Komodo Dragon

Life on Earth is a mosaic of interwoven events. The year dictates a natural rhythm. Animals around the globe respond to the changing seasons that trigger extraordinary cycles of life and death. In July, it’s midwinter in southern Africa. Landscapes turn into dust bowls, but the Okavango Delta remains a green oasis. Rough-tooth sharks gather to breed in the Indian Ocean in Indonesia. A massive lizard stalks its prey, and two lion prides clash in pursuit of a buffalo herd. This is the story of a single year on our planet in July and August.

Botswana is locked in the grip of its dry winter months; much of its landscape turns into a dusty wasteland. Only the Okavango Delta is greener than ever. The summer rains in Angola took a whole month to work their way down the thousand-kilometer course of the Okavango River before it entered the Delta’s Panhandle for 4 months. The water has traveled down to the furthest reaches of the Delta as a huge, slow-moving wave. Now in July, water levels have increased by 2 m, flooding channels, swamps, and land.

The flood has reached its fullest extent, and the delta swells to 16,000 square kilometers, about twice its permanent size. It’s like a gigantic waterhole in the dust of the surrounding Kalahari Desert. The Panhandle is the Delta’s entrance, a strip of land 95 km long and 15 km wide. Ancient Fort lines in the Earth’s crust channel the Okavango River before it spills onto the Delta Plains. This is the realm of swamps. Specialists like hippos, crocodiles, and predatory fish are now in July and August, and the backwater lagoons and channels of the Panhandle have cleared up enough to reveal an alien underwater world.

World Papyrus swamps cover large areas, forming loose and spongy floating mats. Little light penetrates. Through the Jungle of Stems and Roots, crocodiles hide in deep Papyrus caves here in the Panhandle. The ready supply of prey allows them to reach enormous sizes of up to 5 m long, but right now, during Botswana’s winter months, the cooler water temperatures make these coldblooded reptiles sluggish and less likely to attack the mass of vegetation in the water, which means there are large amounts of decaying plant matter that creates a buildup of acidic Waters are low in oxygen, yet many fish have found ways to cope with the difficult conditions.

Top minnows stay near the top, where oxygen supplies are highest. Here, they catch small insects at the water’s surface, even though this exposes them to predators. The payoffs of a rich food supply and plenty of oxygen render the risks worthwhile. Tiger fish prowl the lagoons and channels during the height of the flood season. They feed on robber and cichlid fish too large to escape to the safety of backwater swamps.

They also take catfish like squeakers, but they are well protected by sharp Barbed spines on their fins tiger fish and even small crocodiles have been found dead with the three pronged barbs of a squeaker locked firmly in their gallets everywhere water lies, providing welcome shelter for small fish. The Lily St stems grow long and thin until the flower butd has reached the surface air canals in their long stalks, keeping them afloat, but after just 4 to 6 days, the stems retract, pulling the flowers back into the water where the fruits ripen and eventually disintegrate but perhaps the most important residents of these waters are hippos.

112,000 km away in Ecuador July is the height of the rainy season cuyabeno is an area of dense tropical rainforest flooded swamps and murky rivers that forms part of the Great Amazon basin the northeast coast of South America is home to some of the wetest places on Earth and the kueno reserve receives a whopping 4,000 mm of rain every year right now in July rain falls almost every day humidity is at a stifling 85 to 95% and temperatures hover around 25° C.

But despite the extreme conditions the area has an incredibly Rich diversity of life with at least 12,000 plant species hundreds of different birds reptiles and amphibians many trees reach 60 m in height but the dense leafy green of the forest is misleading the soils are very nutrient poor and shallow plants rely on recycling decaying plant and animal matter quickly like the plants, animals have to find ways of coping with the hot and wet conditions it is their specialized diet that defines many of the animals living here.

Howler monkeys are among the biggest primates found in South America and have the loudest call of any land animal. I think that’s an interesting thing this one piece will make 52 layers watch on mobile devices or the big screen all for free no subscription required they’ve specialized on the most abundant food source here leaves and leaves contain a high proportion of difficult to digest cellulose little energy and toxic compounds so howler monkeys have a low metabolism and have to conserve the little energy they get from their food.

So they rest much of the day that’s why they have such loud calls instead of wasting energy by patrolling their territory boundaries. They declare their positions by calling to each other Intruders and competitors are warned off and the monkeys can dedicate themselves to digesting their leaves another bizarre Leaf specialist is the prehistoric-looking Hain; it too has developed ways of coping with its tough diet. Bacterial fermentation in their gut helps to break down the leaves they consume.

Their crop is so large as to displace their flight muscles, much to the detriment of their flight capacity. Leaf cutter ants also exploit Keno’s rich green foliage; they’re gardeners and cultivate a specialized fungus on the green leaves, which they transport to their nests. It is the fungus that feeds them, but in order to grow enough of it. These tiny insects have become the dominant herbivores of the South American Tropics, living in large societies of up to 8 million individuals per year. Nest leaf cutter ramps use a strict division of labor to ensure their work is carried out swiftly and effectively.

Some of the smaller workers hitch rides on the leaves carried by their sisters. They are tasked with defending the tiess workers against marauding flies. Each one of these cuttings can weigh up to 10 times more than the ant itself. Leaf cutter ants have been cultivating the same fungus lineage for more than 20 million years. In the extremely humid conditions of the tropical wet season, it is virtually impossible to keep anything disease-free, so leaf cutter ants even use antibiotic secretions as a fungicide in their gardens to keep persistent and ravaging molds in check. The relationship between the leaf cutter ants and their fungus is of mutual benefit.

They manage to grow vast quantities of food while the fungus survives well-protected and disease-free, like Ecuador Indonesia also straddles the equator on the other side of the planet. This archipelago of over 17,000 islands is surrounded by year-round warm waters and has a tropical climate. Rainfall defines the seasons, unlike the northwest coast of South America. July is the middle of the dry season when the islands are parched by arid winds from the Australian desert to the South Rika Island, which is one of the driest regions in Indonesia. Right now, temperatures are sore to around 40° open. Savannah marks the island’s landscape.

DEA water buffalo and wild boar are among its residents, but they’re exposed to a mighty predator, the Komodo dragon. This is the largest lizard in the world, growing up to 3 m in length and weighing in at a formidable 70 kilos. Apart from Rinker, they’re found only on a handful of neighboring islands. Komodo dragons often eat Carion, but they also take live prey, and they’re well equipped to hunt. 60 serrated teeth combined with a potent venom can make short work of animals as large as a water buffalo. Bad vision and hearing means the Komodo dragon uses its forked tongue to detect taste and smell prey.

Its sense of smell is so acute that it can hone in on carrying from a distance of up to 10 kilm. This dragon has sensed a buffalo on its way to a watering hole. Now during the dry season, the last dwindling water pools make excellent hunting spots at the water hole. There’s even easier prey: a small teore deer preoccupied with quenching its thirst. In the heat of the July sun, it’s too late to notice the approach of the massive lizard. Two other killers are hard on the heels of the first, but they pay little attention to the larger and more dangerous Buffalo. all the deer’s escape Routes are now cut off.

It makes desperate attempts to defend itself, but too late. A quick bite has already been delivered. The Modo Venom is very potent. It’s now only a matter of time before the deer succumbs to its injury. At the beginning of July, an extraordinary gathering takes place on the quulo natal coast of South Africa. About 5 km from the coast lies a reef known as the alwell. Sha an ancient fossilized sandune that was flooded when sea levels Rose around 880,000 years ago

Today it is a fertile Reef system home to an abundance of marine life at this time of year it Harbors the world’s biggest Gathering of ragged tooth sharks having spent June in pursuit of vast shs of sardines during their annual migration up to 80 ragged tooth sharks arrive at the aliwell shaw they’re in Prime condition as a result of the Sardine Feast they’ve been enjoying they’re in the best possible shape for their mating season ragged tooth sharks follow a seasonal migration and between July and October.

They spend their time here in the warm Waters of the aulus current even now in the middle of the South African winter water temperatures remain at a comfortable 20° now in July they’re ready to mate mating ragged tooth style is a rough Affair and the females show telltale signs that the mating season has started, scars on their bodies and bite wounds to their heads and fins. The females appear to gather inside these underwater caverns of the alwell shaw to get some respite from the males prowling.

The reef is in search of mating opportunities. Females will mate with more than just one male and are ready to breed every other year. Once fertilization has taken place, an almost unbelievable reproductive cycle is set in motion. Rough-tooth sharks don’t just have one uterus; they have two, and once the female’s eggs have been fertilized, as many as 10 embryos settle in each uterus. But about halfway through the 9-month gestation period, things change. The embryos develop precocious teeth, grotesque oversized heads and eyes, and they can swim.

Now the largest and strongest embryo in each uterus turns on its siblings vigorously, attacking and consuming them until only it survives. This is one of the few known cases of cannibalism within the mother’s uterus. The two remaining young will be about a meter long at birth, big enough to deter most predators. What’s more, they’re already experienced. Killers able to fend for themselves from the word go on Rika Island in Indonesia.

The timour deer has lost its Fight for Life, cornered by three Kodo Dragons at one of the last dry season watering holes, it had no chance of escaping. Komodo dragons don’t have to battle with their victims; instead, they quickly deliver a deep bite loaded with venom. The proteins in the toxins stop blood clotting, relax blood vessel walls, and drop blood pressure like a stone. The result is loss of consciousness and death. All the killers had to do was deliver a bite and retreat while the victim succumbed to its injury.

Now they can approach and consume the little deer at their leisure, although they live largely solitary lives share kills Their eating habits are vicious and messy; they tear large chunks of meat and swallow them whole. Being able to consume up to 80% of their own body weight in a single sitting combined with a slow metabolism means they can live on as little as 12 meals a year. This dragon will probably not have to eat again until next month August in the Okavango Delta, like Winka Island Botswana is also in the grip of its dry season.

The last rains here in the Kakan area fell in April, but the Okavango River’s flood waters still provide plenty of water for plants and animals. At 27°, August is one of the cooler months of the year, but temperatures are set to rise over the next few weeks, and even the Okavango rich water supply then begins to dry up. It is now that the animals in the Delta have to make the most of the season of Plenty and prepare for the approaching drought. Soon after sunrise, a troop of baboons is already busy searching for food.

They’re looking for seeds, insects, and other treats among the grasses. Baboons are gregarious animals living in large groups with strong social bonds. grooming is a welcome opportunity to take a break from the tiring search and serves to cement bonds with other group members. The youngsters take this chance to continue their exuberate games. It is a peaceful scene in the Kakar area until a group of banded monges arrives, although much smaller than baboons.

They show no fear and approach the large monkeys confidently, even playfully. Monges often seek the company of baboons for extra security. More eyes on the lookout for potential predators and some big male baboons on your side make for more relaxed foraging since their diet largely overlaps with that of the baboons. They’re often out in the same areas looking for food for the young baboons. They are clearly a source of entertainment and wonder alike, but as the morning drags on, the sun gets hotter and the mongo’s leave to seek shade for the baboons, it’s going to be a long day of intense foraging to stock up for the drier months ahead.

Mount Rani at 3,726 m one of the highest volcanic peaks in Indonesia forested slopes rise straight from the sea to create their own weather pattern for the entire Island it has several different ecosystems from lowland tropical forest two Alpine scrub the summit itself is a Barren Place marked by the destruction of recent eruptions yet life clings on even here despite the difficult terrain and lack of water and it isn’t just Hardy Alpine Flora that eeks out a living here at a surprising 3,000 M altitude a troop of longtailed maacs searches for food.

These gregarious monkeys are usually found in forests where they live on fruit perhaps the ongoing dry season has forced this troop up the slopes in search of other Foods Mount Rani is a popular destination for hikers, and they offer a plethora of food-related opportunities as opportunistic foragers and long-tailed maacs have learned to exploit their human neighbors. In some areas, over 20% of their diet is made up of human-sourced foods competition for limited resources can lead to aggression and bullying among troop members since they live in a hierarchy driven Society members of the lower ranks.

Often Fair worst in times of food shortages this can have particularly severe consequences for mothers with young babies given their lack of control over already sparse dry season resources their chances of bringing up a surviving infant are greatly reduced for this mother it has resulted in the death of her baby unwilling to accept her fate she cradles the dead infant in her arms until the end of the dry season in September signals more plentiful food supplies for the entire troop the likelihood of further deaths among the nursing infants of this troop is high in the kakaka area of the okavanga.

Delta the flood waters of the okavango river are still providing enough water for all animals soon things will change when the flood waters recede around September the land will dry up water will become more scarce Buffalo will then leave in search of better grazing, leaving the resident lion pride short of food so they’re busy making the most of the big buffalo herds while they’re still in their territory. The Pride Hunters are in pursuit of a herd stalking the Buffalo carefully before launching an attack.

Working closely together, they concentrate on sneaking as close to their prey as possible. Unable to sustain long assaults, the Lions have to get within 30 m. Their concentration is entirely devoted to the hunt, so they don’t notice another lion pride. In pursuit of the same her, these lions are trespassing on the Kakano Pride’s territory, and the residents noted them as their rivals. Under no circumstances will the pride tolerate The intruders on their patch abandoned the hunt and heard them heading towards the buffalos.

It’s a tight spot for the trespassers; buffalos are not to be trifled with, but if caught by the resident lions, they’re in for a beating, managing to break through the Kakan Lion’s Ring of Defense. They make good on their escape, but in the confusion, one of the unwanted visitors has mistaken the residence for her own pride and follows them. When she realizes her mistake, she quickly turns back, but having noticed the impostor, one of the kakan females gives Chase close attention, followed by the alpha male.

They want to make sure that their rivals are well and truly gone from their territory, and with the annual drought around the corner, they can’t afford to share the prey in their area with anyone and to advertise whose boss around here, the AL for male, loudly lays claim to his pride and his territory along the east coast of South Africa, a colorful community benefits from the warmth of the aulus current as it works its way south from Mamb.

Due to the extensive coral reefs just off Sodwana Bay, it is now winter in Quulo. Natal and August are two of the coldest months when temperatures drop to around 20°. Their southern location and seasonal weather make Sodwana Bay an unlikely home for tropical coral reefs, yet water temperatures remain high all year round. Corals are highly sensitive to temperature fluctuations and are confined to areas where the water never gets cold older than 16°.

The reefs at Sodwana Bay can only survive here due to the wind current from the north that keeps their corals alive and thriving. Corals are ancient invertebrate animals related to jellyfish; they tend to live in nutrient-poor These microscopic plants rely on tiny algae in their tissues to stay hydrated and alive. Supply about 90% of the coral pops nutrient requirements by turning sunlight into sugars but the algae come at a price; it is they that cannot live in waters that are too warm or too cold.

Here at Sodwana Bay, the corals and their algae thrive in the surprisingly warm waters of the Ulus current. Despite the cooler winter weather, coral reefs are like ocean oases. About a quarter of all marine life lives here. Dart in and out of nooks and crannies while Predators prowl The reef for prey occasionally makes the traditional roles of predator and prey obsolete. These tiny shrimp might make a welcome snack for this potato bass, but here they fearlessly crawl all over the predator.

This is a reef cleaning station. The shrimp are known as cleaner shrimp. All sorts of fish drop in here and are willing to allow the tiny crustaceans to give them a makeover by removing irritating parasites. Sean’s enemies are regulars at The Reef; they are primitive animals and use their tentacles to capture prey. Inside each tentacle, a myriad of tiny stinging cells discharge on contact with potential quarry poison. Laden stings include neurotoxins to paralyze prey.

They are thought to be highly toxic to fish and crustaceans, but there is an exception. the clown fish F these colorful little fish are immune to the Sea and enemy’s poison possibly through the protection of a special mucus layer in fact clownish have made C an enemies their home taking advantage of the protection offered by the an enemies stinging tentacles in return the clown fish keep their host scrupulously clean and their feal matter provides nutrients for the Sean enemy clownish live in small groups within a single an enemy usually a breeding pair and a few juvenile males all clownish are born male.

So when the female dies the dominant male changes sex and becomes a female this breeding pair has laid a neat field of eggs next to their host an enemy and carefully fusses over them they’ll aggressively defend their offspring in the face of any predator in about 6 or 10 days the eggs will be ready to hatch to become the newest additions to the multicolored world of sana’s coral reef in the kakan area of the okavango Delta the resident lion pride has had to abandon their hunt their confrontation with a neighboring rival pride has alerted the buffalo’s their cover is blown.

But Lions need around 5 to 7 kilos of meat a day so not eating is a bad option especially in the run up to the Delta’s roof ruthless dry season although Lions tend to hunt live prey they’re not averse to Scavenging especially when times are tough the alpha male has caught the scent of a dead animal following his nose he finds an Impala corpse hidden in the long grass but this animal hasn’t died of natural causes it is the precious kill of a leopard sensing the Lion’s approach the killer quickly sought refuge in a tree for him it isn’t worth taking on a lion.

The lion would undoubtedly have the upper hand what’s more an injury could impair the leopard’s ability to hunt and a dis labed leopard rely survives for long so all he can do is watch as the kakan lion picks up his kill and Tucks in male lions rarely share their kill with other Pride members so this male keeps quiet about his lucky fine he is able to Gorge himself and eat up to 30 kilos in a single sitting but eventually he’s eaten his fill and leaves the meager leftovers in the grass he’s in best shape to face the oncoming drought the leopard has watched the lion keenly throughout his meal.

Now he feels safe enough to leave the tree carefully he approaches the remains of his kill he grabs what’s left and bolts back up the tree at least the scraps left on the carcass can provide him with some energy to go on the hunt again soon as August draws to a close the seasons on planet Earth continue to change triggering new phases in the lives of many creatures weather and climate change constantly as the year progresses, life responds to these subtle signals with some of the most incredible spectacles on Earth.

Life on Earth is a mosaic of interwoven events. The year dictates a natural rhythm as animals around the globe respond to the changing seasons that trigger extraordinary cycles of life and death. In September, spring is in the air in southern Africa, and entire landscapes burst into bloom. Thailand is gripped by the monsoon rains. The reefs of the South Pacific are home to an exceptional diversity of marine life, and in Botswana, the dry season is tightening its grip.

This is the story of a single year on our planet. It’s September in Botswana, and the dry season begins to envelop the country in earnest temperatures of up to 40°C. Even the knights bring no respite from the heat. The cooling rains won’t return until November. The landscape is parched, and the vegetation dries up. Even the usually elusive leopard is seen more frequently in the thinned-out undergrowth this leopard has wisely found shade in a feverberry tree to escape the blistering midday temperatures.

The overwhelming heat forces him to wait until sunset before setting out on a hunt. Lookout is a safe haven for marauding lions. Leopards favor imp parlor gazel and springbok, but during the dry season they have to be less choosy. Now they’re often competing with hyenas for food and are even ready to gorge on rotten meat. When times are tough, they’re prepared for anything and will often steal the kills of smaller Rivals.

Leopards are solitary creatures and aside from mating interactions between individuals are rare females usually give birth to a litter of three Cubs the young are weaned at 3 months old but will stay with their mother for 2 years until they can fend for themselves this mother hasn’t managed to keep all of her three Cubs alive only one has survived but the 5-month old Cub seems to be injured one of its legs is caught in a tree Fork it has been struggling to free itself for several hours now it collapses exhausted by its ordeal.

Its mother has stayed close by she tries to help her cub encouraging it to get up but all her attempts to free the Cub fail mastering all its energy the youngster eventually manages to break free only now does the true extent of her injuries become obvious Both hind legs are paralyzed. The likely result of a hyena attack since the dry season has forced much of the game to leave in search of grazing fights between predators has become more frequent. The cub is fighting for survival, but it’s unlikely to make it through the night.

Now that the mother has lost her last baby, she must fight for her own. Survival in these difficult times: she even turns to her own dead cub as a valuable source of protein. While Botswana is firmly in the grip of the dry season just 1300 km away on South Africa’s West Coast, the climate is strikingly different in the MAA land. National Park plants and animals are reaping the benefits of a seasonal downpour brought on by a cold front over the Atlantic Ocean following the brief winter rains. September signals the onset of springtime; it’s known as the neaca land. Daisy season for nine months of the year.

Nequa is a dusty barren region, but between August and October, its face changes drastically. Suddenly It’s trans transformed into a dazzling carpet of wild flowers even just a few days rain allows these plants to survive in the most arid of Landscapes the seemingly infertile while Earth responds by rapidly producing millions of flowers that emerge in a phenomenal explosion of color fields of neaca land daisies stretch as far as the eye can see the flowers turn towards the sun f in its path across the sky from east to west the daisies are supremely adapted to the neaca land climate.

They condense their lives into a few short weeks when they burst into bloom they attract a host of pollinating insects in search of nectar they move pollen from one flow to the next ensuring a good genetic mix and a healthy new generation of neaca land daisies but the desert soil doesn’t remain moist for long the brief flowering period is crucial for the daisies they have to be as attractive to their pollinating visitors as possible those that have the most brilliant flowers have the greatest chance of attracting an insect the spring flowers also draw Monkey Beetles from their hideouts.

They’re almost exclusively found in this region of South Africa and feed on the rich pollen in one pollen filled flower there is a flurry of activity these two barred monkey beetles are battling for Supremacy the Victor will secure the pollen A desperate wrestling match ensues; the loser has to find a flower of his own while the winning beetle claims its prize, but the flower also benefits. Pollen becomes attached to the hairs on the Beatles body, spreading from flower to flower, but the spring flowering season rarely lasts longer than 6 weeks.

Parting Shot is to release millions of seeds. They will lie dormant in the ground until the rains return, then they will once again transform the barren desert into a colorful Eden. In Northern Thailand, plants and animals are also taking full advantage of the monsoon period. It’s the middle of September, and many rural areas are now flooded as usual. At this time of year, Thailand is located in a tropical monsoon belt. 90% of the country’s total rainfall occurs between May and October but despite the heavy rains, temperatures remain in the mid-30s each year.

Two Rivers Running In parallel, the ficket province swells with the monsoon rains and bursts its banks, but the floods are just what the land needs. The waters carry a rich mix of sediments and nutrients to these flood plains. Many species of fish migrate upstream at the start of the rainy season. They disperse onto the flooded rice patties to feed, spawn, and nurse their young. For the time being, this area is the domain of the fish and their predators.

King Fishers are highly territorial; they defend their patch and don’t tolerate trespasses. This little bird hunts from its perch and carefully surveys the water for small fish. He strikes like lightning and repeatedly bashes his prey against his perch. As well as killing the fish, it helps to break harmful bones, enabling the king fisher to swallow his prize whole and head first. The fish won’t stay long before the flood waters recede in a month’s time, and they’ll begin their migration back.

Downstream, while the rivers are overflowing in Thailand, water is fast disappearing from the flood plains of the Okavango delta. In winter, the seasonal rains flood the plains with clear, cool water, but it doesn’t linger for long. Millions of fish make good their escape, and my north leads to areas of more permanent water, but thousands become trapped in the rapidly dwindling pools. Now they’re trapped with no means of escape, unlike most resident animals.

This is a seasonal bounty for the Delta’s birds. September marks the start of the breeding season for yellow build stalks, maribou stalks, purple herens, and other bird life temperatures. rise to a scorching 40°, and the last remaining water holes dry up fast. Now these pools have become feeding hotpots. Aquatic life becomes more and more concentrated in the shrinking pools, providing vast numbers of water birds with a well-timed feast.

Large congregations of catfish become easy prey for opportunistic birds, which gather in ever-increasing numbers. All these birds have developed a huge variety of hunting methods. The great white pelican is one of the largest flying birds in the world and uses its distinctive leathery pouch as a net. Plunging their bills into the water, they troll for fish, letting the water drain from the pouch. They cleverly retain the fish inside. As this pelican has caught a particularly large catfish, it jerks its head to let it slip down.

First, it’s not easy. The catfish often put up a spirited fight and continue to live for a short while in the bird’s gullets. This boisterous Marabou stalk is having less success. Its method of randomly stabbing at the water depends on luck. yellow build stalks have HED an impressive hunting technique they use one foot to stir up the mud and flush out their prey this one is using its wings to create shadows in the water this not only attracts fish it also cuts out surface glare which interferes with the st’s ability to spot prey.

Almost every type of bird here has developed its own hunting technique all of them are taking advantage of the plentiful fish supply at this time of year but it won’t be long before this pool dries up in the intense heat as temperatures continue to rise throughout September once this pool has been exhausted these flocks of birds will be forced to move to the next available water source to compete yet again for a substantial meal in sh contrast the tropics have a much more stable climate seasonal extremes are unheard of the closer you get to the Equator the less distinct.

The seasons are just 800 km north of the equator in the Pacific Ocean lies the island nation of La it enjoys a tropical climate with temperatures averaging 27° all year round it’s nearing the end of September and the rainy season is drawing to a close the daily rains can be torrential but brief and the sun often breaks through the clouds in the sea there is even less seasonal variation the water temperatures never dip below 20° providing the perfect environment for palo’s exceptionally Rich marine life Palal is made up of 300 limestone islands.

They’re the remains of ancient coral reefs lifted up and out of the sea by volcanic forces many years ago beneath the water. Surface three ocean currents converge here, supporting over 100 species of fish and more than 700 species of coral. These currents gather pace as they negotiate underwater projections, plateaus, and channels, bringing with them vital supplies of plankton. Huge numbers of fish come to take advantage of the feast. Plankton is the key ingredient in this underwater world.

These tiny organisms are the building blocks of this entire ecosystem. As the tide pushes huge volumes of water between two shallow banks, a living haze of plankton is channeled. Here, vast numbers of filter feeders struggle against the strong currents to consume. Millions of these tiny morsels, then one of the ocean’s largest animals, make an appearance. A manta ray is vast and can have a span of 7 m, yet they feed on some of the smallest animals in the sea. These gentle giants are filter feeders and prey exclusively on tiny planktonic animals.

With their prey being so small, the manta has to consume huge quantities to survive. They can eat up to 140 kilos of plankton each day. Glides through the Plankton fog, taking in every particle in its path. This large ray has a distinctive body shape with triangular pectoral wings and paddle-like loes extending in front of its mouth to funnel prey. Loops, pivots, and circles during an extraordinary acrobatic performance again and again return to the same plankton hotspot.

As long as there is plenty of food and the water is warm enough, manta rays do not need to migrate, and due to Pal’s tropical climate along with an abundance of plankton The Majestic Mans can be found in these waters year-round, as well as plants and animals. May thrives year-round in Palao due to its distinct lack of seasons, but in Botswana, the dry season has changed everything. It’s now the start of October, and soon Dawn will give way to another baking hot day in the Madi Hadi National Park, with summer just around the corner.

This vast area of open plains in the northern part of the Kalahari Basin turns into a dust bowl. Temperatures often head into the 40s in the dusty heat. Every remaining scrap of water is overrun with wildlife. Hippo are now forced to share smaller and smaller pools to escape the intense heat. As the water continues to evaporate, they have to structure their days around the blistering rays of the African sun. They only leave after nightfall to graze. This group of hippos has just returned from a 5-hour nocturnal feast.

To find enough food, these hippos have to travel increasingly far to graze. Only after consuming 40 kilos of grass did they make their exhausting 3-kilometer return journey. They’ve arrived just in time at their refreshing sanctuary. Before the searing heat of the day kicks in, these semi-aquatic land mammals spend up to 16 hours submerged in water to stay cool. a hippo Out of Water risks rapid dehydration and overheating and although the water keeps their temperature down it doesn’t offer much in the way of skin protection.

So hippos secrete a fluid that acts as a sunscreen their sensitive skin remains protected and is always moist it is vital at this time of year when water is so scarce they barely have enough to submerge themselves despite their laid-back appearance hippos are one of the most dangerous animals in Africa more people are killed by hippos than any other animal in water as on land hippos tolerate close contact with each other but they can also be highly aggressive mature hippos can stay underwater for up to 5 minutes in their sleep.

They rise automatically to breathe resurfacing is as involuntary as bre breathing itself they’re highly adapted for their Aquatic Life eyes ears and nostrils are perfectly positioned to stay above water even when their owners are almost completely submerged these hippos have a long wait ahead of them for a fresh supply of water the okavango flood water won’t arrive for another 6 months as long as the dry season continues to evaporate their water pools.

They’ll have to make do with mud baths Not all animals have to cope with such extreme seasons. over 12,000 km to the east of Botswana in Palao, conditions are totally different. consistently warm water temperatures allow a rich diversity of underwater life to thrive including 13 million golden jelly fish they inhabit a land lot saltwater lake known as Jellyfish lake it was formed at the end of the last ice age some 12 to 15,000 years ago when sea levels Rose cracks and channels in the Limestone allowed not just seawater into the lake.

But also microscopic organisms including jellyfish lvy in the open ocean jellyfish live mainly on plankton but not the jellyfish in this Lake they depend on Tiny Elie that have colonized their transparent bodies the Elie provide energy for themselves and the jellyfish by converting sunlight into sugars some of which they share with their host even though jellyfish lack a heart a brain bones and even eyes they can still smell taste and detect light with special nerve sensors as the sun rises over Jellyfish lake.

The jellyfish pulsate Eastward towards the light allowing the ele to produce the essential nutrients they follow the sun throughout the day this daily migration also helps the jellyfish to avoid their enemies predatory white Sean enemies when the jellies reach the shade cast by the mangroves lining the shore they turn back avoiding the enemies any jellyfish unfortunate enough to swim too close to the enemies will be caught instantly but danger doesn’t just come from the en enemies this is a delicately balanced ecosystem easily upset when any of its elements change.

Just over 10 years ago a temporary increase in the water temperature wiped out that Year’s entire crop of ly severely affecting the golden jellyfish population for years to come unlike Pal’s year- round tropical climate temperatures in Northern Botswana rise and fall dramatically with the changing seasons It’s the middle of October in Makadi Hui National Park, and temperatures reach blistering highs of 40°C. Almost 3 months have passed since the Okavango Delta came into full flood.

Now the unforgiving Kalahari is reclaiming the land during this time. 11 billion cubic meters of water have vanished into the parched earth or evaporated into the atmosphere. Thousands of zebras and wilderbeasts beat our hasty retreat from the fringes of the salt pans. The PLS are largely deserted. The animals make the 50 km journey west to the Betti region since 1989. The Betti river has remained practically bone dry, but there are still a few water holes on the dusty riverbed where many animals gather.

Now they must share these shrinking pools with one of the area’s permanent residents, crocodiles developed a unique survival strategy when temperatures sore the crocodiles retreat into caves which they’ve carved out of the riverbank as the water hole is on their doorstep these predators don’t have to go far in search of food thirsty animals arrive in their Millions red build quilia are the most abundant birds on the planet native to the grasslands and savanas of sub-Saharan Africa the quick little birds are always wary of predators.

But the crocodiles know how to treat them as the Quia quenched their thirst the hunters move into position these little birds may not have much meat on them but they are in plentiful Supply the crocodiles silently, submerge, then strike quickly. The crocodiles catch some of the Quia in midair and knock others into the water. Some Quia are injured, and others are so waterlogged that they’re unable to take off again. Seeking safety on the river bank, but there is no escaping the crocodiles.

They silently comb through the rebreeds with their snouts and swallow what they find. Time and time again, the crocodiles go back for all until finally they’ve had their fill, but most of the Quia survive their dangerous visit to the water hole and return to their roosting. Spot while the crocodiles retreat into their caves. The lush green of this region underlines its luxurious water supply. The Thai rainy season has just come to an end. By mid-October, a season of plenty for plants and animals alike is about to begin.

Temperatures have now dropped to 33°, but humidity is still extremely high due to the recent rains. this pristine rainforest is one of only a few remaining unspoiled tracks of forest left on Earth literally thousands of different insect species live here anything from dragonflies ants beetles to brightly colored butterflies while nectar is the main food source for butterflies they need to supplement their diet with salts and minerals found in dung urine and standing water to find food the butterflies use their taste organs located at the ends of their legs.

When a leg touches a good source of food a reflex causes its prosis to uncoil to suck up the find however butterflies don’t fare too well at this time of the year raindrops and strong winds can damage their delicate wings that’s why they seek shelter at the first sign of an oncoming storm but changes in temperature pose an even greater danger than rain butterflies must maintain a body temperature of about 28° C if butterflies get too cold.

They’re unable to move their wing muscles find food or flee from predators so during the day they’ll bask in the sunshine and even seek out rocks to soak up the heat from underneath sometimes the sun just isn’t intense enough to get a butterfly moving now the butterfly will shiver its wings gradually warming up the muscles eventually the butterfly is warm enough to fly once again At the end of October, temperatures reach their peak in Botswana’s Okavango Delta.

Rising regularly above 40°, the normally lush flood planes have dried up, and as the waters receded, large buffalo herds have all but disappeared to areas of more permanent water, large prey is extremely scarce, but for the kakan pride luck is on their side, they’ve managed to kill a young Buffalo as water is now in short supply for these Lions, they must take in as much moisture as they can from their quarry, immediately after the kill, they rip open the belly and drink up Intruders arrive at the scene hoping to get a share.

A young male and two females from a rival pride are trespassing on the kakan Lion’s Turf as they edge towards the larger pride. The kakan females finally spot their rivals quickly. The males leap into action. The alpha male is by far the stronger contender. The young intruder doesn’t stand a chance. The Stranger limps off, bleeding from a battle wound. He won’t be back anytime soon. The female trespassers are also in danger but the dominant male doesn’t attack this female; instead, he repeatedly mates with her.

In the meantime, the remainder of the Kakan pride seek respite from the sun’s scorching. Rays to rest after their welcome meal as October draws to a close. The seasons on Earth continue to change, triggering new phases in the lives of many creatures. weather and climate change constantly as the year progresses and life responds to these subtle signals with some of the most incredible spectacles on Earth. Life on Earth is a mosaic of interwoven events.

The year dictates a natural rhythm. Animals around the globe respond to the changing seasons that trigger extraordinary cycles of life and death. It is November in southern Africa, and summer is on its way in Canada. Polar bears face starvation, while penguins on the Antarctic Peninsula are busy raising their chicks and in Yoka Vango Delta at long last there’s an abundance of prey to hunt this is the story of a single year on our planet.

It’s November and summer has finally arrived in the southern hemisphere during winter the seasonal floods had filled the plains of the okavango Delta but in the extreme heat the land quickly turned into semi desert now the days are even hotter especially in the weeks leading up to the four norc coming rains temperatures now regularly reach a blistering 44° CSUS the Thirsty Earth is parched and lifeless many animals have left the area in search of better grazing so their predators face starvation the dry season can be a desperate time for the Delta’s lions.

Especially the young cubs when the Cubs are 6 months old they’re weaned but they’re still unable to fend for themselves with games so scarce at this time of year the adults can become so famished that they’ll drive their own Cubs off a precious kill All animals are exceptionally aggressive. Many of this Pride’s cubs have already died. Back in April, there were 14 cubs; now only five remain, but luck is on their side. They’ve secured a massive kill.

A young elephant lion is a brutal and efficient predator, yet hunting elephants is a rare occurrence, but desperate times require desperate measures. This is the third elephant this pride has killed in the past 2 months. It seems these lions have developed a successful hunting strategy to overpower these massive animals. Elephants are the largest land-dwelling animals on the planet and have been known to attack and kill lions. Baby elephants are fiercely protected by their mothers.

This young elephant has become separated from the herd, lacking protection. It’s extremely vulnerable. Then, in a moment of bold opportunism, a lone lioness seizes the chance to hunt, but without the collective prowess of the pride, this elephant is simply too big and strong to bring down a lion. a nocturnal Ambush is likely to be more successful as the light fades the balance of power shifts. The elephants are now at a distinct disadvantage; they have poor night vision.

The young elephant provides a life-saving meal for the hungry. Pride scuffles break out as they vie for their share of the carus; they’d normally prefer a buffalo, but now in the dry season, the lions are forced to diversify and go after unusual prey. Several vultures arrive at the scene, waiting for an opportunity to scavenge from the remains, but the lions aren’t prepared to give up their precious kill so easily. Even the cubs keep a watchful eye on the scavengers, making sure they never get close enough to steal the pride’s meal.

A hippo meanders through the plains, and the pride Focus all their attention on this lumbering beast, but this time their eyes are too big for their bellies; they are simply too full to make Chase so for now, the pride rests in play. There is a sense of anticipation. A Change Is in the Air: The rainy season is near, and a new phase in the life of the Delta will then begin. Summer has also arrived on the west coast of the Antarctic Peninsula, but even now animals have to battle with the cold.

This is the northernmost part of the Mainland. Antarctica temperatures here are extremely low, and snow storms and gale force winds can persist for days on end. Even in summer, average temperatures hover around 2°C. Now now there are close to 24 hours of daylight, it produces an explosive growth of phytoplankton food for massive swarms of krill, which in turn will provide nourishment for fish and ultimately seal whales and seabirds. Everyone gathers here to fatten themselves up and produce their young during the seasonal glut.

This extreme environment is home to a vast colony of Gen 2 penguins. They’ve timed their breeding season perfectly to coincide with this season of Plenty. They take full advantage of the Krill, which means they can breed here successfully. Hundreds of Gentu breeding pairs live on this Rocky Cliff Toop site, all jealously guarding their nests to protect their eggs against the cold. These penguins build nests of pebbles, which keep the eggs above the ground and out of the snow, but ownership of these circular stony nests often results in noisy disputes.

Gen 2 Penguins will aggressively fight over and steal pebbles from their neighbors. This male is blatantly stealing pebbles from a nearby occupant. As he doesn’t experience much resistance, he keeps going back for more at his nest. Another rival is already busy stealing his pebbles, but in the end, they’ll probably find their way throughout the colony. okay occasionally a penguin will go further a field in search of new nesting materials but it’s extremely hard work as they have to Traverse a lot of snow to conserve energy these penguins always tread the same path to and from their nests.

Creating penguin super highways their chicks will hatch at the end of January anuary and both parents will take it in turns making the arduous Journey to the sea to bring food for their young in sharp contrast to the Antarctic Peninsula it’s Africa’s blistering heat that is making life increasingly difficult in Botswana it is now mid November and in the okavango Delta Dark Skies high winds and a heavy heat are increasingly common temperatures regularly exceed 40° oppressive heat and Dusty winds Mark the days.

Finally there is a lull in the wind and rain falls Massive storm clouds and isolated showers characterize these Delta rains. The level of the Delta’s water briefly rises, but 95% of it will be lost through evaporation. But even though there’s just a small change in the water levels, the landscape is almost immediately transformed with a new flush of lush green grass. The sudden availability of water opens the grasslands to grazing animals that now abandon their retreats of permanent water and follow the Reigns.

The return of the herds transforms the grasslands. Predators watch their every move. This much-needed rain has refilled water holes that once again attract animals. The new grassy shoots are very nourishing, and female antelope make the most of them to gain strength and feed their young. With so much game, it’s a busy time for predators. Impalas are the most common and widespread antelop open in Africa they time their breeding season perfectly so birs coincide with the rainy season if the rains come late.

They’re able to delay giving birth by as much as 2 weeks now this verdant landscape is the perfect nursery for this herd of Impalas with their young Lambs initially the mothers keep their young hidden but after a couple of days the youngsters join the rest of the herd forming a sort of Crash these young Impalas are suckled for up to 6 months and grow rapidly they will reach maturity in a little over a year but only half of these lambs will make it to maturity all the large carnivores relentlessly prey on Impalas.

That’s why they’re always on high alert they’re renowned for their spectacular leaps to evade a hunter adults can jump up to 3 m high and 12 m in distance even in these very young Impalas this Instinct has already kicked in the young Impalas bound around practicing their leaps then a veret monkey high above them sounds a distress call a predator is close by the Impala mothers have been warned and are extremely alert then out of the bushes comes a leopard holding a young Lamb by its throat.

The Impala mother bravely follows but it’s too late it’s been a good day for the leopard this is the third Impala lamb she has killed now she stashes her Quarry in the dense vegetation close to the bushes the mothers continue to keep watch they look on and wait in vain for their young ones to return shielded in its Lair the leopard begins to eat as the Impala lambs have been fed only on their mother’s Rich milk they are particularly nourishing much later the Impala mothers rejoin their herd leaving the leopard to continue her Feast.

Whilst lifegiving rains bring an abundance of food to the okavango Delta polar bears face starvation at were p national park on the shores of Hudson Bay it’s now winter here and around the coastline of Northeast Canada November brings Arctic temperatures cold enough to freeze even sea water. This is one of Canada’s wildest and most remote landscapes. Its terrain and climate are extremely harsh. It is the home of the polar bear. They love the long winters with temperatures of 45°.

An icy wind whips the landscape. Even brief spells of sunshine don’t bring any warmth, but against the odds, wildlife not only survives here but actually thrives in some of the worst weather imaginable. Wusk means white bear in Creole. The park earns its name because it protects one of the world’s largest polar bears. Denning areas polar bears are built for extreme cold; they experience almost no heat loss as layers of fur and blubber keep them so well insulated that they are likely to overheat if they run at this time of year.

At this time of year, almost a thousand polar bears roam the park as they wait for the sea to freeze before heading out across the frozen Hudson Bay in search of food. The hungry bears haven’t eaten in months and are basically stuck until the bay freezes. the Bears can’t set out to feed on ringed seal their staple food they rely on on seals for about 90% of their diet and will spend the winter months out on the ice feasting on seals and building up their body fat they will feed until the middle of summer when the ice starts to break up forcing them back onto dry land as long as the sea ice hasn’t formed.

The Bears try to find food on land but there’s little to be had their strength is on the Ice polar bears can’t swim fast enough to catch a seal in the water and need an ice platform to grab one surfacing for air this year the freeze up is already 3 weeks late and open water near the shore is preventing the Bears from moving out onto the ice if these bears do not feed soon they will face starvation Climate change has shortened the bears hunting season dramatically each year.

The freeze starts later and the sea ice THS earlier, reducing the amount of time they can feed. This fragile balance means the polar bears are in the Dire Straits; they’ve already been designated as a species of special concern in Canada. Arctic foxes have also begun to appear at the shoreline. Winter is always a lean time for them, and they usually follow the polar bears to scavenge on their leftovers. The fox’s dependency on the bear’s food makes this wait an especially tough time for them right now.T

he delay poses a huge strain for the bears too, especially for mothers with nursing cubs. The need to feed is acute, but all they can do is rest to conserve as much as possible energy as possible and wait for the ice to form in quu Nal on the east coast of South Africa summer has brought a dramatic change with temperatures around 30° it rains almost every afternoon now the onset of the rains has transformed the landscape with Lush New Growth animals enjoy the fresh green shoots at this time of year.

Elephants largely live on enormous quantities of fresh grass spending the hottest part of the day in wooded areas and grazing in on the PLS as the day cools down they will spend anywhere from 12 to 18 hours consuming up to 300 kilos of food a day elephants are poor digestors and are one of the animal kingdom’s most prolific defecator a typical adult elephant expels an average of 100 kilos of dung every day but nothing is wasted here and anything edible won’t stay around for long before the feces have even had a chance to call Dung Beatles come out in force to claim their share of what nature has provided.

These industrious little insects spend their entire lives frantically creating and rolling balls of dung. The Beatles cling on with their hind legs while their broad shovel-shaped front legs are used to tightly pack the dung into round balls suitable for rolling, pushing up to 50 times their body weight. They stand on their heads and use their super strong legs to roll the dung up to 100 m away, then dig a tunnel and bury the ball before the female lays an egg on top. As the dung balls undergo decomposition, food and warmth are provided for the lvi until they’re ready to emerge for the males size Matters.

The bigger the balls, the better the Beatles chances of attracting a mate. As the dung balls are central to the lives of these Beatles, they’re often highly coveted. A beetle without a ball of its own will do its best to steal one, but this beetle will not give up without a fight. The dung beetles are fiercely protective of their dung balls. When they finally safely bury their ball, the males return to the dung. Heap and start all over again.

A single dung beetle can bury 250 times his own body weight in dung each day. These miniature bulldozers provide an all-around great service to the land, as well as loosening and fertilizing the soil. They are one of nature’s finest cleaners; without them, the Great Plains of Africa would be overwhelmed with piles of dung. On the Serengeti alone, hundreds of thousands of wilderbeasts create an enormous amount of droppings.

It’s around 420 metric tons daily; that’s the equivalent of over 15 and a half shipping containers full of dung. These Earth-moving machines remove 3/4 of the dung from the surface and return vast quantities of nutrients back into the soil. They are one of Africa’s most important and indispensable little creatures. Creatures while the African summer is in full swing, the climate and temperature stay relatively constant throughout the year on these tropical islands, situated just 4° south of the Equator and 1500 km off the east coast of Africa.

The SE shells is a group of 115 Islands scattered across a wide expansive ocean even though they are so close to the equator these islands have a surprisingly mild climate cool seab breezes influence the temperatures so the islands do not suffer from the hot and humid climate typical of the equatorial Zone it’s the beginning of December and it rains almost daily downpours can be heavy here but rarely last long and temperatures remain at around 30° many of these islands support a large unspoiled tropical ecosystem with healthy populations of land.

Sea life including Turtles and giant tortoises these huge reptiles can weigh as much as 300 kilos and live for an average of a 100 years the shores of the SE shells also provide a safe haven for nesting Hawks Bill Turtles they always return to the same beaches where they were born to mate and lay their own eggs Mating usually occurs in waters near the nesting beach, but only females come ashore; their heavy bodies leave telltale tracks in the white sand. October marks the start of the Hawks Bill nesting season but now they laying eggs in Earnest.

A feature unique to the local Hawks bills is that these Turtles come ashore during the day to lay their eggs this Hawks bill has crawled right under the dense growth at the top of the beach and is well into the egg laying process incredibly her choice of nesting site influences not only how quickly the eggs will hatch but also determines the sex of her Offspring warmer egg clutches will produce more females this female will go through this process four or five times this season laying around 140 eggs in each clutch once the eggs are laid.

She covers them with sand to mask the exact area where she deposited the eggs it will take between 55 to 70 days for the hatchlings to emerge but they will never meet their mother with her nest digging and eggling duties fulfilled she makes her way back to Sea leaving her Offspring to their own Fates It’s now December, and in Botswana’s Okavango Delta, the summer rains continue to transform the landscape, with lush green grass sprouting everywhere. This seasonal change is drawing vast numbers of buffalo back into the Kakan region.

Their movements are driven by their constant need for suitable fodder; they travel huge distances in search of the best available grazing, weighing as much as a small car and equipped with massive horns. Buffalo are formidable animals coupled with a tendency to fiercely defend herd members; it makes them seriously dangerous adversaries even for a lion, but as soon as the long-awaited Buffalo finally reappear, the Kakan pride is back on the hunting trail.

The hunters calmly lie in the grass, patiently waiting for a straggler or Cal to stray from the herd, focusing all their attention on their prey. The Lions Shadow makes every move, but for now they keep their distance. The herd sensing danger switches to a state of high alert and close ranks, defensively forming a sturdy wall of bodies and horns. They aggressively advance towards the lions while the adult lions withdraw to a safe distance.

Three bold but inexperienced youngsters hold their ground just 20 meters from the encroaching Buffalo. Any of these young lions that don’t keep their wits about them now could easily get trampled to death or tossed aside by the buffalo’s massive horns. realizing the severity of the situation The Cubs abandon all hope of a kill and begin to beat her hasty retreat, but the buffalo have spotted their weakness and continue to pursue them. One of the cubs seeks Refuge up a tree.

Luckily for this young Cub, it’s just beyond the reach of the Buffalo’s powerful horns. As the Buffalo eventually moves away, the pride has to accept defeat. This time, just as the pride regroups, the heavens open. One of the mothers anxiously calls, worried that she has left her Cubs behind. Eventually, she is satisfied that for now her family is safe. Over 8,000 km away in Indonesia lies the island of Sumatra. It sits astride the equator, and its climate is about as tropical as it gets with constant warm weather.

Daytime temperatures seldom stay below 30° on the coast, but it’s noticeably cooler inland. High rainfall and yearr round humidity mean that much of Sumatra is covered in tropical rainforest these Lush forests are phenomenally rich in wildlife and home to some of the most endangered creatures on Earth on Sumatra orangutans are still living in the wild these incredibly car Matic primates were once found throughout Asia but now they’re only found on some Indonesian Islands here.

There are still enough tracks of forest to sustain breeding populations of orangutans these extremely intelligent creatures clearly have the ability to reason and think and their devoted mothers they look after they young for almost 8 years it’s one of the longest child parent relationships in the world that is why natural mortality rates are very low amongst young orangutans this mother shows obvious affection for her young baby during the first four months of its life.

She will never leave the infant on its own until it reaches 2 years of age this orangutan baby will remain completely dependent on its mother it is carried everywhere relies on her rich milk for food and sleeps in the same nest as her she encourages her infant to climb but always stays with an Arm’s Reach until it gets more confident because they live so dangerously high in the trees a mother orangutan must be careful with her Offspring at first an infant simply holds on as tight as it can to its mother but now this baby already goes on short excursions.

Just as far as its mother permits mother orangutans are very patient with their offspring and instrumental in their development eventually she will teach her Offspring to navigate through the dense forest and how to find food only then will it have developed the necessary skills to fend for itself but should this youngster live for its full 35 years will there be enough Forest left for it to enjoy its own offspring over 90% of orangutan habitat has already been decimated by the growth of palm oil plantations.

If the current Trend continues it is possible orangutans could be extinct in the wild in less than 10 years the name orangutan literally means man of the forest and that is where they will hopefully remain as the year draws to an end in botswana’s okavango Delta the lions are making the most of this rare period of plenty since the Buffalo returned to the kakan area with the onset of the rains the Lions have been following the herds the Pride’s Cubs are learning fast from their mothers and are now taking an active role in the hunt.

Only by working closely together can they bring down such massive prey and they always have to pick the right moment of attack able to sustain top speeds of 60 km an hour only for very short bursts they have to rely on ambush attacks in a matter of seconds The Pride have managed to bring down an adult Buffalo cow as they pinned down the hapless Buffalo. A few of the lionesses leave their victim and intently head off into the bush the lionesses have managed to bring down a second adult cow then a young male weed Buck wanders into the Fray.

He too is brought down prey is usually pulled to the ground and suffocated it’s a skill that requires practice and these Cubs are on a steep learning curve but before the Lions even manage to dispose of the reedbuck a third Buffalo charges out of the Bush the lionesses immediately latch on to its rear end even one of the larger cuups hangs gamely onto the flanks of the huge beast in a killing spree lasting only a few bloodthirsty minutes the cocan her Pride have successfully hunted down.

Three buffalo and a young reedbuck it’s more than enough to sustain The year is ending on a high note, at least for the Kakaka Lion Pride. Their future is looking secrecy in the Okavango Delta. The year is coming to an end, but it’s only the beginning of the recurring cycle of life. New phases in the lives of many creatures are about to start, and life continues to respond to the challenges of nature’s unbroken cycle.

Reference: Wikipedia, Britannica, YouTube