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Caracal, side striped jackal, Eland, Serval, Leopard, Lion, Elephant, Blue Duiker,Rhino, Buffalo, honey badger
Mass
Male 8-20 Kg
Female 4-15 Kg
Life Expectancy
± 11 Years
Felis caracal
Distribution
The Caracal is
found anywhere in Southern Africa where there is suitable habitat and cover
Diet
They will take small to medium sized prey species like dassies, springhares, birds, mongoose, mountain reedbuck, jackal and rodents
Habitat
They have a wide tolerance for different habitats but are more commonly found in open woodland
Habits
Both male and
female are solitary
They show amazing jumping powers and can leap up to three metres from a lying
down posture
Caracals compete with Blackbacked
Jackal
Caracals are closely related to Servals
They kill large prey with a bite to the neck
Breeding
A female will give birth to 2-5 young after a gestation period of just over 2 months
Predators
Blackbacked Jackal may take unprotected young Caracal with Leopard being a possible threat
Mass
Male 3.8-5.5 Kg
Female 4.6-7.3 Kg
Life Expectancy
± 7 Years
Philantomba monticola
Distribution
Found along the
south eastern coast of South Africa, eastern Zimbabwe and central Mozambique
Diet
Fallen fruit
Habitat
Found in forests, thickets and coastal bush
Habits
Usually solitary
but also found in pairs
Very shy animals
By far the most abundant rain-forest antelope, the Blue Duiker, along with its
western counterpart, Maxwell's Duiker, is a mainstay of the bush meat markets of
West Africa
Couples maintain visual contact, partly through constant up and down movements
of their white tails. The Blue Duiker feeds during the day
Breeding
All year round
One fawn is born after a gestation period of between 4 and 7.5 months
Un-hunted rain forest population produce 1 offspring a year, those outside rain
forests sometimes give birth twice a year
Predators
Mainly Leopard and Python
Mass
Male 7-12 Kg
Female 7-10 Kg
Life expectancy
± 11 Years
Canis adustus
DistributionThis Jackal
dominates woodlands in the more humid regions of the Northern and Southern
Savanna
Diet
This jackal is
more sluggish, nocturnal, and omnivorous and less predatory compared to the
Black-backed Jackal
Mainly feeds off fallen fruits, insects, rodents and birds
Habitat
Lives in the
woodlands and in areas where forest and woodland have been transformed by
cultivation
It also inhabits bush, grassland, and marshes offering good ground cover, and
montane habitats
Habits
They are
monagamous, territorial pairs
It definitely occurs in well-spaced pairs and family units of up to 6, and from
8-12 have been counted at kills
Breeding
Three to six pups
are whelped during the rains or just before August in South Africa
The gestation is reported to vary from 57 to 70 days
Mass
Male 8.5-13.5 Kg
Female 8.5-12 Kg
Life Expectancy
± 12 Years
Felis serval
Distribution
Mozambique,
Zimbabwe, Eastern and South Eastern Africa, South Africa, Northern Namibia and
Botswana
Diet
Feed mainly on mice and rats but also take insects, grasshoppers, locusts and crickets
Habitat
They are found in areas where there is long grass, reed beds or scrub present
Habits
Both male and
female are solitary but may spend some time together if mating or with young
They will spend the day lying up in thick grass or bush areas becoming active
towards evening
They are stalkers and pouncers
They have very long legs and excellent hearing
They can climb trees if need be
Breeding
A female will give birth to one of three young with a gestation period of a little over two months
Predators
They may be taken
by Caracal, Jackal
and possibly Leopard
Mass
Males ± 700 Kg
Females ± 400 Kg
Life Expectancy
± 12 Years
Taurotragus oryx
Distribution
They can be found
in South Africa, Namibia, Botswana and Zimbabwe
Diet
They are mainly browsers but will occasionally feed on fresh grass shoots
Habitat
They can be found in open grasslands, semi deserts as well as in montane grasslands
Habits
They are often
found in herds
Both males and females have horns
They have a gland which is found in the tuft on the forehead
They are generally territorial
They do make puffing and grunting sounds while feeding
They can jump better than any other related animals
They will push out strange calves that do not belong to the herd
Breeding
A female will normally give birth to one young after a gestation period of 7-8 months
Predators
They are taken by Wild Dog, Leopard and Cheetah when young. Hyena and Lion will prey on adults
Mass
7-15 Kg
Life Expectancy
± 24 Years
HONEY
BADGER
Mellivora capensis
Distribution
These animals are
found throughout Southern Africa except in the desert regions
Diet
The Honey Badger is an omnivore feeding on fish, small animals, insects, eggs, honey (to a lesser degree than is thought) carrion, ground birds, bulbs and roots
Habitat
This animal has a wide tolerance for habitat but does not occur in the dry desert regions of the country
Habits
They will often
be encountered as solitary animals but do pair up closer toward the breeding
season
They live in holes which have been created by antbears or in burrows that they
themselves have dug out
They are very dexterous when dealing with prey
They are said to have a symbiotic relationship with a bird from the Honey Guide
family, but this has been disputed
They do find bee hives quite readily by themselves
They are incredibly aggressive and highly respected by most animals in the bush
They are probably one of the strongest animals power to body ratio
The coat fits very loosely on the animal, so if bitten, the Honey Badger can
swivel around to attack.There is a Afrikaans saying (metaphor) that goes
"So taai soos a Ratel" which translated means "As tough as a
Honey Badger"
Breeding
They will give
birth to two young after a gestation period of 6 months
The young are kept in a burrow
Predators
There have been
reports of Lion, Hyena
and Wild Dog killing honey badgers (probably not as a food source)
Malaria in South Africa National Parks
Malaria is a word many people associate with game parks
in Africa. However only one of the South African National Parks is in a malaria
risk area and that is the Kruger National Park, although even here the risk is
usually low. Historically there have been incidences of malaria in other parks,
but then there are recorded incidences of malaria from urban Europe and other
non-risk areas. But to all intents and purposes Kruger is the only malaria risk
park in the South Africa National
Parks’ set-up.
Anti-malaria prophylactics are thus recommended for visitors for Kruger. The
highest risk period is between December and April (end of the rainy season). A
24-hour malaria hotline is available on +27
(0)82 234 1800 to give detailed explanation on risk and advice
on precautionary measures. Visitors
wishing to take prophylactics should consult a knowledgeable medical
practitioner or recognized travel clinic about recommended medication, as
certain products cause nausea, hallucinations or other negative side effects
with certain people.
Very often (particularly after periods of low rainfall) the malaria risk in
Kruger is very low. Many people decide not to take prophylactics and rather try
to avoid getting bitten. The most vulnerable times are between dusk and dawn.
People are advised to stay indoors during these periods, or cover exposed skin
with light clothing or insect repellants. The ankles are the most critical area.
Burning anti-mosquito coils and ensuring netted screens are kept closed are
other preventative measures.
While malaria prophylactics are recommended, no prophylactic is foolproof and
any person developing flu-like symptoms 7 to 20 days (or even longer) after
being in malaria areas should be tested immediately for malaria, until the
symptoms clear or an alternative diagnosis is made. It is important to advise
medical practitioners that you have been in a malaria area to avoid incorrect
diagnosis.
On
the question of prophylactics, no drug is guaranteed 100% effective, but a
combination of choroquin (taken weekly first one week before) and paludrin
(daily - first 2 days before) appears to be the most recommended prophylactic.
Mefloquin is a single alternative. These
would be available from pharmacies in Johannesburg and en route to the park (and
perhaps for sale at some of the larger rest camps in the park).
However as they should be taken a week in advance, if one chooses to use
them, buying them in SA would be leaving it late, unless you will be spending
time elsewhere in the country (most of which is malaria free).
The
threat of malaria should not affect your decision to enjoy and experience the
Kruger Park, but is just something one should be aware of and take precautions
to be exposed to.
NB Most types of mosquito do not carry the malaria plasmodium and if one is bitten it does not mean one will contract malaria. Only mosquitoes of the anopheles genus carry the plasmodium, and then only if they have previously fed on an infected host. As the presence of people with the plasmodium in their bloodstream in the park is greatly reduced compared to past times, risk is once more reduced. One reason for these reductions is that the accommodation units in the parks are sprayed periodically throughout the year. Now that international campaigns see treatment taking place in adjacent countries such as Mozambique and Swaziland, malaria occurrence has been further reduced.
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