tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-59912358824692399382024-02-07T00:52:13.468-08:00Amazing Wild AnimalsFacts and photos of some truly amazing wild animals. Some of the featured animals are endangered, while others are featured simply because of their beauty. Regardless, they are all fabulous!Sylvestermousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13690700963857028874noreply@blogger.comBlogger43125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5991235882469239938.post-56295407830025545632019-06-26T07:41:00.000-07:002019-06-26T07:41:49.689-07:00Colorful Mandarin Duck
Male Mandarin Ducks are easily recognizable because of their abundant and gorgeous coloring.
Even in shaded areas, like the photo on the right, their brilliance is discernible if you look carefully. Ironically, I almost overlooked that Mandarin duck because those varied colors also provide an excellent camouflage on land.
The Mandarin Duck rests during the day on land, often underSylvestermousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13690700963857028874noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5991235882469239938.post-37390231076230284402018-10-27T08:15:00.000-07:002018-10-27T08:15:43.997-07:00Southern White Rhino
The White Rhinoceros is quite impressive in size. They are the second largest land mammal and are surprising non-aggressive. Their size is only exceeded by the elephant. Ironically, they are grazers and eat primarily short grasses and leaves.
In the late 19th century, Southern White Rhinos were thought to be extinct. However, a small herd was found in 1895 and they Sylvestermousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13690700963857028874noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5991235882469239938.post-10671891633200169502018-08-29T12:56:00.000-07:002018-08-29T12:56:33.929-07:00Bontebok Antelope
Once listed as "vulnerable" due to over-hunting and habitat loss, the Bontebok Antelope is now listed among the "least concern". In large part, that is due to a farmer, Alexander van der Bijl, who gave it sanctuary when it was near extinction back in 1864. While it still has a small range area to live, the Bontebok Antelope does seem to be thriving now. This truly isSylvestermousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13690700963857028874noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5991235882469239938.post-90341508571329619482018-06-28T16:53:00.001-07:002019-07-23T14:28:08.231-07:00Cougar, Puma, Mountain Lion, Wild Cat
What you would call this wild cat depends on where you live. Whether you call him a cougar, puma, mountain lion or something else, he is still a very powerful, stealthy cat.
Cougars are well known for ambushing prey from high vantage points. A cougar can leap over 16 feet, therefore they have a decided advantage over animals that may appear to be bigger Sylvestermousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13690700963857028874noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5991235882469239938.post-49495542218329128502018-03-30T08:40:00.000-07:002019-07-23T15:18:54.488-07:00Bald Eagle
A Bald Eagle is one of the recognizable birds in the world. His proud and majestic stance exudes power.
His menacing glare strikes fear in any creature and naturally warns to not get any closer.
The Bald Eagle most often feeds on live prey including cranes, seagulls and ducks. He also feasts on fish, salmon and snakes. He swoops Sylvestermousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13690700963857028874noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5991235882469239938.post-25159444330655013572017-09-27T09:55:00.001-07:002017-09-27T09:55:58.405-07:00Bongo Antelope
The Bongo is one of the largest antelopes in the dense African forest. They have been called "shy", but I believe they simply exhibit an extremely acute survivalist instinct. They run for cover immediately when they sense danger or any other animal around.
When spotted, they are easy to identify by their size, as well as their deep chestnut coloring with long white stripes that Sylvestermousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13690700963857028874noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5991235882469239938.post-89240963566371626632017-08-23T12:24:00.000-07:002019-01-22T07:56:08.468-08:00Hippopotamus
I caught this couple of hippos lazing around basking in the sun one cool March afternoon. Normally, they prefer to stay in the water.
I admit, I am fascinated by the hippopotamus. Such a large creature supported on tiny, short legs. Plus, they only eat grass and plant food, yet they are enormous in size.
Because a hippo can stay underwater for up to 30 minutes, you might notSylvestermousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13690700963857028874noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5991235882469239938.post-15698366936813385822017-07-01T12:41:00.000-07:002017-07-07T06:59:15.137-07:00Snow Leopards
Snow Leopards are quite beautiful with their snowy, soft fur. Their name "leopard" easily describes the pattern on their fur and "snow" instantly reveals the color. Although, most of them do have a touch of off-white, tan or yellow highlighting in their coat.
As you can see, the gorgeous Snow Leopard that allowed me to photograph him has that yellow highlighting in his face and Sylvestermousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13690700963857028874noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5991235882469239938.post-32496787341676913102017-05-24T07:35:00.000-07:002017-06-27T11:38:04.080-07:00Nile CrocodileThe Nile Crocodile is not an animal that is considered very pretty. Nor is he friendly or one we wish to pet. It is actually best to stay far, far away from a Nile Crocodile. However, he is still amazing, so let's talk about him! We can't get hurt just talking and looking at pictures, right?
I couldn't help but think when I uploaded this image, what a beautiful Sylvestermousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13690700963857028874noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5991235882469239938.post-25635444134575659842017-04-26T08:41:00.001-07:002017-04-26T08:50:53.981-07:00West African Crowned Crane
West African Crowned Crane - Balearica pavonina
The coloring on animals is always so fascinating! Take a close look at the face on this West African Crowned Crane. The pinkest red patch on his face is the perfect accent to set off his lovely eyes. His head is topped with a golden crown of feathers.
The golden crown is even more stunning when you see the lush grey feathers Sylvestermousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13690700963857028874noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5991235882469239938.post-87691955935648666902017-03-04T12:58:00.000-08:002017-06-27T11:37:36.021-07:00The Okapi is Quite Unique!
The Okapi is an animal you might easily walk past without giving him much thought. They are quiet and sedate. Frankly, the coloring doesn't make them stand out either. However, next time you are at a zoo, stop and consider the Okapi. He is a very unique creature.
The Okapi is related to the giraffe, but has stripes like a zebra. They are also closer in size to Sylvestermousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13690700963857028874noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5991235882469239938.post-74420904511204035912016-12-03T10:09:00.000-08:002017-06-27T11:39:18.777-07:00Fishing Cat
The Fishing Cat may resemble a domestic cat at first glance, but he is a wild cat found near the lakes and swamp areas of South-east Asia and Southern India. He thrives in the marshy thickets and coastal creeks where food is readily available.
He is called a Fishing Cat because he is remarkably skilled at fishing. The Fishing Cat lightly taps the water surface mimicking an insect.&Sylvestermousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13690700963857028874noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5991235882469239938.post-4633661674129304212016-10-30T10:45:00.000-07:002018-07-26T10:17:13.822-07:00Asian Small-clawed Otters
This is such an adorable animal! Whether they are swimming, walking around on their short, little legs or sleeping, they have the ability to reach out and grab you heart.
The Asian Small-clawed Otter is one of the smallest otters in the world, but he also has a few other characteristics that set him apart from other otters.
All otters have webbed feet, but the Asian Sylvestermousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13690700963857028874noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5991235882469239938.post-68396646541352597212016-09-02T11:06:00.000-07:002017-03-10T10:59:03.253-08:00The Clymene Moth - Black & Yellow Moth with a Cross
Sometimes I am blessed to find a beautiful creature in my own backyard. Such was the case with the Clymene Moth. He was such a lovely creature that I simply had to take his picture to share with the world.
The black cross he bears on his wings is almost spiritually symbolic. It immediately reminded me of a crusaders cross. Perhaps more so because the shape of the resting wings Sylvestermousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13690700963857028874noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5991235882469239938.post-22538239115803953182016-07-27T06:35:00.001-07:002017-03-10T10:54:15.132-08:00Blue Masked Leafbird
Because of his lovely green color and very small size, it is actually pretty easy to see why this gorgeous little bird is named a leafbird. In the canopy of trees, the leafbird could go virtually unnoticed unless he moves or sings to attract attention.
It is also clear to see why he is call a "blue-masked" leafbird. He does look like he is wearing a big blue mask on hisSylvestermousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13690700963857028874noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5991235882469239938.post-84957808463537414802016-06-28T06:52:00.000-07:002017-03-10T10:49:35.141-08:00Polar Bears
Since Polar Bears live in the Arctic, most of us will only ever see them in zoos. In their natural habitat, their white fur helps to camouflage them against the ice of their region. However, that white fur is quite a contrast to the greens and browns of other terrains.
The Polar Bear has a longer neck than other bears which allows them a longer reach when hunting their aquatic Sylvestermousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13690700963857028874noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5991235882469239938.post-86012815924897434942016-05-26T09:21:00.001-07:002016-10-14T13:25:34.100-07:00Eastern Chipmunks
Chipmunks are pretty clever little creatures that many of us find in our own backyards. They are really cute, but often hide when humans are around. Frequently, we can only watch them out our windows. I often see them eating the bird seed that drops on the ground, but I am rarely able to actually catch them on film.
I just happened to be outside the day I captured the photoSylvestermousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13690700963857028874noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5991235882469239938.post-76189790440750335662016-04-29T12:33:00.001-07:002016-10-14T13:25:53.133-07:00Giraffes
Giraffes are among the most beloved and amazing wild animals you can see at just about any zoo. Their sweet faces and seemingly peaceful demeanor endear them to our hearts. If they weren't so huge, we would all want to take them home and keep them as pets.
Giraffes are the tallest living land mammal. Some actually tower over the rest of the animal kingdom by measuring Sylvestermousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13690700963857028874noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5991235882469239938.post-2264162391349159382016-03-30T07:58:00.000-07:002016-10-14T13:26:20.655-07:00Bali Mynah - Critically Endangered Bird
You may never have seen or heard of a Bali Mynah aka the Bali starling. This gorgeous bird is critically endangered, largely due to illegal poaching for captive bird trade. Unfortunately, their rarity has only increased the demand and value to poachers.
Counts in recent years indicate there may be fewer than 20 Bali Mynah birds still in the wild.
Even though there are some Bali Sylvestermousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13690700963857028874noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5991235882469239938.post-42527544574326271002016-02-23T08:18:00.001-08:002020-02-26T14:16:19.787-08:00Pink DolphinsPink Dolphins Really Do Exist!
Pink Dolphins may be rare, but they really do exist! Not only do they really exist, but there are several different types of pink dolphins.
Pink Bottlenose Dolphins are actually albino dolphins, but they are commonly referred to as pink dolphins simply because they are often pink. The pink Bottlenose Dolphin is extremely rare.
Amazon River Dolphins Sylvestermousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13690700963857028874noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5991235882469239938.post-54851977268484071802016-01-27T13:54:00.000-08:002020-02-26T14:41:26.172-08:00Barred OwlNormally it would be very difficult to get a picture of a Barred Owl. However, I was able to photograph this beauty up close because he is in his own private refuge shelter at Chickasaw State Park. Due to an injury that has rendered him blind in one eye, he will live the rest of his life under the care and protection of the park. He was actually very fortunate that they found Sylvestermousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13690700963857028874noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5991235882469239938.post-50071011252541382232015-12-22T07:22:00.000-08:002016-10-14T13:27:57.692-07:00Reindeer
On occasion, we all give a little bit of thought to Reindeer even if they don't live in our own backyards. Because they are associated with Santa Clause, they especially get a lot of attention around Christmas. I have even known a few people who believed reindeer were fantasy or mythological animals.
Reindeer are most definitely not fantasy. They are very real animals.Sylvestermousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13690700963857028874noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5991235882469239938.post-53022822673199769762015-09-22T07:13:00.000-07:002019-01-22T08:32:55.865-08:00Kangaroo Rats
Just What is a Kangaroo Rat?
Kangaroo Rat? Now isn't that just the funniest name ever! It even seems a bit contradictory. When we think of a kangaroo we think of a tall mammal with a pouch that hops around on two feet and usually packs a pretty nasty punch.
When we think of a rat, we think of a medium sized rodent that runs really fast on all four feet and likes to eat at Sylvestermousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13690700963857028874noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5991235882469239938.post-87090856934223532882015-08-25T07:33:00.001-07:002016-10-14T13:29:29.037-07:00Harp Seals
Precious One!
Now I ask you, who wouldn't adore this cute and cuddly little ball of fur Harp Seal? I simply love those small tuffs of fur that resemble eyebrows on this baby seal!
This is one of those creatures that just looks like they were made to love. However, we better love them while they are young. When Harp Seals are grown, they weight more than a baby Sylvestermousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13690700963857028874noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5991235882469239938.post-42700966161766756272015-07-29T06:24:00.001-07:002019-01-22T08:19:15.655-08:00Key Deer
Endearing Florida Deer
These precious deer, also known as the Toy Deer, were hunted to near extinction in the 1950's in spite of the fact that hunting was banned in the 30's.
Because of efforts to save these sweet creatures, their status has been raised to endangered. While that allows for a little sigh of relief, it is very little. The remaining numbers vary greatly depending on the Sylvestermousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13690700963857028874noreply@blogger.com0