KANGAROO FIGHTS LIKE BOXERS

       Kangaroo boxing and kangaroo fighting play an important role in a kangaroo’s everyday life. As soon as a kangaroo leaves its mother’s pouch there’s no time to lose to learn the most valuable skills. Young kangaroos box playfully, later on, their fighting skills determine whether kangaroos can survive in the wild and whether a male kangaroo gets the chance to become the father of a joey. How do kangaroos fight?

Kangaroos use their strong tail and hind legs to stand up and fight. When they are in an upright position, kangaroos start the fight by grasping the neck of the other kangaroo with their forepaws. In this high-standing posture, kangaroos extend their claws and wrestle. They paw their opponent’s chest, neck, shoulder and head. Some kangaroos then balance on their tail and kick the opponent’s abdomen with their hind legs. 

Difference Between Red Kangaroos And Grey Kangaroos

Red kangaroos have much longer bodies than grey kangaroos. Moreover, body weight of a red kangaroo is more than as twice as grey kangaroos. Red kangaroo has a wider home range covering all the states of Australian mainland, while Eastern grey kangaroo is a restricted species to the Eastern parts of the country.

KANGAROO FIGHTS

How do kangaroos fight?

Dust flying. Scratching, pounding. Grunts and growls. Thump! Two huge kangaroo feet meet a kangaroo belly. Watching a kangaroo fight is like watching a very strange sport. Their stance and style is quite human – akin to boxers in a ring – circling, punching, grappling. Like boxers, kangaroos spar a lot before they actually fight. These play-fights are common and often seen in the evening in spring and summer in southern Australia.

But when they kick, the fight becomes strange. There is no human equivalent of a double-foot kick whilst balancing on your tail. And its no longer sport when two alpha males fight to the death.

Last night while i was watching ” Australia deadliest monster” on wild channel and when i switched on my tv when show was in mid somewhere. That time  it was showing snakes like; King brown snake, Titan Snake , inland taipan snake and one reptile that is Perentie. But at first i was in doubt that why they include this cute and humble animal “kangaroos” in monster naming show. 

But they actually resemble monsters when they stand directly on their tail while fighting,  Two huge male Red  Kangaroos were fighting. Real fighting. This was not a game.

Huge red bodies grappled and strained against each other. Their hands lashed out at each other’s heads. Kicks thundered into bellies every few seconds, making the thump sound we had heard.

This was more than a fight for life. This was a fight for the future of their species. 

The older male had fought this way before, and had won. In winning he had become the supreme sex-god of the kangaroo world. He could have any female he wanted, and no-one would argue. He was Alpha Male.

The younger male had never fought like this before. He had sparred and won, many many times. But that was just practice leading up to this. This was the fight that he, and all male kangaroos, live for. Failure could mean death, but it would be worth it.

For an animal species to adapt and survive, only the best should breed.

The younger male went down. 70+kg of muscle hit the ground hard in a punishing fall that would result in terrible bruising. Seizing the advantage, the older male jumped on him, hitting and wrestling in a desperate attempt to keep him down and end the fight.

The older male was the better fighter, keeping his balance, timing his kicks well. He was bigger too – access to the best grass had given him muscles . But the younger male was determined. He fought his way up again and attacked hard.

Show focused only on main and powerful scene of there fight, unable to drag myself away specially because how instructor giving every detail of their physic and powerful attempt to win the fight. The two males fought on and on. They were tired and their chests were stained with blood. 

The young male went down again and again, but always returned to the fight stronger and more determined. You had to admire his courage. He was unstoppable.

How does it end?

Finally, after hours or days, one male will surrender. He makes this obvious by coughing. It sounds just like a human cough. He may need to cough several times before the winner will accept his submission.

And at the last the new male kangaroo won the fight and now older mail have to leave the group.

In time the older male started to falter. He was forced down, and though he fought hard, the young male didn’t let him up. He coughed, but the young male kept at him. He coughed again, trying to creep away. He was finished, he was hurt. He had lost everything but his life.

The young male was also hurt, but his testosterone was surging. He followed the older male as he backed away, trying to fight him. But it was over. He lay down, relieved and sore, surrounded by the females that were now his.

The older male retreated as far as he could manage, then fell over, exhausted. We will never know if he survived, but his days of glory were over.

 Females kangaroo who were used too,  to this kind fights, and who didn’t paying attention to there fight were now ready to go with their new lead.

Why do kangaroos fight?

Male kangaroos fight for sex.

A female kangaroo will mate with the male with the highest status. So for a male having the highest status possible ensures more sex.

Status is established amongst the males in an area by fighting. The ultimate status is Alpha Male, but very few males achieve that. Males can breed without alpha status, but only if the alpha is not around.

How do they fight?

If all the bluff displays don’t work, and two big males are evenly matched, a fight will occur.

A fight usually starts with one male approaching the other and smacking at his face with his hand. Both rise up on their toes, lean their heads back and hit and grapple each other with their hands.

The next move is the kick. Balancing on his tail, a kangaroo leans back and kicks out at the other male’s belly. Big claws on the feet, and huge muscles in the legs ensure that the kick is painful and damaging. Male kangaroos have thickened skin around their bellies to protect themselves from this, and they can take hundreds of kicks in the course of a fight. A few kicks like this would be sufficient to disembowel a human.

The round of kicking and hitting is interspersed with wrestling as the males try to force each other to the ground. If one falls, the other will press on with the attack, trying to keep the other male down.

The life cycle of a baby kangaroo

Kangaroos are one of Australia’s most iconic species and there is no better place to see them in the wild than Kangaroo Island.

These fuzzy creatures have a particularly interesting life cycle, so let’s dive in!

Beginnings

Kangaroos breed year-round, so there is no one ‘best time’ to see them. Female kangaroos remain pregnant for just one month after mating. After a month, they give birth to a jelly-bean sized kangaroo. They are hairless and blind and are so small the mother can’t even touch it yet.

When the baby is born, the mother licks her fur to make a pathway. The joey then uses its sense of smell to guide its way to the mother’s pouch, pulling itself along using its sharp claws. Once in the pouch, the joey will remain here for at least another 6 months.

During this time the joey feeds on its mothers’ milk and begins to grow. Slowly it grows fur and its eyes open before soon enough it resembles the kangaroo you know today.

Leaving the pouch

After having a few months to develop in the mother’s pouch, the joey will begin to poke his had out. This is usually the first time it sees the outside world. However, just because it has poked its head out, does not mean it is ready to fully emerge.

At approximately six months old the joey will make short trips out of its mothers’ pouch to explore and gain strength in walking. By 8 months old the joey is fully independent and remains outside of the pouch. Though out of the pouch, joeys will feed on milk for up to a year before relying only on grazing.

Having a joey

Kangaroos become sexually mature at just under two years and are capable of giving birth from then on. In the wild, many kangaroos do not reach the full age of maturity and they have adapted as a species to reproduce earlier.

Female kangaroos are quite the impressive mothers and can raise three joeys simultaneously. They can support one on foot, that is to say out of the pouch but still needing milk, one in the pouch, and one in the womb. During this time, she can produce three unique kids of milk to suit the needs of each joey – cool!

That’s not all though. Sometimes being pregnant isn’t suitable for a kangaroo. In these times the mother can pause the development cycle and give birth at a more suitable time – how wild is that!

Yellowstone

 Yellowstone ….

Basically im a person who love to do stone craft project and last from ten years i involved too much in stone , its because my small business unit is about stone material. We sell raw material, flooring material ,  handicraft product ,  painting and DIY work with stone. So when i heard this name ” Yellowstone”, on wild life channel, my first thought is that are showing something about yellow color stone. Because here in India, we too have many stone types which are in series of yellow stone. 

But i was wrong…its a place. Yes .

Yellowstone National Park, the first national park in the United States and one of the most famous protected areas in the world, has much to recommend it. Many go for the geothermal features, the scenic vistas and the great hikes.

It’s a big park. Standing on a boardwalk, the idea of spotting a wolf feels unrealistic. For me its more unrealistic because im sitting here in India and that too in summer climate .

For me, as great as those features are, Yellowstone will always be a place to view large wildlife. You can spot great herds of bison, grizzly bears rooting for ground squirrels, otters swimming after cutthroat trout, and bighorn sheep scampering up cliff faces.

Though i have no plan to visit Yellowstone in these days , but still after i watch the series on television number of time, so some animal latterly give me goosebumps with their lifestyle. That how they are able to survive with all those difficulty. So not today but definitely someday , i would be there to greet them all. Lol

But write now im ready with some interesting facts about animal from Yellowstone. (all thanks to internet and specially those people who write amazing post of there amazing experience .) 

At 3,472 square miles, Yellowstone National Park is an enormous reserve full of diverse terrain, stunning views, pristine natural beauty, and a lot of wildlife. Hundreds of different species call Yellowstone home. In fact, 67 different species of mammals alone live here, making it the largest concentration of mammals in the lower 48 states. With such a wide variety of animals throughout the park, people are often eager to learn more about them—particularly the weird and wonderful facts that make wildlife so interesting! That’s why im happy to be sharing my favorite Yellowstone wildlife facts with you today. Whether you’re planning an upcoming trip to the park and want to know more, or you’re simply looking to impress your friends with your animal knowledge, these wildlife facts are sure to have you looking at Yellowstone wildlife in a whole new light.

Grizzly bears 

Grizzly bears are big—really big. Males can grow to be as large as 700 pounds. With all that weight, you’d think they’d be slow-moving animals.

The truth is that grizzly bears can reach top speeds of up to 40 mph. That is faster than your average rabbit, white-tailed deer, and housecat. If you’ve seen a cat run around your house, you know they can be pretty quick. Now imagine adding nearly 700 pounds to their size and you’ll start to get a sense of how impressive a grizzly’s speed can be. These agile animals are also quite adept at swimming, and in the spring can commonly be observed emerging from hibernation.

Bison 

Bison are synonymous with Yellowstone National Park, and it’s easy to understand why. After all, they’ve lived here for thousands of years. Today, Yellowstone National Park is home to the only continuously free-ranging bison population in the lower 48 states. That said, there was a time when Yellowstone’s bison were pushed to the brink of extinction. In fact, in 1902, only about two dozen bison lived in the park. Through careful conservation efforts, bison are once again flourishing in Yellowstone, with an estimated nearly 5,000 living in the park as of August 2017.

Bison are known for sticking together

Social animals by nature, bison often form herds directed by older females. These herds are well known for keeping bison safe from predators, as they work to protect and defend themselves as a group. Of course, it probably doesn’t hurt that bison are the largest land-dwelling mammal in North America. If a wolf or grizzly bear comes upon a herd of bison, they may take one look at their intimidating size and turn the other way in search of elk or another potential meal that’s easier to catch. We can’t say we blame them.

Wolves in Yellowstone

It might be hard to believe, but for much of the 20th century, wolves were scarce in Yellowstone. In fact, by the mid-1900s, intensive surveys found no evidence of wolves living in the park. This all changed in 1995 when 31 gray wolves were relocated to Yellowstone from Canada. This reintroduction proved to be a great success, and as of 2015, it was estimated that 528 wolves resided in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, with more than 100 wolves living within the park itself. In addition, researchers have identified 11 distinct packs in the area. Not bad for an animal that was practically non-existent just over 20 years ago!

Bighorn sheep – Yellowstone

In Yellowstone, bighorn sheep occupy rough, tall country where they have good escape routes from predators. According to the Park Service, there are fewer than 500 bighorn sheep in all of the park, with about 250 in the northern range. Early reports of large numbers of bighorn sheep in Yellowstone have led to speculation they were more numerous before the park was established.

Elk

Elk are the most abundant large mammal found in Yellowstone and are an important species within the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. Yellowstone provides summer range for an estimated 10,000–20,000 elk (Cervus canadensis) from six to seven herds, most of which winter at lower elevations outside the park.

Female elk weigh up to 500 pounds, while massive bulls can reach a weight of 700 pounds. An elk’s coat ranges from tan in the summer to dark brown in the winter. Their coloration becomes darker around their legs, stomach, head and the shaggy mane that extends from their neck to their chest. Elk have a sandy-colored rump and a short tail. They have a stocky body and long, slender legs and can be 5 feet high at the shoulder and 5 to almost 9 feet in length from nose to tail.

Only males have antlers, which they shed in March or April. The new ones begin growing soon after the old ones drop and will weigh as much as 30 pounds per pair! The space between the tips of the antlers can be as wide as 6 feet. When males fight, they don’t stab with the antlers; instead they lock them together and wrestle, with the stronger male winning the battle. These battles rarely result in serious injuries.

Moose

Yellowstone moose are the smallest of four subspecies of moose (Alces alces shirasi) in North America. Found in forested areas and willow flats from southeastern British Columbia to southern Colorado, they are better adapted to survival in deep snow than other ungulates in Greater Yellowstone. Except during the rut, moose are usually found alone or in small family groups. This behavior, and their use of habitat where they are often well concealed, impedes accurate estimates of population size and distribution.Canada lynx                                                   

Lynxes are slightly larger than bobcats and generally don’t show spots on their coats. They are also recognizable by their huge feet, which act as snowshoes when chasing prey across snowy terrain, and their “muttonchop” ruff on their cheeks and chin.A lynx’s tail is even shorter than a bobcat’s, and generally has a black tip. They also have hind legs that are noticeably longer than their front legs, making their back slope forward.Five different types of snakes live in Yellowstone

While Yellowstone is predominantly known for its bison, bears, and wolves, many other animals call the park home, including snakes. To date, five different species of reptiles have been identified in Yellowstone National Park but only one is dangerously venomous. These include:

• The bullsnake

• The prairie rattlesnake

• The rubber boa

• The common garter snake

• The terrestrial garter snake

Now, if snakes give you the shivers, you’re not alone. But you’ll be happy to know that of these slithering residents of Yellowstone, only one—the prairie rattlesnake—is dangerously venomous. And furthermore, there have only been two reported prairie rattlesnake bites in the nearly 150-year history of the park.

Yellowstone is home to North America’s largest wild waterfowl

Over the years, 285 species of birds have been documented in Yellowstone, with approximately 150 regularly nesting in the park. Amongst these frequent visitors are trumpeter swans, which are known for their unique, brassy call, elongated necks, and impressive wingspan (sometimes exceeding eight feet!). Trumpeter swans also hold the distinction of being the largest wild waterfowl in North America, with males weighing an average of 26 pounds and females an average of 22 pounds. Their size also makes them one of the heaviest flying birds in the entire world and an awe-inspiring sight to see take flight. Unfortunately, trumpeter swans are very sensitive to human disturbances. To ensure they have the privacy they require, access to known swan territories and nesting areas is restricted within Yellowstone. So if you see one on your travels, consider yourself lucky, and make sure you give it plenty of space to feel safe and secure.

Discover the weird and wonderful wildlife of Yellowstone for yourself

With so many unique and exciting animals in Yellowstone National Park, there’s plenty waiting here for you to discover. Start planning your visit to America’s first national park today and get ready for a wildlife adventure like no other on Earth.

The Must Watch Show – Equator From The Air

 “Equator From The Air” , the show which i have seen yesterday and i thought it would be too a normal series which would showcase some animal and their day to day routine. But i was wrong, because this is not only a show, which showcase some majestic moment of animals or views about nature. 

  So basically i can say that , its more than just a show.

Till today i have watch many shows on television and after that i search about them  on internet to get more details. But this show make me to rethink about my all viewpoints which i gather in last two to three months.  Evetime when i watched any animal series , my wish to see them in reality get increased. But this show tells me that we as human are disturbing the balance between nature and animal. 

This mother nature creates us, and as well as to animals and others too.  Each person or animal survival is totally depends upon balance. A particular cycle is decided by nature, than whatever we are taking from it, should be return in same manner . But somewhere this cycle is broken, and specially this “never ending wish list ” tendency of humans impacting this nature cycle. 

yesterday when i watching this show” Equator from the air” , is focusing on Africa’s  wild life and the reason why it getting affected . How the specific places completely changed from their beginning. What would happen in future if we wont take specific step to heal the environment. 

In a defining moment for the natural world, Gordon Buchanan makes an epic journey round the equator – taking to the skies with experts racing to protect both wildlife and people. Gordon Buchanan starts his journey in Africa, where equatorial wildlife competes for space with a fast-growing human population. In Kenya, Gordon takes to the air to investigate the plight of flamingos and wildebeest, and joins an aerial team racing to rescue elephants from brutal attacks. In Uganda, satellite tech is helping a vast refugee camp become a thriving community. And in Gabon, illegal gold mines are detected from the air, while drones are deployed for a humpback whale health check.

The very first place was great rift valley. Mammals abound in the Great Rift Valley. Lions, leopards, African elephants, rhinos, buffaloes, cheetahs, giraffes, antelopes, zebras and primates ranging from mountain gorillas to chimpanzees all call the Africa’s Rift Valley home. Mountain gorillas are some of the most iconic animals endemic to the Rift Valley.

one of the world’s most remarkable ornithological sites due to its millions-strong flamingo population, Lake Nakuru is a vast body of water in Kenya’s Rift Valley province.  According to the Kenya Wildlife Service, the lake is also home to more than 56 different mammal species, 300 plant species and more than 450 species of terrestrial birds. 

The flamingos feed on the algae that the lake produces as a result of its large salt content. 

More than 2.5 million flamingos migrate annually between the Rift Valley’s many salt lakes, with their main breeding site being Tanzania’s Lake Natron. 

The expert from show, mention that due to level increase of water and contamination of lake flamingo wont receive their food ” algae ” from waterbody. So they shifted to another lake .

Over the course of the last decade, a large number of Lake Nakuru’s flamingos have died for unknown reasons – a phenomenon that environment experts blame on the toxins they say contaminate the lake’s waters. 

“Pollution in the lake is killing the algae that is the main source of food for flamingos,” Wahome said. “If nothing is done, we risk losing all our flamingos.”

Wildebeest typically inhabit the Serengeti plains of southeastern Africa. For most of their lives, wildebeest graze in the grassy savannas and open woodlands of the plains, which straddle the nations of Tanzania and Kenya.

More than 1.5 million wildebeest migrate in an enormous loop every year. The annual migration northwest, at the end of the rainy season (usually in May or June) is recognized as one of the “Seven Wonders of the Natural World.”

They travel kilometer in their particular time, but now at present , this journey is obstructed by fencing issues. Fencing of metal wires which cause them to stuck between them , and some time they lost their or path. Some environmentalist are running campaign to help them. But some time when rescue take time, than result is death of animal . 

Ivindo National Park is a national park in east-central Gabon in Central Africa, straddling the border of the Ogooué-Ivindo and Ogooué-Lolo provinces. In this visit expert shows the impact of gold mining project.

The place over which work done, was completely ruined and turn out to be desert with no flora fauna. The expert mention that , for separation process of gold they might have uses mercury , which have long impact . It could be work as main polluting content to the near by river and to the animal as well. 

 Tragic situation is that after completion of work, industry no longer to care for further plantation or i can say betterment of forest . 

Forest loss due to mining is a recent and growing trend in National Park, and the finding highlights fears that much of remaining wilderness could succumb to the twin threats of deep poverty and organized crime.

Helicopter is the way and with the help of experts they traces the big animal of Africa’s wild life that is Elephant. African elephants are the largest animals walking the Earth. Their herds wander through 37 countries in Africa. They are easily recognized by their trunk that is used for communication and handling objects. And their large ears allow them to radiate excess heat.

The very friendly animal of forest is also facing issue of population increase. They love to travel in group for finding food and other activity. But due to increase in population, village area is reached near to their forest and sometime when they destroy the crops. They cant escape from village people and some time situation get worst, and last to elephant death. 

Earlier when there was no solution to trace the elephant and cant keep eye on people, hundreds of elephant were killed. But now expert have eye on elephant as well on people, so they try to make boundaries between to, so their safe life.

Next visit was to the marine life expert , they showcase that how the big oil projects and shipping work making impact on marine life. The increasing use of motorized vessels rather than human or sail-power for fishing and pleasure craft is increasing pressure on the environment by causing oil slicks and by direct physical damage from boat propellers. There is also a high risk of major oil spills, given that 30 per cent of all oil exports from the Near East pass through the sub-region. This high level of transport traffic also exposes the marine and coastal environments to oil pollution through discharge of ballast water and oil leaks.”

Louder noise produces from regular traffic for ships stop the communication of whales in Africa’s sea area and due to which major decrease in number of whales is noticed. For this they take sample of Humpback whales. 

By their special technique they make eye on marine animals and run there research program to know better about whales health and life cycle. 

In this show, mr. gordon visit is not limited to animal places but they went to bidi bidi refugee camp. where they meet to local person .Who were creating everyday map of all places, map of facilities ,schools etc. Map which is directly link to satellite so later on it would be helpful to create a better place with all facilities .

 Map which shows proper functioning for human as well as set boundaries for human to not emerge as problem to wild life. 

Why this human is racing, towards a better life or to create a mess for future generation. In bidi bidi refugee camp people spending their life last from three years, they are here in this situation  to save themselves from death. One person who involved in map creation, mention that his father was killed and he have no choice than to run here. At least that person is in process of making  better tomorrow.

What we are upto.

I salute this kind of shows, which do not focus only to show good thing. But can take a dig on real problems and can bring awareness that with bit careful and positive approach we can save our environment. We as human have to take responsibility  , to make better earth. Better earth for all, either its animal or human. 

Crikey! It’s the Irwins series on Animal Planet

 Yesterday in night before sleeping while i was switching tv channel on remote my eye stop at animal planet channel , which showing baby animal, that is Ringtail possum. A female person was carrying this baby in pouch and she mentioned that, she was caring for this baby since last week . Now she was here in zoo , to check that was weight of baby is increased or not.

 As she find out that weight of ringtail possum is increased , so now she can left that baby their zoo with another ringtail possum, so they both can be friend and can teach other the real lifestyle of ringtail possum.

This particular show name was ” Crikey! It’s the Irwins ” , and i can easily remember that last time too i watch this series and last time it was about baby flamingo. 

Crikey! It’s the Irwins follows the family of Australian conservationist and zookeeper Steve Irwin (aka “The Crocodile Hunter”) as they live and work at the Australia Zoo. Cameras capture the family caring for all the zoo’s animals as well as their home life.

Stephen Robert Irwin , nicknamed “The Crocodile Hunter”, was an Australian zookeeper, conservationist, television personality, wildlife expert and environmentalist.

A Family is totally dedicated to work for animal, this make me so amazed and i cant keep myself away from sharing this beautiful and lovely inspiring series on animal planet channel and specially this last night Ringtail animal, and with inauguration of new bird Avery on the name of their upcoming generation. 

In Australia, there are currently 27 different possum species. The common brushtail and ringtail possum are the most widespread species.

brushtail possum

ringtail possum 

As mentioned, possums are nocturnal marsupials. Most possums dwell in the hollows of large trees, but the common ringtail possum makes nests in shrubs or trees. Possums mostly consume eucalyptus, nectar, flowers, and fruit as well. 

How Long Do Possums Live

In the wild, the average lifespan for common possums is around 5 to 8 years. However, brushtail possums can live up to 13 years in the wild, while ringtail possums will live between 10-12 years. 

When it comes to lifespan differences, females will often outlive their male counterparts in the wild. Female possum offspring have a greater survival rate than male young because they establish their home ranges closer to their mothers. However, males often move farther to find nesting sites. As a result, they are forced to abandon existing territories.

Female young from the Ōrongorongo river population in New Zealand remain with their mothers after weaning. Some then inherit ideal den locations from their mothers.

Gestation 

Breeding can occur at any time of year, particularly for the common brushtail possum, although it is most prevalent in the spring. When they get pregnant, the females have a gestation period of 16–24 days before giving birth to a single child.

Newborn Possum 

A newborn brushtail possum measures 1.5 cm in length and weighs around 2 grams. As is customary for marsupials, the newborn may climb unaided through the female’s fur and into the pouch, where it will latch onto a teat. The young grow and stay in the mother’s pouch for 4–5 months as it develops. Once the young are older, they stay in the den or ride on their mother’s back until they are 7–9 months old.

Adulthood

A possum is completely grown by 10 months of age. Females begin to reproduce for the first time around 12 months of age. Brush-tailed possums, in particular, prefer to live alone, except while reproducing. They stay to their ‘native habitat,’ which they designate by covering tree branches with a fragrance produced by glands on their chests. If two possums do happen to cross paths, they will try to avoid each other. They will also communicate with each other via hissing and growling, particularly during mating or scaring off intruders.

Factors Impact The Possum Lifespan

Since possums mainly reside in the wild, there are many factors that contribute to the shortening of their lifespans. They have a lot more to watch out for, in terms of predators, having access to food, and losing their habitat. For example, the fairy possum, also known as Leadbeater’s possum, is under critical threat. This is due to fires, logging, and climate change.

Let’s take a look at some of these factors in detail: 

Predation: Brushtail possums, for example, are endangered in Australia by people, tiger quolls, dogs, foxes, cats, goannas, carpet snakes, and large owls. All of these animals are responsible for hunting them down either as a food source or in the case of humans, as a source of fur. Many humans also view possums as a pest, since many of them will find shelter in a home’s rooftop. People will hire exterminators to get rid of them in these sorts of cases. 

Lack of food sources: A lack of food sources due to climate change, habitat degradation, and more also pose a threat. Common Brushtail Possums are becoming less widespread in South Australia, particularly in dry areas where drought has limited their food supplies. They are now only exclusively found in Adelaide and on Kangaroo Island.

Habitat degradation: The clearing away of many of their natural habitats is another huge threat. The mahogany glider, a species of possum, is an endangered species. This is due to the rapid destruction of its habitat for agriculture, cattle, and lumber. The highly endangered western ringtail possum faces many of the same challenges.

M For Monday to M For Madagascar

 This Monday is actual Monday of my life . Actually just in this new 2022 year . From Beginning of Jan to this March , everything is going like snail or sloth speed but today i experience actual Monday. The day begin with lots of burden of last day. Thought it was Sunday, but i think someone removed my relaxed button from there. 

   Yesterday at twelve noon we come to know that cousin maternal grand father passed away and my family have to attend there last riot. Though i was not so much connected with them, but my mom was closed to them and she was depressed so whole environment turned out to be low . They lived in village area and they were too much orthodox mentality person, so we have not much communication. So i was sad but not that much.

 But with every elder person loss make me worried about life . I get slow in my personal life and most of time i start to think , that we are the next generation, so i have to become responsible towards my own life but for my family too. But when last night when it was twelve in night , i cant sleep . Im always scared to stay alone at home.

  But with new day , everything start refreshing. So i tried to focus on my work. 

  As dad is not with me today, so i have to start early morning everything and around six in evening im still busy with my laptop. And if i speak true than i feeling messed up, and cant guess that what im upto. 

So lets take small coffee break.

While having coffee suddenly a word comes in mind ,” M for Madagascar “

If you have seen the famous Hollywood movie, you need no introduction to the exquisite Madagascar Island. The island paradise is known for its rare wildlife, alien landscapes, and virgin coastline. Located in the Indian Ocean, the fourth largest island is a perfect destination for honeymooners, nature lovers, and thrill seekers. Famous for the wide-eyed lemurs, eccentric baobab trees, and vanilla farming, Madagascar Island throws wonderful surprises to your way. Stumble upon the great adventures and experiences in Madagascar with the help of this extensive Madagascar Island Guide.

The vast island treasures thousand of species of animals and birds most of which are endemic. The geography of Madagascar island is an intense kaleidoscope on the earth. From tropical beaches to thick rainforests to deserts, you will find everything in Madagascar. This is why it is a heartthrob of outdoor enthusiasts.

See this cute picture , i never know this species of lemur till i have not watch this actual animal on television two to three days ago. Their eyes , OMG, so different and their tail look so stunning. I have no idea that what i was missing ? 

But while scrolling some post on google, i came to know that they are not only one type of lemur, their are different type of lemur species too. So this post is about those animals or places , if i get chance to visit Madagascar in my coming days. 

Madagascar is a place that sparks curiosity; where nature has evolved at its own pace and under its own rules

Red ruffed lemur

Madagascar is the only place in the world where lemurs are found in the wild; the island’s lack of predators and its isolation from the rest of the world has ensured they thrive. Over time, they’ve adapted to the country’s different habitats, evolving into many different sub-species ranging from the tiny pygmy mouse lemur to the toddler-sized indri.

Some of species to which i come across in online search and definitely looking forward to watch them  in real experience in Madagascar . Over 30 lemur species have been recorded across Madagascar; some are easier to find than others, but your guides will know the best places to look.

Indris

With their upright posture and short tail, indris bear the most resemblance to humans. This may be why they’re revered as sacred animals by many Malagasy, featuring in local legends. The largest of all lemurs, they can grow up to 120 cm (3.9 ft) with their legs fully extended.

You can notice them with their loud, distinctive calls made from the treetops . 

Indris inhabit the montane forests of Madagascar’s eastern coast. Andasibe National Park, inland from the east coast, is the best place to see them. Two indri troops here have been habituated to humans, so you can get close-up views and some excellent photographs.

  Sifakas

Part of the indri family, sifakas are found throughout Madagascar. Like indris, they also have long hind legs, which they use to bound across the ground — you can found it quite comical to see groups of them hopping like kangaroos as they crossed an opening in the forest, their arms raised to keep their balance.

Various sub-species have adapted to live in different habitats around Madagascar, including the commonly seen Verreaux’s sifaka, the white-and-brown-coated Coquerel’s sifaka, and the diademed sifaka, which, I think, is the most attractive with its orange, silver, white, gold and black coat.

Verreaux’s sifakas are spread across the eastern rainforests and dry deciduous and spiny forests in the south and west. Diademed sifakas are only found in the eastern rainforests — Andasibe is one of the best places to look. 

Aye-aye

A nocturnal species, the aye-aye is one of the more bizarre creatures you’ll encounter in Madagascar. Aye-ayes look like a cross between a bat and a squirrel and feature an exceptionally long middle finger, used for scooping out insects from tree bark.

Ring-tailed lemurs

Instantly familiar with their long black and white tail, ring-tailed lemurs are the easiest lemur to see up close as they spend the most time on the ground. They’re really sociable creatures — all you had to do just stand still and they will easily chased . They make a cat-like mewing call, and in August and September you can see mothers with young clinging to their stomachs.

Ring-tailed lemurs are mostly found in the south of the island — Ifotaka Community Forest is a good place to track them. Anja Community Reserve, near the city of Ambalavao in the southern Central Highlands, also has strong populations.

Mouse lemurs

The tiniest but most abundant of all lemurs, mouse lemurs look more like rodents than primates. A night creature, their huge eyes reflect the light of your guide’s flashlight as they hide in the undergrowth.

There are several subspecies, and grey mouse lemurs live in the dry deciduous and spiny forests in the south and west of Madagascar. Brown mouse lemurs prefer the rainforests in the east, and golden brown mouse lemurs only inhabit the northwest.

Fossa

Madagascar’s largest mammalian carnivore, the fossa is around the size of a small dog or a large cat and has similarities to both in terms of appearance. Over half of their diet consists of lemurs and they can sometimes be found rummaging through bins for scraps, particularly in Kirindy Reserve.

Chameleons

Pygmy stump-tailed chameleon

Around half of all chameleon species are endemic, and they’ve evolved into a wide range of sizes from the 60 cm (24 inch) Oustalet’s and Parson’s chameleons to the minuscule pygmy stump-tailed chameleon, which is no longer than a fingernail at 35 mm (1.4 inches) in length.

I was surprised to learn that chameleons change their hue to show their emotions and communicate rather than for camouflage. You can find species in most parts of Madagascar. While they’re diurnal, you have more chance of seeing them at night, when they turn almost white.

Birdlife in Madagascar

Rock thrush

As you walk through Madagascar’s forests, there’s barely a moment when you can’t hear the sound of birdsong rising from the trees. Of the island’s 285+ bird species, just over 100 are endemic.

Coua

Vangas

Madagascar red owls

Part of the barn owl family, the Madagascar red owl has a similar appearance and screeching call, but is slightly smaller with reddish-orange plumage. Another species under pressure from habitat loss, it’s classed as ‘vulnerable’, although this is an improvement on its former ‘endangered’ classification. The owls are predominantly nocturnal so can be tricky to spot.

Insects to spot in Madagascar

The huge number and diversity of Madagascar’s insects is difficult to grasp, with over 100,000 different species estimated to creep, crawl and fly across the island. 

Humpback whales

If you’re visiting between June and October, whale watching is an option off Madagascar’s east coast. Humpback whales migrate here from Antarctica to breed and calve in the warm waters. They can often be spotted breaching the waves from the shoreline, or you can get a closer look by heading out on a boat trip from Île Sainte-Marie (an island off Madagascar’s northeast coast).

This is not only list , when you start scrolling internet for details. But no doubt this can increase your carving for holidays and tour. 

Incredible Spinner Sharks

 Today while watching television, i come to know that their are some animal on this planet that too love fun activity, just like us. The show focuses on many type of animal , but i love the two most one is spinner sharks and other one jumping deer . Both are fun to watch and may be their fun is bigger than person viewing them. 

spinner shark

   The spinner shark is a member of the requiem shark family. Other requiem sharks are tiger sharks, blacktip sharks, grey reef sharks, and blue sharks.

It gets its name from its ability to spin through the water and into the air. It can also leap into the air from the water and spin several times in a row. With incredible speed and powerful jaws, the spinner shark is a highly successful predator.

The shark’s sleek, aerodynamic body is usually gray or silver in color with black tips on its fins. Because of those dark tips, it is frequently confused with the blacktip shark, but they are separate species.

5 Incredible  Facts

* When chasing fish, the spinner shark spins while snapping its jaws.

* A spinner shark can have up to 20 live babies, which are known as pups.

* Spinner sharks can also spin and rotate up to three times while jumping into the air.

* They prefer shallow waters close to the coastline.

* Spinner sharks rarely attack humans.

Classification and Scientific name

The spinner shark’s scientific name is Carcharhinus brevipinna.

 Appearance

A spinner shark’s length can range from 6 to 9 feet. They weigh from 120 to 200 pounds. Biologists note that spinner sharks from the Indian and Pacific oceans are usually larger than those in the Atlantic.

They have 15 to 18 teeth in each half of their upper jaw and 14 to 17 in each half of their lower jaw. Their serrated teeth and serve them well as predators.

These sharks have long, sleek bodies and incredible speed. That makes them ideally suited to hunting schools of small fish. They swim through the schools, spinning and snapping their jaws to catch all the fish they can.

Their bodies are usually bronze or gray above and white below.

Distribution, Population and Habitat

These sharks live in the warmer oceans of the Pacific, Indian, Mediterranean, and Caribbean. They prefer warmer water, and those in the colder Atlantic waters are usually migratory. They travel to warmer waters to fish and breed.

Spinner sharks have been spotted in the waters off Cuba, the Bahamas, Brazil, and Argentina. Many islands of the Indian Ocean, including Madagascar, have them in their waters. They have also been found in Australia, Sumatra, and Vietnam.

These sharks prefer shallow water that is no more than 98 feet deep. When hunting fish, they can drop to depths of 300 feet.

Predators and Prey

These sharks have few natural predators. Sometimes, large sharks will eat small spinner sharks.

They are carnivores and excellent hunters. They prefer to catch their prey in schools of sardines, herring, and other fish, but they will also eat larger fish like tunas, bluefish, and stingrays. The sharks travel in small groups and frequently hunt together.

Their chief predators are humans who hunt them for their fins and meat. Illegal hunting of sharks for the Asian fin trade has devastated many shark species. In a practice known as shark finning, hunters catch them and saw off their fins before throwing the live sharks back into the water. Sharks then sink to the bottom of the ocean. Unable to swim or catch prey, the sharks die a slow, painful death.

According to Sea Save, shark finning kills more than 100 million sharks every year. Conservationists are trying to pass laws that would ban the import of shark fins from the U.S. and other countries.

Habitat loss is another threat to spinner sharks. The International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) lists them as near threatened.

Reproduction and Lifespan

These sharks reach sexual maturity at age 12. They mate in the spring and summer and give birth every other year. After a gestation period of 11 to 15 months, the female travels to a shallow location, where she gives birth to 3 to 20 pups. Each baby shark is about two feet long at birth, but they grow rapidly. Most of them reach their adult size in a few years.

Jumping for Joy

These sharks are among the many unique animals that give the ocean its amazing diversity. Watching them jumping and spinning is an unforgettable sight. With care and conservation, we can continue to enjoy these and the other magnificent beasts of the sea.

Coyote : Clever Animal

 A coyote is grayish- brown in color with white fur under its neck and belly. It has pointed ears and a long muzzle. A long bushy tail hangs from its backside. Coyotes belong to the dog family and have a lot of the same traits. They typically weigh between 15 to 25 pounds and measure about 35 inches long, with another 16 inches for the tail.

Coyote pairs mate between February and April. Two months later, the female will give birth to 3-12 pups in the den. Within about three weeks, the pups will come out of the den. After they are weaned at the age of 4 weeks, the parents will feed them regurgitated food. The male pups will leave their family in the fall (5-6 months after birth), but the female pups will stay in their mothers pack. The lifespan of a coyote in the wild is between 10 and 14 years.

Very popular in Native American folklore, highly adaptable to the environment, and cunningly smart, the coyote knows how to make the most of bad situations.

The Coyote (Canis latrans) is found over most of North America, in various environments such as grasslands, deserts, and forests. These clever animals belong to the dog family (Canis). 

Coyote Facts

Coyotes normally hunt alone or in pairs.

Dogs run with their tails up; coyotes run with their tails down.

These animals are very vocal.

The coyote has few natural predators. They include bears, mountain lions, and wolves.

In captivity, a coyote can live up to 20 years.

Coyotes are very good swimmers.

Coyotes will eat just about anything.

Coyote litter size varies from 3-12 pups.

Coyotes have excellent vision and a great sense of smell.

Coyotes can run about 40 miles an hour.

Coyotes make noise at night to communicate with members of their family or pack and to keep track of them.

Coyotes are monogamous, which means they have one mate their whole life.

Coyotes rarely build their own dens. They usually take over an abandoned one.

Coyote pups are born blind.

Coyotes are nocturnal.

Coyote Habitat

Coyotes are found in most of the United States and Canada and some of Mexico. They are not picky with their habitat because they can adapt so well nearly anywhere. They live mainly in deserts, grasslands, and forests.

Coyotes are primarily carnivorous, but will also eat fruits and berries on occasion. They hunt at night for mammals, birds, mice, and snakes. Most of the time they hunt alone, but when they hunt for large prey such as deer, they will hunt in packs.