Archive for month: August, 2018

Creatures shrouded in sheer mystery, owls may be cute and cuddly but don’t let their looks fool you. As not all owls are friendly or created equally, their temperaments and behaviour can be rather eccentric.

Just how you ask? Let our factual snippets on these birds unravel the unfamiliar and peculiar.

Owls Can Rotate Their Heads Nearly All Around – To Some Degree 

You probably have heard that owls can rotate their heads 360 degrees but this is in fact a myth. Owls can only turn their necks 135 degrees in either direction, giving them 270 degrees of full body movement. What gives these nocturnal creatures such a useful trait? Scientists have pinpointed that down to their unique make-up of bone structure, blood vessels with contractile reservoirs and a reinforced vascular system. This allows them to turn their heads to such varying degrees without stopping the supply of blood.

They Possess A Heightened Sense Of Hearing

Capable of noticing prey under environmental layers such as dirt, plants, leaves and snow, owls have various hearing receptacles at differing heights on their heads that allow them to pinpoint prey based on minute differences in sound waves. What of owls with flat faces? They possess unique feathers that are sound focused, basically turning their faces into one large ear!

Owls Prey On Each Other Sometimes

Compared to their smaller frame, owls often eat prey significantly larger than themselves or rather their own kind. Take the eagle owl for instance as they have been known to even target small deers! Or the great horned owl that enjoys attacking the barred owl which in turn preys on the Western screech-owl. This owl-on-owl predation cycle is one of the reasons why the Western screech-owl population is at an all-time low.

Their Markings Allow Them To Blend In Seamlessly Into The Environment

Have you ever seen an owl sleeping in broad daylight? Chances are that you’ll find this feat especially difficult as they have mastered the art of camouflaging to a tee. Take the African Scops Owl for example. You’ll need to look twice to notice its hidden visage amidst the surroundings.

You Won’t Want To Be Around When They Start Hissing

No we’re not talking about hooting, owls can also make a range of unique calls such as screeches, whistles and squeaks. Case in point? The barn owl when threatened often make hissing noises that will make the hairs on your back stand up. Truly the stuff of nightmares.

Owls Are Nature’s Answer To Pest Control

A boon for farmers the world over, owls help keep the rodent population in check with sheer efficiency. Although masked in a small frame, a single barn owl family can eat up to 3000 rodents in just the space of four months! Many farmers practice the art of installing owl nesting boxes to attract owls to help keep out voles and gophers from their precious crops.

A single owl can consume 20 plus kilos of gophers in a just one year.

We Get Along With Them Rather Well 

Since ancient times, owls have remain ever popular with humans. Showing up in 30,000 year old cave paintings in France and Egyptian hieroglyphs, Falconers have also been known to use owls during the Middle Ages. Although they are illegal to be kept as pets in many countries, their popularity remains on the rise. In Japan, it’s not uncommon to stumble upon owl cafes, where you can take pictures and even pet these furry birds!

Elephants may be the largest land animal in the world, but they’re actually really gentle creatures. Sadly, their numbers have been declining due to habitat loss, fragmentation, and poaching. Here are 5 fascinating elephant facts that will hopefully give you a greater appreciation for these animals. After all, education is the first step towards conservation!

 

1. Right or Left “Trunked”?

Studies into animal handedness have shown that much like humans, elephants also display handedness. Some elephants display a preference of using one side of their body, their dominant side, over the other. In humans, the split is 90% right-handed and 10% left-handed, but the preference is about 50:50 in elephants. Try and see if you can spot an elephant twisting their trunk to the left or to the right. You might just figure out whether they’re right or left trunked!

 

2. 22-Month Gestation Period

An elephant has a gestation period of 22 months – the longest in any land mammal. On top of that, a newborn elephant can weigh anywhere between 90 to 120kg. Imagine carrying that weight with you for such a long time! Elephant calves are born blind but they’re capable of standing just shortly after birth. Sadly, their long reproductive rate is one of the reasons why their numbers are decreasing.

 

3. Elephants Grieve Deeply

Elephants are not the only animals that grieve but the way they grieve and display emotions are remarkably human-like. As they live in very close-knit herds, so when a member of their herd dies, the whole herd mourns their death. They shed tears and even mourn the death long after one of their herd passes on. These sensitive creatures also have their own “funeral” ritual, where they break off branches, leaves, grass and use dirt to cover the body.

 

4. Elephants Can Snorkel

An elephant’s trunk is really useful, it’s used to grab things, smell, drink and even give themselves a dust bath. On top of that, they can use their trunks to breathe as they snorkel underwater. It’s believed that elephants are able to submerge themselves completely underwater because of their special lung anatomy. Their lung tissue is denser compared to other mammals, allowing them to swim across rivers easily.

 

5. Elephant Matriarchy

Elephants are matriarchal, so the oldest female usually leads the herd. The herds can range from 8 to 100 elephants in size and consist of mostly females. Male elephants stay in the herd until they’re 12 to 15 years old before leaving the herd. These male elephants go on to lead solitary lives or stay with other male elephants temporarily.

Our national zoo is a treasure and we’re proud of it, but there are outstanding international zoos too! If you’re an animal lover and going to the zoo is always your number one priority when travelling, here are a few animal sanctuaries that might interest you.

 

1.  Zoologischer Garten (Berlin Zoological Garden), Berlin, Germany

There’s a lot to be said about the Berlin zoo. For starters, it’s the oldest zoo in Germany. It’s also the most species-rich zoo in the world, with around 1,400 different species and over 20,000 animals in this sanctuary! You’ll be able to see interesting wildlife such as Arctic wolves, king vultures, Bactrian camels and more. The Berlin Zoological Garden also features an aquarium with aquatic species like the blacktip reef shark, jellyfish, piranhas and more.

Address: Hardenbergplatz 8, 10787 Berlin, Germany

Opening Hours: 9:00am–6:30pm

 

2. San Diego Zoo, California, USA

Occupying almost 100 acres of land, the San Diego Zoo is a truly amazing educational zoo that’s loved by many around the world. It was the pioneer in the open-air zoo concept, with the aim of recreating the animals’ natural habitats. Take a stroll to the Koalafornia Adventure exhibit for an Australian experience, or go to Africa Rocks to marvel at Africa’s rich biodiversity. With exotic animals from the Chinese alligator to the Galápagos tortoise and Tasmanian devil, there’s so much to see at the zoo.

Address: 2920 Zoo Dr, San Diego, CA 92101, USA

Opening Hours: 9:00am–9:00pm

 

3. Beijing Zoo, Beijing, China

The Beijing Zoo is home to many interesting species that are native to China including the Chinese giant salamander,  golden snub-nosed monkey, Père David’s deer and, you guessed it – the giant panda. Moreover, the scenery and landscape of the zoo is representative of Beijing’s parks, mimicking the traditional Chinese gardens with lotus pools, rivers, and pavilions. If you want to discover the beautiful wildlife and nature of China, this is the best place to start.

Address: 137 Xizhimen Outer St, DongWuYuan, Xicheng Qu, Beijing Shi, China, 100037

Opening Hours: 7:30am–5:00pm (6:00pm – 1st April – 31st October)

 

4. Singapore Zoo, Singapore

Dubbed as the best Rainforest zoo in the world, the Singapore Zoo is also one of the best international zoos in the world. Featuring open-air exhibits, you can watch the wildlife roaming freely in their natural habitat. It’s also a great destination for families with kids, as the zoo runs a Kidzranger Tour, where children can learn all about being a zookeeper by feeding and grooming tame animals. Besides that, kids can ride on ponies and pet some adorable goats at the Rainforest Kidzworld.

Address: 80 Mandai Lake Rd, Singapore 729826

Opening Hours: 8:30am–6:00pm

 

5. Taronga Zoo, Sydney, Australia

The Taronga Zoo is located a 12-minute ferry ride away from Sydney with sweeping views of the Sydney Harbour and Opera House. Discover native Australian wildlife like the koala, kangaroo, wallabies, Tasmanian devil and more. Taronga Zoo also offers a unique experience to visitors with an overnight camp in one of their safari-style tents. It’s a one of a kind experience you don’t want to miss, so be sure to book early!

Address: Bradleys Head Rd, Mosman NSW 2088, Australia

Opening Hours: 9:30am–4:30pm

 

6. Philadelphia Zoo, Pennsylvania, USA

The Philadelphia Zoo is America’s first zoo. It’s home to many rare and endangered animals such as the Rodrigues fruit bat, Mhorr gazelle, Panamanian golden frog and more. Another unique feature of the zoo is its Zoo360 system, the first trail system in the world for animal travel and exploration. Zoo360 is a zoo-wide network of see-through mesh trains, which link to the animal habitats, allowing them to roam above and around the zoo. Additionally, it also offers visitors a chance to view these animals from a different vantage point.

Address: 3400 W Girard Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA

Opening Hours: 9:30am–5:00pm

 

7. Tiergarten Schönbrunn, Vienna, Austria

Tiergarten Schönbrunn, or more simply known as the Vienna Zoo, offers one of the greatest international zoo experiences in the world. It was voted the best European zoo in 2009, 2010, and 2012. Another fun fact: it’s also the world’s oldest continuously operating zoo! Experience the animal kingdom in its glory with animals like Peruvian penguins, Egyptian vultures, and more. If you’re feeling tired, take a ride on the Panorama train and enjoy the zoo in comfort.

Address: Maxingstraße 13b, 1130 Wien, Austria

Opening Hours: 9:00am–4:30pm