident

The Australian little bittern (I. dubius) and the extinct New Zealand little bittern (I. novaezelandiae) were formerly considered subspecies of the little bittern.

Comparative studies, especially on shouting / courtship behavior and genetics, are lacking.

The little bittern has a length of 33–38 centimetres (13–15 in) and a wing span of 52–58 centimetres (20–23 in). It is the smallest of the breeding herons of Europe and is characterised by its tiny size, long and sharp bill and thick neck. The males are distinctively patterned and both sexes show pale forewing panels. The males have black with a faint green sheen on the crown, nape, back, tail and scapulars. The underparts are pale buff and the wing has a pinkish buff oval shaped panel which contrasts with the otherwise black wings and is formed by the inner wing coverts. The underwing is completely whiteish in colour. The female is duller than the male and has brownish black upperparts with paler feather margins visible at close range. The underparts of the female are not as clean as those of the male and are streaked with dark buff and brown. The female's wing panel is less obvious than the male's. The juveniles are duller and more rufous than the females and are more heavily streaked on both their upperparts and underparts, including their wing coverts.

21-4-2018 OKAVANGO DELTA, BOTSWANA - GREATER KUDU (Tragelaphus Strepsiceros)

21-4-2018 OKAVANGO DELTA, BOTSWANA - COMMON WARTHOG (Phacochoerus Africus)

21-4-2018 OKAVANGO DELTA, BOTSWANA - AFRICAN STRIPED SKINK (Trachylepis striata)

The African striped skink (Trachylepis striata), commonly called the striped skink, is a species of lizard in the skink family (Scincidae). The species is widespread in East Africa and Southern Africa. It is not a close relation to the Australian striped skink, Ctenotus taeniolatus.

T. striata is brown or bronze-coloured with two yellowish stripes that run lengthwise on either side of the spine. Both sexes grow to a total length (including tail) of 25 cm (9.8 in). Their tails are often missing due to predators.

The African striped skink (Trachylepis striata), or simply the striped skink, is a common species of skink found widely across sub-Saharan Africa. It typically has a sleek, streamlined body with distinctive striping along its sides, which differentiates it from similar species. The coloration and pattern can vary, but generally, it features a combination of brown, grey, and olive tones.

The African striped skink (Trachylepis striata), or simply the striped skink, is a common species of skink found widely across sub-Saharan Africa. It typically has a sleek, streamlined body with distinctive striping along its sides, which differentiates it from similar species. The coloration and pattern can vary, but generally, it features a combination of brown, grey, and olive tones.

The African striped skink is known for its adaptability to various habitats, ranging from woodlands and savannas to human-altered environments. It primarily feeds on insects and other small invertebrates. It is known for its agility and quick movements, which aid in both foraging for food and evading predators.

The African striped skink usually breeds in the warmer months. They are oviparous, laying eggs which hatch after an incubation period. Details on the exact duration of incubation and specific breeding behaviors are not yet known.

The population of African striped skink is unknown, but it has a wide range and it is common. It is listed as least concern on the IUCN Red List. 

21-4-2018 OKAVANGO DELTA, BOTSWANA - SMITH'S BUSH SQUIRREL (Paraderus Cepapi)

21-4-2018 OKAVANGO DELTA, BOTSWANA - HADADA IBIS (Bostrychia hagedash)

The Hadada Ibis, Bostrychia hagedash, is a medium-sized bird native to the diverse landscapes of Sub-Saharan Africa. It is characterized by its stout legs and distinctive down-curved bill. The adult Hadada Ibis typically measures around 76 cm in length and weighs approximately 1.2 kg. Both sexes share similar plumage, which is primarily grey to partly brown, with a striking iridescent sheen of green or purple on the wing coverts.

When observing the Hadada Ibis, look for the narrow white stripe across its cheeks, often referred to as the "moustache," though it does not extend to the mouth corners. During the breeding season, the bird sports a red culmen on the upper mandible's basal half and similarly colored upper toe surfaces. Its powerful and broad wings facilitate quick take-offs and agile flight through dense foliage.

The Hadada Ibis thrives in a variety of habitats, including open grasslands, savannas, wetlands, and increasingly in urban environments such as parks, school fields, and residential gardens. It prefers areas with moist and soft soils, which are conducive to its foraging habits.

This species is widespread across Sub-Saharan Africa, with its range extending from Sudan to South Africa. The Hadada Ibis has seen a notable range expansion in southern Africa, attributed to increased tree cover and irrigation in human-altered landscapes.

The Hadada Ibis is known for its social roosting behavior, often in groups atop trees. It is a diurnal bird, vocalizing loudly during morning and evening flights. Its diet consists of insects, millipedes, earthworms, and other small invertebrates, which it hunts using its long, scimitar-like bill to probe the soil. The Hadada Ibis is also appreciated in urban settings for its role in controlling pests on lawns and greens.

The Hadada Ibis is renowned for its loud "haa-haa-haa-de-dah" call, which is particularly prominent during flight or when startled. This call has earned the species its onomatopoeic name. While roosting, a single loud "haaaa" can be heard, and a low growl, akin to a young puppy's, serves as a contact call when foraging.

Monogamous by nature, Hadada Ibises maintain pair bonds year-round. Breeding is timed with the rainy season, with nests constructed as twig platforms in large trees. Both parents incubate the typical clutch of three to four eggs for about 26 days, and the fledglings leave the nest after approximately 33 days.

Hadada Ibises primarily feed on soil invertebrates, which they detect using sensory pits around their bill tips. They are also known to consume snails and small reptiles, providing a natural pest control service in both natural and urban settings.

21-4-2018 OKAVANGO DELTA, BOTSWANA - FORK TAILED DRONGO (Dicrurus adsimilis)

21-4-2018 OKAVANGO DELTA, BOTSWANA - COMMON WARTHOG (Phacochoerus Africus)

The Common warthog (Phacochoerus africanus) is a wild member of the pig family (Suidae) found in sub-Saharan Africa. It is the only pig species that has adapted to grazing and savanna habitats.

A warthog has two pairs of tusks protruding from the mouth and curving upwards. The lower pair, which is far shorter than the upper pair, becomes razor-sharp by rubbing against the upper pair every time the mouth is opened and closed. The upper canine teeth can grow to 25.5 cm (10.0 in) long and have a wide elliptical cross-section, being about 4.5 cm (1.8 in) deep and 2.5 cm (0.98 in) wide. A tusk will curve 90° or more from the root, and will not lie flat on a table, as it curves somewhat backward as it grows. The tusks are not used for digging, but are used for combat with other hogs and in defense against predators - the lower set can inflict severe wounds. Common warthog ivory is taken from the constantly growing canine teeth. The tusks, particularly the upper set, work in much the same way as elephant tusks with all designs scaled down. Tusks are carved predominantly for the tourist trade in eastern and southern Africa. The head of the Common warthog is large, with a mane down the spine to the middle of the back. Sparse hair covers the body. Its color is usually black or brown. Tails are long and end with a tuft of hair. Common warthogs do not have subcutaneous fat and the coat is sparse, making them susceptible to extreme environmental temperatures.

21-4-2018 OKAVANGO DELTA, BOTSWANA - CHACMA BABOON (Papio ursinus)

21-4-2018 OKAVANGO DELTA, BOTSWANA - ARROW MARKED BABBLER (Turdoides jardineii ssp. tamalakanei)

The arrow-marked babbler, scientifically known as Turdoides jardineii, is a medium-sized bird belonging to the family Leiothrichidae. It measures between 22 to 25 cm in length and tips the scales at a modest 56 to 85 grams. Its plumage is a study in understated elegance, with brownish-grey tones adorning the upper parts and a paler hue below. The feathers on the throat, neck, and head are tipped with white, creating a distinctive pattern from which its name is derived. A striking feature of this bird is its eyes, which boast an outer ring of bright red and an inner circle of either bright yellow or orange. Males and females are visually indistinguishable, while the juveniles can be identified by their brown eyes and less pronounced arrow-shaped markings on the breast.

When attempting to identify the arrow-marked babbler, look for the characteristic white-tipped feathers on the head and neck, as well as the unique coloration of the eyes. The bird's size and the arrow-shaped streaks on the breast are also key identification features.

The arrow-marked babbler is a denizen of the southern Afrotropics, where it favors the subtropical or tropical dry forests, dry savannas, and moist shrublands.

This species has a wide range across the African continent, being found in Angola, Botswana, Burundi, Republic of the Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Eswatini, Gabon, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Rwanda, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.

Arrow-marked babblers are social creatures, living in groups that typically number between three and fifteen individuals, with six being the average. These groups are territorial, with the size of their domain varying according to the number of birds in the group. They are known to forage near the ground, often in the company of other babblers or bulbuls, in search of their varied diet.

The diet of the arrow-marked babbler is quite diverse, including insects, spiders, and occasionally snails and lizards. They also partake in fruits, which they forage for close to the ground.

The arrow-marked babbler is currently listed as Least Concern by the IUCN, indicating that, for now, this species does not face any immediate threat of extinction.

21-4-2018 OKAVANGO DELTA, BOTSWANA - AFRICAN LION (FEMALE) (Panthera leo)

The lion (Panthera leo) is a large cat of the genus Panthera, native to Africa and India. It has a muscular, broad-chested body; a short, rounded head; round ears; and a dark, hairy tuft at the tip of its tail. It is sexually dimorphic; adult male lions are larger than females and have a prominent mane. It is a social species, forming groups called prides. A lion's pride consists of a few adult males, related females, and cubs. Groups of female lions usually hunt together, preying mostly on medium-sized and large ungulates. The lion is an apex and keystone predator.

The lion inhabits grasslands, savannahs, and shrublands. It is usually more diurnal than other wild cats, but when persecuted, it adapts to being active at night and at twilight. During the Neolithic period, the lion ranged throughout Africa and Eurasia, from Southeast Europe to India, but it has been reduced to fragmented populations in sub-Saharan Africa and one population in western India. It has been listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List since 1996 because populations in African countries have declined by about 43% since the early 1990s. Lion populations are untenable outside designated protected areas. Although the cause of the decline is not fully understood, habitat loss and conflicts with humans are the greatest causes for concern.

21-4-2018 OKAVANGO DELTA, BOTSWANA - AFRICAN LEOPARD (JUVENILE) (Panthera pardus pardus)

The African leopard (Panthera pardus pardus) is the nominate subspecies of the leopard, native to many countries in Africa. It is widely distributed in most of sub-Saharan Africa, but the historical range has been fragmented in the course of habitat conversion. Leopards have also been recorded in North Africa as well.

The African leopard exhibits great variation in coat color, depending on location and habitat. Coat color varies from pale yellow to deep gold or tawny, and sometimes black, and is patterned with black rosettes while the head, lower limbs, and belly are spotted with solid black. Male leopards are typically larger and heavier than females.

African leopards inhabited a wide range of habitats within Africa, from mountainous forests to grasslands and savannahs, excluding only extremely sandy deserts. They used to live in most of sub-Saharan Africa, occupying both rainforest and arid desert habitats. African leopards successfully adapted to altered natural habitats and settled environments in the absence of intense persecution and they have often been seen close to major cities. But already in the 1980s, they have become rare throughout much of West Africa. Now, African leopards remain patchily distributed within historical limits. During surveys in 2013, they were recorded in Gbarpolu County and Bong County in the Upper Guinean forests of Liberia. They are rare in North Africa. A relict population persists in the Atlas Mountains of Morocco, in forest and mountain steppe, where the climate is temperate to cold. In 2016, an African leopard was recorded for the first time in a semi-arid area of Yechilay in northern Ethiopia.

In Kruger National Park, male African leopards and females with cubs were more active at night than solitary females. In general, leopards spend their time singly and most active between sunset and sunrise, and kill more prey at this time. They maintain home ranges that usually overlap with each other. Thus, the home range of a male can often overlap with the territories of multiple females. Females live with their cubs in home ranges that overlap extensively and continue to interact with their offspring even after weaning; females may even share kills with their offspring when they can not obtain any prey. Leopards usually hunt on the ground and depend mainly on their acute senses of hearing and vision for hunting. They stalk their prey and try to approach it as closely as possible, typically within 5 m (16 ft) of the target, and, finally, pounce on it and kill it by suffocation. Leopards are known to be excellent climbers and often rest on tree branches during the day, dragging their kills up trees and hanging them there, and descending from trees headfirst. Leopards are also powerful swimmers. They are very agile and can run at over 58 km per hour (36 mph), leap over 6 m (20 ft) horizontally, and jump up to 3 m (9.8 ft) vertically. They produce a number of vocalizations, including grunts, roars, growls, meows, and purrs.

Leopards are carnivores and have an exceptional ability to adapt to changes in prey availability. They have a very broad diet that ranges from dung beetles to adult elands, which can reach 900 kg (2,000 lb). In sub-Saharan Africa, at least 92 prey species have been documented in leopard scat, including rodents, birds, small and large antelopes, hyraxes, hares, and arthropods. In Serengeti National Park, leopards preyed mostly on impalas, both adult and young, and caught some Thomson's gazelles in the dry season. Occasionally, they successfully hunted warthogs, dik-diks, reedbucks, duikers, steenboks, Blue wildebeest and topi calves, jackals, Cape hares, guineafowl, and starlings. In the tropical rainforests of Central Africa, their diet consists of duikers and primates. African leopards were even observed preying on adult Eastern gorillas in the Kisoro area near Uganda's borders with Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Little is known about the reproductive behavior of African leopards. In general, leopards have polygynandrous (promiscuous) mating system, where both males and females mate with a number of mates. They breed throughout the year. The gestation period lasts for 90-105 days, yielding from 2 to 4 cubs. Females give birth in a cave, crevice among boulders, hollow trees, or thicket. Cubs are born with closed eyes, which open 4 to 9 days after birth. Being extremely vulnerable in the wild, the cubs remain hidden, living in a secluded place, covered with dense vegetation. By the age of 6-8 weeks, the young attain their dark, woolly coat, covered with blurry patches, which serves young leopards as camouflage, allowing them to follow their mother around. Reaching the age of 3 months, the cubs are weaned, accompanying their mother on a hunt. On the whole, they remain with their mother for 18-24 months, after which they leave to find their own territories. Young leopards start breeding when they are between 2 and 3 years old.

21-4-2018 OKAVANGO DELTA, BOTSWANA - AFRICAN LEOPARD (FEMALE) (Panthera pardus pardus)

The African leopard (Panthera pardus pardus) is the nominate subspecies of the leopard, native to many countries in Africa. It is widely distributed in most of sub-Saharan Africa, but the historical range has been fragmented in the course of habitat conversion. Leopards have also been recorded in North Africa as well.

The African leopard exhibits great variation in coat color, depending on location and habitat. Coat color varies from pale yellow to deep gold or tawny, and sometimes black, and is patterned with black rosettes while the head, lower limbs, and belly are spotted with solid black. Male leopards are typically larger and heavier than females.

African leopards inhabited a wide range of habitats within Africa, from mountainous forests to grasslands and savannahs, excluding only extremely sandy deserts. They used to live in most of sub-Saharan Africa, occupying both rainforest and arid desert habitats. African leopards successfully adapted to altered natural habitats and settled environments in the absence of intense persecution and they have often been seen close to major cities. But already in the 1980s, they have become rare throughout much of West Africa. Now, African leopards remain patchily distributed within historical limits. During surveys in 2013, they were recorded in Gbarpolu County and Bong County in the Upper Guinean forests of Liberia. They are rare in North Africa. A relict population persists in the Atlas Mountains of Morocco, in forest and mountain steppe, where the climate is temperate to cold. In 2016, an African leopard was recorded for the first time in a semi-arid area of Yechilay in northern Ethiopia.

In Kruger National Park, male African leopards and females with cubs were more active at night than solitary females. In general, leopards spend their time singly and most active between sunset and sunrise, and kill more prey at this time. They maintain home ranges that usually overlap with each other. Thus, the home range of a male can often overlap with the territories of multiple females. Females live with their cubs in home ranges that overlap extensively and continue to interact with their offspring even after weaning; females may even share kills with their offspring when they can not obtain any prey. Leopards usually hunt on the ground and depend mainly on their acute senses of hearing and vision for hunting. They stalk their prey and try to approach it as closely as possible, typically within 5 m (16 ft) of the target, and, finally, pounce on it and kill it by suffocation. Leopards are known to be excellent climbers and often rest on tree branches during the day, dragging their kills up trees and hanging them there, and descending from trees headfirst. Leopards are also powerful swimmers. They are very agile and can run at over 58 km per hour (36 mph), leap over 6 m (20 ft) horizontally, and jump up to 3 m (9.8 ft) vertically. They produce a number of vocalizations, including grunts, roars, growls, meows, and purrs.

Leopards are carnivores and have an exceptional ability to adapt to changes in prey availability. They have a very broad diet that ranges from dung beetles to adult elands, which can reach 900 kg (2,000 lb). In sub-Saharan Africa, at least 92 prey species have been documented in leopard scat, including rodents, birds, small and large antelopes, hyraxes, hares, and arthropods. In Serengeti National Park, leopards preyed mostly on impalas, both adult and young, and caught some Thomson's gazelles in the dry season. Occasionally, they successfully hunted warthogs, dik-diks, reedbucks, duikers, steenboks, Blue wildebeest and topi calves, jackals, Cape hares, guineafowl, and starlings. In the tropical rainforests of Central Africa, their diet consists of duikers and primates. African leopards were even observed preying on adult Eastern gorillas in the Kisoro area near Uganda's borders with Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Little is known about the reproductive behavior of African leopards. In general, leopards have polygynandrous (promiscuous) mating system, where both males and females mate with a number of mates. They breed throughout the year. The gestation period lasts for 90-105 days, yielding from 2 to 4 cubs. Females give birth in a cave, crevice among boulders, hollow trees, or thicket. Cubs are born with closed eyes, which open 4 to 9 days after birth. Being extremely vulnerable in the wild, the cubs remain hidden, living in a secluded place, covered with dense vegetation. By the age of 6-8 weeks, the young attain their dark, woolly coat, covered with blurry patches, which serves young leopards as camouflage, allowing them to follow their mother around. Reaching the age of 3 months, the cubs are weaned, accompanying their mother on a hunt. On the whole, they remain with their mother for 18-24 months, after which they leave to find their own territories. Young leopards start breeding when they are between 2 and 3 years old.

21-4-2018 OKAVANGO DELTA, BOTSWANA - AFRICAN LEOPARD (FEMALE AND JUVENILE) (Panthera pardus pardus)

The African leopard (Panthera pardus pardus) is the nominate subspecies of the leopard, native to many countries in Africa. It is widely distributed in most of sub-Saharan Africa, but the historical range has been fragmented in the course of habitat conversion. Leopards have also been recorded in North Africa as well.

In Kruger National Park, male leopards and female leopards with cubs were more active at night than solitary females. The highest rates of daytime activity were recorded for leopards using thorn thickets during the wet season, when impala also used them. Leopards are generally most active between sunset and sunrise, and kill more prey at this time.

African Leopard have suffered from habitat loss and fragmentation, increased illegal wildlife trade, decline in prey and poorly managed trophy hunting.

Prey species are increasingly under threat from an unsustainable bushmeat trade across large parts of Africa’s savannas. Leopards are also killed illegally for their widely sought-after skins and other body parts used for ceremonial purposes.

African Leopard have limited levels of ecological resilience to human-caused habitat fragmentation, and as a result are more restricted to conservation areas – future decline is anticipated unless conservation efforts are undertaken.

African leopards inhabited a wide range of habitats within Africa, from mountainous forests to grasslands and savannahs, excluding only extremely sandy deserts. They used to live in most of sub-Saharan Africa, occupying both rainforest and arid desert habitats. African leopards successfully adapted to altered natural habitats and settled environments in the absence of intense persecution and they have often been seen close to major cities. But already in the 1980s, they have become rare throughout much of West Africa. Now, African leopards remain patchily distributed within historical limits. During surveys in 2013, they were recorded in Gbarpolu County and Bong County in the Upper Guinean forests of Liberia. They are rare in North Africa. A relict population persists in the Atlas Mountains of Morocco, in forest and mountain steppe, where the climate is temperate to cold. In 2016, an African leopard was recorded for the first time in a semi-arid area of Yechilay in northern Ethiopia.

21-4-2018 OKAVANGO DELTA, BOTSWANA - AFRICAN LEOPARD (FEMALE AND JUVENILE) (Panthera pardus pardus)

The African Leopard is widely distributed across Africa, but the population of this sub-species is decreasing and it has been classified as Vulnerable by IUCN’s Red List.

Like most felines, African Leopard are incredibly athletic predators and they can run up to 58 miles per hour and leap an impressive 6 metres forward through the air.

The coat of the African Leopard is covered with rosette-shaped markings. The rosettes on the leopards coat do not contain spots, unlike those of their new world relative the Jaguar. The average lifespan of African Leopard is 10 to 12 years in the wild.

African Leopards are predominantly nocturnal, solitary animals and spend most of their time in trees, out of the way of other predators which may pose a threat. Their diet tends to adapt to prey availability and the presence of competitors – they hunt a wide variety of animals which can range from small mammals to large ungulates, reptiles to birds and sometimes even insects.

Where competitors are present, leopard will hide their prey under thick vegetation or hoist it into the branches of a tree. They are very strong climbers, with shoulder blades that have a special attachment site for stronger climbing muscles. A female typically gives birth to a litter of two or three cubs, which stay with her for about two years as she teaches them how to hunt.

Native to more than 35 African countries, leopards occur in the widest variety of habitats among any of the Old World Cats – from desert to grasslands and tropical forest. In Cameroon, leopard are found in northern and southern sections of the country, but their distribution is thought to be scattered due to habitat fragmentation and illegal hunting for bushmeat.

African Leopard have suffered from habitat loss and fragmentation, increased illegal wildlife trade, decline in prey and poorly managed trophy hunting.

Prey species are increasingly under threat from an unsustainable bushmeat trade across large parts of Africa’s savannas. Leopards are also killed illegally for their widely sought-after skins and other body parts used for ceremonial purposes.

African Leopard have limited levels of ecological resilience to human-caused habitat fragmentation, and as a result are more restricted to conservation areas – future decline is anticipated unless conservation efforts are undertaken.

African leopards inhabited a wide range of habitats within Africa, from mountainous forests to grasslands and savannahs, excluding only extremely sandy deserts. They used to live in most of sub-Saharan Africa, occupying both rainforest and arid desert habitats. African leopards successfully adapted to altered natural habitats and settled environments in the absence of intense persecution and they have often been seen close to major cities. But already in the 1980s, they have become rare throughout much of West Africa. Now, African leopards remain patchily distributed within historical limits. During surveys in 2013, they were recorded in Gbarpolu County and Bong County in the Upper Guinean forests of Liberia. They are rare in North Africa. A relict population persists in the Atlas Mountains of Morocco, in forest and mountain steppe, where the climate is temperate to cold. In 2016, an African leopard was recorded for the first time in a semi-arid area of Yechilay in northern Ethiopia.

African Leopard have suffered from habitat loss and fragmentation, increased illegal wildlife trade, decline in prey and poorly managed trophy hunting.

Prey species are increasingly under threat from an unsustainable bushmeat trade across large parts of Africa’s savannas. Leopards are also killed illegally for their widely sought-after skins and other body parts used for ceremonial purposes.

African Leopard have limited levels of ecological resilience to human-caused habitat fragmentation, and as a result are more restricted to conservation areas – future decline is anticipated unless conservation efforts are undertaken.

African leopards inhabited a wide range of habitats within Africa, from mountainous forests to grasslands and savannahs, excluding only extremely sandy deserts. They used to live in most of sub-Saharan Africa, occupying both rainforest and arid desert habitats. African leopards successfully adapted to altered natural habitats and settled environments in the absence of intense persecution and they have often been seen close to major cities. But already in the 1980s, they have become rare throughout much of West Africa. Now, African leopards remain patchily distributed within historical limits. During surveys in 2013, they were recorded in Gbarpolu County and Bong County in the Upper Guinean forests of Liberia. They are rare in North Africa. A relict population persists in the Atlas Mountains of Morocco, in forest and mountain steppe, where the climate is temperate to cold. In 2016, an African leopard was recorded for the first time in a semi-arid area of Yechilay in northern Ethiopia.

In Kruger National Park, male African leopards and females with cubs were more active at night than solitary females. In general, leopards spend their time singly and most active between sunset and sunrise, and kill more prey at this time. They maintain home ranges that usually overlap with each other. Thus, the home range of a male can often overlap with the territories of multiple females. Females live with their cubs in home ranges that overlap extensively and continue to interact with their offspring even after weaning; females may even share kills with their offspring when they can not obtain any prey. Leopards usually hunt on the ground and depend mainly on their acute senses of hearing and vision for hunting. They stalk their prey and try to approach it as closely as possible, typically within 5 m (16 ft) of the target, and, finally, pounce on it and kill it by suffocation. Leopards are known to be excellent climbers and often rest on tree branches during the day, dragging their kills up trees and hanging them there, and descending from trees headfirst. Leopards are also powerful swimmers. They are very agile and can run at over 58 km per hour (36 mph), leap over 6 m (20 ft) horizontally, and jump up to 3 m (9.8 ft) vertically. They produce a number of vocalizations, including grunts, roars, growls, meows, and purrs.

20-4-2018 OKAVANGO DELTA, BOTSWANA - AFRICAN ELEPHANT (Loxodonta africana)

20-4-2018 OKAVANGO DELTA, BOTSWANA - VERVET MONKEY (JUVENILE) (Chlorocebus pygerythrus)

The Vervet monkey (Chlorocebus pygerythrus) is an Old World monkey native to Africa. The term "vervet" is also used to refer to all the members of the genus Chlorocebus. These adorable monkeys live in social groups and involve their communication and alarm calls, specifically in regard to kin and group recognition, and particular predator sightings.

The Vervet monkey is of medium to large size and has a black-tipped tail which is often longer than its body. Its fur is olive or gray, lighter on the underside. Its hands and feet are black, as are its ears and face. Its face has a white band above it, framed with white cheek tufts. Its arms and legs are long, about the same length as each other, to enable the monkey to walk with ease on all fours while on the ground, and this actually makes it quite speedy when running. The males tend to be bigger than the females.

20-4-2018 OKAVANGO DELTA, BOTSWANA - STRIPED KINGFISHER (Halcyon chelicuti)

The Striped Kingfisher, known scientifically as Halcyon chelicuti, is a member of the tree kingfisher subfamily. It is a small, robust bird, with a general length ranging from 16 to 18 cm. The upper parts of the adult are predominantly greyish brown, while the lower back, secondary flight feathers, and tail boast a striking metallic blue, which is particularly visible in flight. The underparts are off-white, with varying degrees of buff and brown streaking across the subspecies.

When perched, the Striped Kingfisher may appear rather inconspicuous, but its flight reveals a white patch at the base of the primary flight feathers and a black border along the wing linings. Males can be identified by a black bar at the base of the primaries. The head is streaked dark brown, with a buffy grey or brownish background depending on the sex. A black line runs through the eyes and around the back of the neck, sitting above a white collar. The bill is blackish above and reddish-orange below, with the lower mandible being dull red in juveniles.

The Striped Kingfisher favors woodlands, thorn scrub, dry bush, and open savannas, but it tends to avoid densely forested areas, intensive farmlands, and extreme deserts.

This species is found throughout Sub-Saharan Africa, with two subspecies: H. c. chelicuti occupying most of the range, and H. c. eremogiton residing in the northern desert regions from central Mali to eastern Sudan.

Highly territorial, the Striped Kingfisher defends an area that may encompass up to three hectares and contain around 100 tall trees. It is known to chase away intruders, including other kingfishers, shrikes, doves, and rollers. The bird surveys its territory from a treetop, singing from before dawn until after midday.

The call of the Striped Kingfisher is a high-pitched, piercing "cheer-cherrrrrr" or a far-carrying "KEW, kerrrrrrrrr," with the latter featuring a descending trill. This call is often part of a dusk display involving wing-opening.

Breeding pairs engage in a display of sitting opposite each other, flicking their wings while singing. They nest in disused woodpecker or barbet holes, with both sexes incubating by day and only the female by night. The male feeds the female during this period. The species is mainly monogamous, though instances of polyandry have been observed.

The diet primarily consists of grasshoppers, other large insects, and occasionally small lizards, snakes, and rodents. The Striped Kingfisher hunts from a perch, swooping down to capture prey, which is then beaten before being swallowed.