Forgotten Red-Listers Blog #1: The Secretarybird

One of the most popular sightings to be had at CCF, is that of a Secretarybird.  They're not particularly common here, but we do have a couple of pairs who seem to persist in the area.

The secretarybird is extremely distinctive and really cannot be mistaken for anything else. It stands up to 1.5m tall with an eagle-like head and weighs up to 5 kg.  They fly well, but generally hunt on the ground, striding across open grasslands while searching for their chosen prey of snakes, including some extremely venomous ones, small mammals (including some carnivores), large insects and other reptiles. Prey is often killed by being stamped on repeatedly by the secretarybird's powerful legs.

A pair will often return to the same tree or bush to lay eggs year after year, and we have identified one such location on the edge of our Big Field.  Each mating can produce up to four eggs, although fewer are more likely.  Aside from the need to nest, the secretarybirds prefer open grasslands and savannas, and will spend most of their time there.  They will sometimes wait on the fringes of a bush-fire and prey on animals flushed out by the flames.

Despite being powerful, charismatic, and present in some 35 countries in Sub-Saharan Africa, secretarybirds are nonetheless classed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Redlist.  Their exact numbers are unknown, but believed to be in the five-figure range, and their numbers are definitely decreasing. 

The main cause is habitat loss due to spreading urban areas, and increased farming.  The presence of cattle, and herders, tends to drive the main prey species away.  There is also an illegal trade in live secretarybirds for private collectors, but as yet not enough information exists to establish how significant this is. 

More research is needed on both fronts, to find out exactly what is happening, and hopefully to educate farmers on the damage being done in this respect.  Secretarybirds will not be disappearing in the near future, but there could eerily come a time when they become limited to within the boundaries of National Parks and other protected reserves. 

"W" is for Warthog

Given their remarkable popularity with nearly all of our visitors, W could really only be for… Warthog!

There are two species of Warthog in Africa, and both are listed by the IUCN as being of "Least Concern."  The Desert Warthog is found in Kenya, Ethiopia and Somalia, while the Common Warthog (the ones at CCF) are much more widespread, present in nearly 40 countries (including the three that are home to Desert Warthogs), from Senegal in the East, Eritrea in the NE, down to the northern regions of South Africa.

Although sometimes hunted for meat, or as a trophy, warthog populations are in no way threatened by man.  They are however very water-dependent and as a result are subject to local extinctions in drought conditions. 

Family groupings of warthogs can be very large, with one generation of offspring often involved in raising the next generation.  Here at CCF it is common to see 6-7 piglets following a single mum, with 2-3 sub-adults close by.  A camera trap at one of our busier waterholes typically takes over 1200 pictures every day featuring nothing but warthogs, and we can often count over 30 individuals in a single shot!

In addition to needing water to drink, warthogs are also commonly found wallowing in the mud at the edge of waterholes to cool down.  They are rarely preyed upon by smaller carnivores, such as cheetahs, since their tusks make a formidable weapon, and mothers protect their young extremely well. Leopards will sometimes make off with a piglet, but warthogs are really only seriously preyed upon by lions or spotted hyena. 

"T" is for Termite!

CCF has carried out a number of camera trapping surveys, and also maintains a network of cameras positioned for ongoing monitoring of the wildlife on our land.  While we are mainly focused on cheetahs, there are many other species out there, and the cameras will trigger no matter what passes them by.  In this series of blog entries, I will use these pictures to illustrate some of the wealth of animal life in Namibia – about one species per week.  I hope you will enjoy seeing a little more of our world here in the bush.

T is for… Termite.  Technically we only have photos of termite mounds, but I hope you'll like the entry all the same.

There are several hundred termite species in the area, none of which are listed on the IUCN redlist.  At CCF we are lucky enough to have fungus-growing termites, from which we harvest a small number of the large mushrooms produced (typically 30cm diameter) to supplement our own table at mealtime. 

These termites feed predominantly on vegetable matter, and can be highly damaging in areas where crops are grown.  Here, however, they have ample food sources amongst natural vegetation, although they do sometimes consume wooden fence posts.  Elsewhere in the world, termites have been known to burrow through all sorts of building materials including concrete, and annually cause billions of US dollars of damage.

The mounds created by termite colonies hereabouts generally range in size from 1-2m, although I know of one that is around 4m.  What is seen on the surface is only about 25-30% of the total mound size, with the rest buried beneath the surface.  Air temperature within and without is about the same as the surrounding temperature, although it is believed that the maze of tunnels may help with air purity within the colony.  The queens can be found in large chambers underground, and many species mate for life, each with a single breeding male.

Most other insects are repelled either by soldier termites, or via a system of 'chemical' warfare with some species able to produce powerful insect repellants that are dispersed through the nest.

Termites are high in protein, even more so than beef, and are considered a delicacy in many countries, including Namibia.  Fried termites taste rather like roasted peanuts.  In other parts of Africa, termite flour is made, and even termite stock cubes. 

Although much research is still needed, termites do not appear to be in any way endangered, with numbers estimated to be either stable or in some cases increasing.

A cheetah standing on a termite mound

"S" is for Serval

CCF has carried out a number of camera trapping surveys, and also maintains a network of cameras positioned for ongoing monitoring of the wildlife on our land.  While we are mainly focused on cheetahs, there are many other species out there, and the cameras will trigger no matter what passes them by.  In this series of weekly blog entries, I will use these pictures to illustrate some of the wealth of animal life in Namibia - one species per week.  I hope you will enjoy seeing a little more of our world here in the bush.

I'd like to make a special appeal to everyone who reads this blog. Please think of CCF this Christmas. Many of our camera traps are beginning to feel the ravages of time and will soon need replacement. Some have been out in the bush in the heat and rain for three continuous years now, and have taken hundreds of thousands of pictures. However, I very much doubt they'll all survive another year. We have recently received two brand new camera traps from our generous donors in Germany, but many more are needed if we are going to be able to continue this form of research. Details of the types of cameras we need can be found on our wishlist.

The letter "S" brings us back to the cat family, with the acrobatic Serval.

Although rarely seen by visitors, the serval is present in over 40 countries south of the sahara, and has also been reintroduced into Tunisia.  There may also still be a few in Algeria, but this isn't known for certain.  The Namibian population is limited to the north-eastern portion of the country, with CCF just on the edge of the range.  During five years of field work, I have only had two sightings, and even on camera traps, they are highly unusual.

The total population size isn't known, but most national parks within their range report healthy populations and as a result, the species as a whole is listed by the IUCN as Least Concern. 

Servals mainly eat small mammals, such as rodents, and are also good at catching birds - sometimes in flight.  They are talented jumpers, able to jump over 7m to land on their prey, and typically are successful about 50% of the time with this kind of attack.  Hunting occurs during the latter portion of the afternoon and throughout the night.  Servals stand 62 cm at the shoulder with males weighing around 11 kg.

Although the population is stable, servals are hunted for their pelts in several west-African countries, where they are used for both medicinal and ceremonial purposes.  Elsewhere in Africa their range is being reduced as wetland areas are drained to support increasing human populations.  They do not kill small livestock, but do sometimes take chicken and small poultry.  Servals actually can be beneficial to farmers by reducing local rodent populations.

"R" is for Red Hartebeest!

CCF has carried out a number of camera trapping surveys, and also maintains a network of cameras positioned for ongoing monitoring of the wildlife on our land.  While we are mainly focused on cheetahs, there are many other species out there, and the cameras will trigger no matter what passes them by.  In this series of weekly blog entries, I will use these pictures to illustrate some of the wealth of animal life in Namibia - one species per week.  I hope you will enjoy seeing a little more of our world here in the bush.

I'd like to make a special appear to everyone who reads this blog.  Please think of CCF this Christmas.  Many of our camera traps are beginning to feel the ravages of time and will soon need replacement.  Some have been out in the bush in the heat and rain for three continuous years now, and have taken hundreds of thousands of pictures.  However, I very much doubt they'll all survive another year.  We have recently received two brand new camera traps from our generous donors in Germany, but many more are needed if we are going to be able to continue this form of research.  Details of the types of cameras we need can be found on our wishlist.

Now, back to why you're here… R is for… Red Hartebeest.

The Red Hartebeest is one of seven surviving sub-species of Hartebeest and can be found in South Africa, Botswana, Namibia and the south of Angola.  It was extensively hunted in the past, but has undergone a significant come-back as a result of it's popularity with both tourists and modern hunters.  It has therefore been reintroduced into a great many private reserves and game farms.  The IUCN lists the Hartebeest as "Least Concern", and the sub-species, the Red Hartebeest, is the most populous with an estimated total of around 130,000 individuals.  A number of the other sub-species are faring much less well however, and may become extinct in the not too distant future.

Hartebeest are striking looking antelope with an impressive capacity for speed.  They stand 1.3m at the shoulder, can weigh over 150 kg, and run at speeds of up to 70 km/h.  Males are usually slightly darker than females, and also somewhat bigger, although both have horns.  Generally hartebeest are social herd animals, although some non-territorial males do live alone.  They breed annually, live to their mid-teens and are commonly found in herds of between a few dozen animals to a few hundred.  Historically even more massive herds were found in Botswana, but the establishment of the veterinary cordon fences there restricted migratory movement and ultimately led to massive population reductions.

 

Here at CCF, we see red hartebeests commonly on game counts on our big field, and also at waterholes.  Currently the main herd has around 10-12 calves with them, although this number will probably be reduced by the large number of predators in the area. 

"Q" is for Quelea

CCF has carried out a number of camera trapping surveys, and also maintains a network of cameras positioned for ongoing monitoring of the wildlife on our land.  While we are mainly focused on cheetahs, there are many other species out there, and the cameras will trigger no matter what passes them by.  In this series of weekly blog entries, I will use these pictures to illustrate some of the wealth of animal life in Namibia - one species per week.  I hope you will enjoy seeing a little more of our world here in the bush.

Q is for… human wildlife conflict on a MASSIVE scale.  Sometimes described as Africa's most hated bird, the diminutive Red-Billed Quelea stands just 13 cm (5") tall yet is responsible for more than $50 million US dollars of agricultural damage every year.  Tens of millions are culled on an annual basis using chemical sprays, high explosives, and even flamethrowers. Yet despite the massive effort to reduce the population, it remains stable, with a range spanning 20% of the total area of Africa. Evidence suggests it may in fact be the world's most numerous bird species. The IUCN lists them as Least Concern. 

Although individually small, and consuming just 10g (0.35 oz) of grain per day, flocks can number in the millions, eating tens of tons of grain every single day. The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization lists them as one of the most significant threats to grain production in Africa.  Annual international conferences are held to address control methods, but so far all efforts to reduce the impact of the quelea on African grain crops have met with failure.

In the part of Namibia where CCF is based, the landscape is too dry to support large scale grain crops.  We are surrounded by game and cattle farms and the flocks of Red-Billed Queleas that we see are small, numbering in the hundreds.  Since they can also eat insects and wild seeds, there is still plenty for them to eat, but not enough to support the massive flocks seen elsewhere. 

Queleas are monogamous, with each couple laying up to 5 eggs per breeding season.

Although too small to trigger camera traps unless they pass very close to the sensor, queleas are sometimes seen in the background when other, larger animals pass by.

"P" is for Porcupine

CCF has carried out a number of camera trapping surveys, and also maintains a network of cameras positioned for ongoing monitoring of the wildlife on our land.  While we are mainly focused on cheetahs, there are many other species out there, and the cameras will trigger no matter what passes them by.  In this series of weekly blog entries, I will use these pictures to illustrate some of the wealth of animal life in Namibia - one species per week.  I hope you will enjoy seeing a little more of our world here in the bush.

Absolutely unmistakable for anything else in the area, the Cape Porcupine is one of three porcupine species in Africa, but the only one to be found in Namibia. They can also be found in southern Kenya, Uganda, and the DRC, and throughout most of the mainland countries further south, though they avoid desert regions in Namibia and Botswana.  They are relatively common, and believed to be stable in numbers, with the IUCN listing them as "Least Concern".

The Cape Porcupine is large for a rodent - up to 1m (39 inches) in length and 24 kg (53 lbs).  They are almost entirely nocturnal and are commonly seen on night game counts, and foraging among the kitchen scraps at CCF's HotSpot cafenhere in Namibia. 

Porcupines are one of the few species that mate for reasons other than procreation.  They mate every day, in order to maintain the bond between the pair.

They are predominantly vegetarian, preferring roots, bark, bulbs and other plant material, but have been known to scavenge from old carcasses.  Although quills are popular souvenirs, porcupines shed enough of them to satisfy the demand and therefore are not usually hunted.  

Another Mongoose!

CCF has carried out a number of camera trapping surveys, and also maintains a network of cameras positioned for ongoing monitoring of the wildlife on our land.  While we are mainly focused on cheetahs, there are many other species out there, and the cameras will trigger no matter what passes them by.  In this series of weekly blog entries, I will use these pictures to illustrate some of the wealth of animal life in Namibia - one species per week.  I hope you will enjoy seeing a little more of our world here in the bush.

When referencing African wildlife most people automatically think of the larger fauna (elephants, giraffe, rhinos), while the smaller species tend to be forgotten.  So today’s blog will highlight one of these overlooked animals: the slender mongoose.

Like the name suggests, this mongoose has a very slender body of 27.5 - 40cm, accompanied by a long tail of 23-33cm.  The males weigh around 640-715g while the females are smaller, with a weight of 460-575g.

Their colour varies according to the subspecies, ranging from a dark red/brown, to shades of grey, or even yellow.  They can easily be distinguished from other mongoose in the region by a prominent black tip on the tail.  The slender mongoose's fur is also silkier than any other member of the Herpestidae family.

These small mammals normally live alone or in pairs, and can be found throughout Sub-Saharan Africa.  They are not territorial but do maintain stable home ranges, which they share with other family members.  They are adaptable and can live almost anywhere within this wide range, but are most commonly found in the savannah and semi-arid areas.  Slender mongoose are mostly carnivorous but occasionally omnivorous.  They usually eat insects, but from time to time also eat lizards, amphibians, rodents, snakes and even fruit.  They have the ability to climb trees and will often hunt birds! Slender mongoose are listed as least concern on the IUCN Red List.