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    African Elephant Facts

    Posted in Africa | April 13, 2010
    Out of the wood appears a massive beast, with tusks protruding like spears and a trunk resembling a tree.  Its ears flap wildly while the small amber eyes burn with unsparing firmness.  It trumpets and begins to charge. This is in a nutshell an African elephant. African elephant (loxodonta africana) is the largest living land mammal that inhabits places that have adequate food, in the form of grass, and water. These massive animals are known as Tembo or ndovu in Swahili. The general life span of the African elephants is between 60-70 years. Size: African elephants are much bigger in size than Asian Elephants. Males stand 12 feet tall at the shoulder and can weigh between 12,000 and 15,000 pounds while females stand 9.8 feet high and weigh  [...]
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    Badlands National Park

    Posted in North America | April 12, 2010
    Badlands National Park is located in southwestern part of South Dakota (Jackson, Pennington and Shannon Counties) in the United States. The national park spread over an area of 2,44,000 includes the Badlands Wilderness and features rugged terrain and unique rock formations in the shape of colourful domes and canyons. These formations, however, stand in stark contrast against the hills and prairies where they are located. Badlands was declared as Badlands National Monument in March, 1929 but it was officially established only in January 1939. It was redesignated as a national park in November 1978. Red Shirt Table (1,020 metres) is the highest point in the park. Formation: About 60 million years ago when the Rockies Mountains were at its stage  [...]
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    Mesa Verde National Park

    Posted in North America | April 12, 2010
    Mesa Verde National Park is located in Montezuma County in southwestern Colorado in the USA. Mesa Verde (Spanish term meaning ‘green table’ in English), spread across an area of 211 square kilometres and designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site is particularly famous for its well-preserved cliff dwellings, which undoubtedly earn reputation as some of the most spectacular archaeological attractions in the entire North American continent. The park features ruins of homes and villages built by Anasazis (or Ancestral Puebloans), the ancient Pueblo people, who made the region their homeland about 1400 years ago. The park has four main areas, namely: Morefield Campground, Far View, Chapin Mesa, and Wetherill Mesa. Geography: Elevation in Mesa  [...]
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    Joshua Tree National Park

    Posted in North America | April 9, 2010
    Joshua Tree National Park is located in the Southern Californian Desert (Riverside and san Bernardino Counties) in the United States. Previously a US National Movement, Joshua Tree National Park was declared a Biosphere Reserve in 1984 and a National Park in 1994. The park covers a total area of 7,89,745 acres and encompasses areas of Mojave and Colorado Deserts. The park gets its name from the distinctive Joshua Tree. The park is governed by the National Park Service. Geography: Features of the two desert areas are mainly determined by altitudinal factor. Colorado Desert, which encompasses the eastern part of the park has an altitude of below 910 metres. Little San Bernardino Mountains are located in the southwestern edge of the park. Mojave  [...]
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    Wonder of the Ivory-billed Woodpecker

    Posted in Wildlife A-Z | April 9, 2010
    The ivory-billed woodpecker was considered till recently to be an extinct species. However, its obscurity vanished when ornithologists have reported its sighting. The ivory-billed woodpecker is the third largest woodpecker species in the world. It was believed to be extinct some 50 years ago. However, in April 2005 a video featuring the birds surfaced from an Arkansas swamp forest. This video confirmed the existence of the bird. It captured the attention of the entire world. It was considered to be the equivalent of locating Elvis alive. Some researchers backed the evidence for the ivory-billed woodpecker while other insisted that the video recording shows a smaller woodpecker, which is common throughout North America. These woodpeckers make  [...]
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    Splendor of the Great Egret

    Posted in Wildlife A-Z | April 8, 2010
    The great egret is a long-legged bird whose neck takes an ‘S-shape’. It is found throughout the Americas. Many diverse areas of the world are home to this species. It is regarded as the largest white egret that occurs within its range. The great blue heron is the only species larger than the great egret. Great egrets are found near salt water or fresh water. Their feeding areas include wetlands, streams, ponds, and tidal flats. They capture prey by walking silently or standing still for long periods of time. Any animal that comes within range of their long necks and razor-sharp bills is potential prey. The ultimate death blow is given with an immediate thrust of the sharp bill. The prey is then swallowed whole. Fish serves as the staple  [...]
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    Scorching Light of the Fireflies

    Posted in Wildlife A-Z | April 8, 2010
    The term firefly is common. Fireflies are also known as lightning bugs. However, not many know that these insects are beetles in reality. They are nocturnal insects belonging to the Lampyridae family. Fireflies have wings. This distinguishes them from other luminescent insects belonging to the same family, which are known as glowworms. There are nearly 2000 species of fireflies. They generally live in warm surroundings and temperate regions. They are clearly seen in summer evenings. They love moisture and thrive in the humid regions of Asia and America. Even in drier areas, they are present where there is ample of moisture. It is easy to understand how the fireflies got their name. However, not many know how these insects produce their characteristic  [...]
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    Potent Great White Sharks

    Posted in Wildlife A-Z | April 7, 2010
    In reality the great white shark is not as dangerous as in our imaginations. Recently, there has been a lot of research on these elusive predators. The great white shark is no longer viewed as a mean killing machine. Nearly one-third to one-half of the total shark attacks can be attributed to great whites. Most of these attacks are not fatal. Great white sharks are known to be naturally curious. They engage in what is known as ‘sample biting’ by releasing their victims. This cannot be very comforting news, but it does indicate that humans are not on the menu list of the great white shark. Great white sharks are the largest predatory fish on the planet. Their average length is 15 feet. There have been fish specimens exceeding 20 feet and  [...]
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    Mighty King Cobra

    Posted in Wildlife A-Z | April 7, 2010
    It can be a bit unnerving to know that the most venomous snake on the planet can stand erect and look at a full-grown adult straight in the eye. What are we talking about? Nothing but the legendary king cobra. A king cobra can touch 18 feet in length. This makes them the longest venomous snake in the world. When under threat, they raise nearly one-third of their bodies off the ground. This helps them move forward to attack. When they perceive danger, they develop their characteristic hoods and emit a spine-chilling hiss. This resembles the growl of a dog. The venom of the king cobra is not the most potent. However, the amount of neurotoxin that they generate in a single bite is sufficient to kill 20 people or a large elephant. Each bite can  [...]
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    Majestic Giraffe

    Posted in Wildlife A-Z | April 6, 2010
    Giraffe is the world’s tallest mammal. They owe this to their towering legs and long necks. The legs of the giraffe are taller than most humans, standing at 6 feet. These legs allow the giraffe to run up to 35 mph over short distances. Over longer distances, they cruise at 10 mph. These grandiose animals roam the open grasslands in groups of six to ten. Male bulls often engage in battle using their long necks and heads as battling gear. These skirmishes do not pose any dangers. They end with one animal walking away. Giraffes use their height to good benefits. They gorge on leaves and buds that lie high on the treetops. Few animals can reach these trees. The acacia plant is a particular favorite among the giraffe population. The tongue of the  [...]
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