Scandalously Sexy Bishops and Widows

[This was written by Fran Siebrits and published online by Wild Magazine http://www.wildcard.co.za/, 2011]
 
African widowbirds and bishops share an array of colourful feathers and lengthy tails – signals used to attract a mate.

Smelling Arousal

[This was written by Fran Siebrits and published online by Wild Magazine http://www.wildcard.co.za/, 2011]

Sight is normally responsible for stimulating sexual excitement in humans. But with certain fruit flies, it seems to be scent that acts as an aphrodisiac. 

A Bit About Bustards

[This was written by Fran Siebrits and published online by Wild Magazine http://www.wildcard.co.za/, 2011]

When it comes to attracting a female, there are many similarities between men and bustards. For one thing, size matters!

Unique Nests

[This was written by Fran Siebrits and published online by Wild Magazine http://www.wildcard.co.za/, 2011]

If you’ve ever observed a weaver at work, you know it takes the bird time and effort to construct its nest. Now research from Botswana indicates that quite a lot of intelligence and skill also go into it.

Lions Roar Like Babies

[This was written by Fran Siebrits and published online by Wild Magazine http://www.wildcard.co.za/, 2011]

Lions are just big babies, roaring to tell others of their presence in the same way a baby cries to get attention.

Sugar Meals

[This was written by Fran Siebrits and published online by Wild Magazine http://www.wildcard.co.za/, 2011]
 
In a world where predators are as common as crumbs on a loaf of bread, bees have to make their feeding activity as quick and effective as possible.  

Mysterious Meerkats

[This was written by Fran Siebrits and published online by Wild Magazine http://www.wildcard.co.za/, 2011]

How much do we actually know about meerkats? The name implies a cat, but do they belong to the feline family? They live in large groups under the ground, but how do they communicate? 

Charming Chappies

[This was written by Fran Siebrits and published online by Wild Magazine http://www.wildcard.co.za/, 2011]

Chapman’s Peak, or Chappies as it is locally known, towers 593 metres above the Atlantic Ocean and is one of Cape Town’s best kept hiking secrets.

Killer Guides

[This was written by Fran Siebrits and published online by Wild Magazine http://www.wildcard.co.za/, 2011]
 
It's not all milk and honey when it comes to sharing a nest with a honeyguide, especially if you happen to be the foster sibling. These brood parasites have a deadly way of dealing with any eggs left in the nest.

Pigeons Will Remember You

[This was written by Fran Siebrits and published online by Wild Magazine http://www.wildcard.co.za/, 2011]


How many of us would change our behaviour if we knew certain animals could remember every mean thing done to them by specific individuals? For all we know they may be holding a grudge and are going to act in revenge one of these days.

Beautiful Damage Control

[This was written by Fran Siebrits and published online by Wild Magazine http://www.wildcard.co.za/, 2011]

Orb-weaving spiders do not construct silky patterns only to catch their prey, but also as a means of reacting to web damage.

Flap, Run, Fly

[This was written by Fran Siebrits and published online by Wild Magazine http://www.wildcard.co.za/, 2011]


Why do birds sometimes run and flap their wings up a steep hill rather than fly over it?

Migration Decreases Disease

[This was written by Fran Siebrits and published online by Wild Magazine http://www.wildcard.co.za/, 2011]

 It has previously been assumed that migratory animals spread diseases from one area to another. But a recent study has suggested the opposite. 

Starving for Survival

[This was written by Fran Siebrits and published online by Wild Magazine http://www.wildcard.co.za/, 2011]

The familiar saying “He who laughs last, laughs the loudest” applies to plants in their ability to survive as a species, even after they have been eaten!

Boring Invaders

[This was written by Fran Siebrits and published online by Wild Magazine http://www.wildcard.co.za/, 2011]

 Previously, to get information about trees suffering an insect invasion, bits of the bark would have to be ripped from the trunk. But a new finding has revealed a less invasive way of obtaining such information.

Lion Lineage

[This was written by Fran Siebrits and published online by Wild Magazine http://www.wildcard.co.za/, 2011]

 It has already been suggested that lions from Central and West Africa look and behave differently to those in East and Southern Africa, but little scientific evidence has previously been presented to back it up. Recent studies, however, have now proven this difference as a result of their genetic make-ups.

Venomous Speed and a Slithering Success

[This was written by Fran Siebrits and published online by Wild Magazine http://www.wildcard.co.za/, 2011]

 

Most people think that venomous snakes inject their poison into their prey through hollowed fangs. But this is not quite so true …

Paddling in the Richtersveld

[This was written by Fran Siebrits and published online by Wild Magazine http://www.wildcard.co.za/, 2011]


An African Fish Eagle greets our eyes as we search the brilliant sky tracking its decrescendo call. Ah, we have arrived. No river trip is complete without the masters of the sky. And so, with excited anticipation, begins a four-day-three-night nomadic journey down the mighty Gariep, better known as the Orange River.

Trail-running in South Africa's Parks

[This was written by Fran Siebrits and published online by Wild Magazine http://www.wildcard.co.za/, 2011]


From the Cape to the ‘berg, from the coast to the peaks … trail-running is one of those activities that, like running and hiking, can be enjoyed just about anywhere. All you really need is a path, a good pair of shoes and your sense of adventure. Below are a few trails you might like to attempt.

Trail-running 1-0-1

[This was written by Fran Siebrits and published online by Wild Magazine http://www.wildcard.co.za/, 2011]

There are many hikers and runners out there, but trail-runners are a slightly rarer breed. I would expect it to be more popular. The sport involves running on trails used for hiking in the mountains, bringing one closer to nature and ensuring a CO2-free run.