Female impala, such a pretty girl
Pack up your gear, check the wardrobes. Got everything? Good, because today’s our last day in the
A beautiful boy
The last animal we saw on leaving the Park was an impala, in fact, the animals most predominant in the Park are impala. There are estimated to be about 86 000 - way more than any other animal. When the guide on our sunset drive asked us what we expected to see, D very smartly announced, “Impala”. Methinks perhaps what the guide had meant to say was, “What would you hope to see”!
All lined up at the waterhole... sitting ducks (erm, I mean, impala)...
Impala, beautiful, graceful antelope, are known as the Park’s fast food – food on the hoof, you might say. They are a one-of-a-kind antelope and have no close relatives. They are a highly successful breed and dominant in their chosen habitat. But because there are so many of them, they are easy pickings for any of the big predators – though they’re not to everyone’s taste – lions, for example, are not that keen on them. You might think the impala would be putting themselves at risk - being so numerous, but a little like zebras, they work on the bafflement factor.
Cute girl
Herds consist of a harem of females and single dominant ram. During breeding season the ram has a busy few days and all his girls are impregnated at approximately the same time. As soon as the first calf is born, there follows an intense period of calving that may last about two weeks. A herd can easily grow from 10 animals to 50 animals during this time. Although it is a vulnerable time for the herd, the sheer number of dinner options baffles the predators. “Hmm, this one, or that one, no, hang on, how about that one there, no, wait, there’s one over there …” and by the time the predator has made up its mind, the herd have scarpered. Okay, so it’s not quite that simplistic, but you get the idea.
Don't mess with me!
But being an impala provides for a pretty straightforward sort of life. Eat (and they both graze and browse) and then get eaten. You can kind of imagine the following conversation:
Mummy Impala – “Now there’s just one thing you need to know about life, dear.”
Baby Impala – “What’s that, Mummy?”
Mummy Impala – “One day you will be eaten.”
Me and a few of my girls - and my oxpecker
(the oxpecker picks ticks off most animals in the park - a nicely symbiotic relationship)
Take me seriously!
As I said when I started this series, one of the things that struck me most about the Park’s animal kingdom was that it was a case of eat or get eaten, shag or get beaten. Simple philosophy though not high on compassion!
Hope you’ve enjoyed the journey with me!
Not a zebra crossing
25 comments:
Lovely photos. Thanks for sharing.
Fascinating reading and brilliant photographs. The Park sounds like a wonderful place to visit.
Both the boys and the girls were so cute!
Lovely conclusion to such an exciting saga :)
Glad you enjoyed them, Marie :-)
It definitely is a brilliant place to visit, TU!
They're lovely, aren't they, Sameera :-)
In Hungarian Zoos there are even Polar bears despite they are not living here. But we also have parks like that which keeps the original form of nature.
I love the line of Impala bottoms. Even they are elegant:-)
I've enjoyed this tour so much:-)
I think the parks that keep the natural form of nature are far kinder than zoos, don't you, Ropi?
Those bottoms all lined up are very elegant, aren't they, Lane! :-)
Awww Nicks, I don't wanna go *stamps foot* . . I'll have a tanty *sticks out bottom lip* . .I'm just getting settled . .I wanna stay . .boo hoo and bah humbug . . .*flings self on ground, bangs fists and kicks legs*
Cor bugger la (as they say in Guernsey), Baino, that wasn't half an impressive paddy! Go on, do it again! :-)
Well, so okay, here's an 'ittle secret... I'm hoping to go again - when it's all green... Wanna come with then? :-)
funny: I was just on letty's blog commenting about hot dogs and arrive here to fast food:-)
Cybèle wishes to point out that the mommy impala probably adds other stuff to the basic beginning and ending of the story. Such as: " Child, you will have a large and loving family to teach you the ways of the Park. Then, you will fall in love with an impossibly handsome ram and hang out in a fabulous harem. You aill have many children, all of them wanted. And you will drive the predators wild by running all over the place. Yes, my child you will have one heck of a a great time, and THEN you will be eaten.
:-)
Great pics, aren't they simply gorgeous animals?
They are very beautiful.
I do come away with the feeling that I am very happy indeed not to have the question "will I be eaten today?" hanging over my head. (though of course my time here too is finite. I think I would rather feed the flowers though, if I must be part of the circle of life)
Seems I have missed much of the trip and have some catching up to do.
i hate Biology so neither of them are nice to me. :D
Oh, RLB, I love Cybele's words of wisdom. That is one very, very smart dog you have (or does she have you?!) :-)
I can't say I'd much like to live with the risk of being eaten daily, Taffiny, but it seems in the greater scheme of things, everything does actually work in harmony. Well, except for us lot, mostly! ;-)
And yes, I think you probably did miss much of the trip - so hope you enjoy the other photos! :-)
Oh dear, Ropi - well, if it's any consolation, biology wasn't my favourite subject either - but being out in the bush - now that's just a totally different experience! ;-)
I was going to say something awful and crude about eating and shagging, Vanilla - but decided just to appreciate your lovely photos instead.
They are quite beautiful, and you captured them wonderfully with your excellent eye and fantastic camera!
Lots of good information (my goodness there are a lot of them!) and it made me laugh and remember this:
In Wyoming (the state just north of Colorado) there are more antelope than in the rest of the world combined; and the locals there call them 'grass maggots'.
That's truly a 'cowboy' saying.
Scarlett & Viaggiatore
By the way... there are some awards for you over at my place.
And... I see you rearranged around here! Good work... but, I do miss the pink.
XO
Scarlett & V.
Wonderful pix! Thanks for stopping by my place! :^)
May The Force Be With You, came by way of BB. Great photos. I bet you can't wait to get back!! cheers
BEAUTIFUL pictures! Thanks for stopping by my blog. :-)
Gorgeous again, you got some mighty fine memories from that holiday. New look to the blog too - nice, clean lines.
Aw, Signs, you disappoint me - I was kinda hoping someone would pick up on eating and shagging...! ;-)
Hey, Scarlett - grass maggots, fast food, not too much difference really, is there?! Poor antelope! :-)
And ooh, awards, thank you! I'm doing an awards post today, so I'll rush over to your place now :-)
And as for the pink - well I miss it too but I needed a change and wanted something "cleaner" to display the pics better :-)
Hi Willow - thanks! ;-)
You're absolutely right, WorldAway, can't wait to get back! :-)
Thanks, DTTF! And thanks for stopping by.
Thanks,Laquet, yep, nice memories, but am greedy to make more! ;-)
And thanks, glad you like the new look - I wanted something cleaner and lighter - though I do kind of miss the pink.
Well Vanilla, I was only going to state the obvious, namely that if push came to shove I'd want to be the animal that was eating and shagging - though not both at the same time, obviously. And then it got me thinking about the human animal kindom - er
You've got something against eating and shagging at the same time, Signs - never done the chocolate licking thing then ;-)
How stunning these animals are! Vanilla, you capture them beautifully. You've strengthened my desire to one day see your part of the world.
Oh the shame, Vanilla! I have been (quite correctly) outed as someone who has not tried the chocolate-licking and I suppose - yes, I admit, I do have something against eating and shagging - though obviously chaqu'un a son gout and all that.
But as activities go, they both get my thumbs up. Only I wouldn't like to be the poor sod getting eaten - in the animal kindom, I mean. Well, and I wouldn't want to be cannibalised either.
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