Nature & Man

[Soukous]

There can be little doubt that mankind has had an impact on the planet's wildlife. 
Sadly we tend to hear more about the bad things than the good. Yet hardly a day goes by when we don't see instances of how animals have found ways to take advantage of what man has placed before them.

I thought it might be fun to start a gallery of photos that show how wildlife is making use of man's world.

 

I'm sure you all have photos hidden away somewhere that illustrate this, so why not share them here.

 

What better animal to start with than monkeys. Always the first to seize an opportunity.

 

 

 

 

[ice]

hitching a hike in Kruger Park (the car was actually driving)

[ice]

 

[ice]

 

[Soukous]

We'd been following this female leopard for an hour or so when she disappeared into the bushes. Luckily our guide knew where she was headed and we circled around to wait for her to emerge again.

The swimming pool belongs to a disused lodge in Sabi Sand - which is now used, I believe, as staff quarters. 

[Soukous]

We have an old water pump in our garden (water pump). I have now idea how old it is but it hasn't worked in the 12 years we've had the house.

Every year I think it would be cool to get it working again; not 'cos we need the water, but just as a novelty.

 

However, every year in Spring our garden is invaded by Tits; Blue Tits, Long Tailed Tits and Great Tits. Sometimes Coal Tits too.

And every year a pair of Blue Tits decide that our pump is the perfect nesting site and we are treated to a couple of weeks of them coming and going. At times like these I'm glad I never got around to fixing the pump.

 

 

 

 

 

[Peter Connan]

A slightly different take...

 

[kittykat23uk]

Waghdoh taking a dip in his private pool, Tadoba buffer zone.

 

 

[Soukous]

Although this warthog was blissfully happy cooling off in the bird bath; the other animals & birds were not so happy and stayed away until the water had been refreshed.

 

[Soukous]

This one is more concerning.

I found this in South Luangwa NP last year.

As if we ever needed any reminder of how plastic is affecting wildlife......

 

 

Yup, it's elephant dung with embedded plastic from a plastic bag.

[kittykat23uk]

Picnic site kgalagadi striped mouse gets a drink thanks to visitors topping up a little plastic tub:

 

 

[Towlersonsafari]

Did I mention we were on holiday in Morvern? a beatiful cottage on the Kingairloch estate, with 2 pairs of golden eagles (The estate not the cottage)and this charming visitor who appeared at about 7.00pm-very early from our experience, for egg and peanut butter, she-I assume beacuse of the size, liked grapes but not strawberries!  The best views we have had of pine martens! taken through the cottage windows. The midges can be seen in some of the pictures as well!

Edited June 18, 2019 by Towlersonsafari

[michael-ibk]

Fantastic sighting - and photos, @Towlersonsafari!

[Towlersonsafari]

ta very much @michael-ibk I would strongly recomend the cottage and the area

[lmSA84]

On 6/7/2018 at 1:21 PM, Peter Connan said:

A slightly different take...

 

 

@Peter Connan - even by your standards that’s a great shot. How was it taken? 

[Peter Connan]

Thanks @lmSA84

 

The "water" is actually a razor-mesh fence. The bird was sitting in the fence, and all I did was rotate the picture 90 degrees anti-clockwise...

[Soukous]

Always ready for a free feed

 

 

[Peter Connan]

Or just a handy place to sit while having lunch...

 

[Soukous]

The elephant in the room 

[Peter Connan]

Well, jolly nearly anyway!

 

 

 

[Soukous]

16 hours ago, Peter Connan said:

Well, jolly nearly anyway!

 

 

 

 

Yes, he struggled with the steps, thankfully.

 

[Whyone?]

Elephant in the (virtual) room!

 

 

[Soukous]

nice one @Whyone?

[Whyone?]

Charlie the camp baboon 'helping' in the kitchen....

 

 

 

[monalisa]

Orangutan drinking out of the gutters