Stripes

Zebras on the Ngorogoro Crater Rim! Zebras also migrate long distances like wildebeests. They depend on the rich volcanic soil in the Gelae Plains, north of Tarangire in order to produce good milk for their babies. If the migration corridor gets cut off, like what is happening in Mtowambu because the city is expanding, then there will not be anymore ungulates in the northern plains.

Bush Dogs

Here is a video of a parent successfully foraging for its offspring! We saw this Golden Jackal crossing the road, then looking around. Its pups finally all came out of hiding from all directions and pounced all over their lunch.

It keeps going...

I have lots of elephant footage. A juvie trumpets at us!

Elephants

More!

Tarangire National Park

There are tons of elephants in Tarangire National Park. We were lucky to see so many, and so close. However, there is a great threat to them - poaching. It sorta seems like that went out of style in the 80s when ivory was banned. But, the ivory trade has made a huge comeback, and it is at the expense of these animals. In 2012, 2 dozen elephants have been killed, just in the small Tarangire area. There is very little being done to prevent poaching, and unfortunately game meat is cheaper than buying beef or goat from Maasai herders. Here is a recent article about the poisoning of some elephants: http://www.theeastafrican.co.ke/news/Tanzania+battles+elephant+poaching/-/2558/1395686/-/chq1yxz/-/

Here are some elephants that we saw in Tarangire:

Smallest Antelope

The Dik Dik is one of the smallest antelope in Africa. They live in the underbrush, hanging out near tall bushes. In the video you can see one scent marking at the with scat. Also, and the end of the video the other is scent marking using a gland at the corner of its eye on a blade of grass. Dik Diks are usually monogamous.

Gazelles and Puumba

A short clip of Thompson's gazelles and a family of warthogs.

Maasai Giraffe

An adult male Maasai Giraffe in Tarangire National Park. He actually has a moderate case of giraffe skin disease (not on video), and a broken horn.

Cheetah!

A cheetah stalking gazelle in Tarangire National Park!

We spent 2 weeks driving the Northern Safari Circuit in Tanzania with our friends, Derek and Monica, and their partner Robert. They are studying the Maasai Giraffe population - surprisingly, little is known about how many giraffes there are, and where they go. We helped them identify giraffes with signs of skin disease. GSD (Giraffe Skin Disease) is becoming more prevalent, and again little is known about it. Infected individuals may show black, necrotic lesions on the back of the leg(s).

Check out their website to learn more about Giraffes, other migrating ungulates and what they are doing. Also, if you are interested in going on a research safari (and directly funding scientific research) they offer tours: www.wildnatureinstitute.org

Getting into Gear - work!

 Here are a few shots of getting some work done out on the islands. It isn't just fun and games out there. We are saving seals!

Applying a bleach mark on Sharkbite, Kaena Point 2010 - a male brought to the main islands in 1993 to even out the sex ratio on Laysan.

Applying topical dewormer on a Laysan yearling 2011.

Getting into Gear - Seals!

TA68, our largest pup of 2009

TK86 and TK36 - 2 big pups of 2011

Ipomea entangled

TK68

TK26

Juvie in the rocks

TK36 and TK86 rolling around

TK36 and TK86 best buddies

TK68 sleeping

Getting into Gear - Ready for Laysan!

 I'm headed back to Laysan! 2012 will be my 4th season on the island, working on the Hawaiian Monk Seal Population Assessment Study. I'm ready for warm weather, blue water, baby seals, big seals, and seabirds galore. Aloha!

Shipwreck in 2010

Shipwreck close-up (it is gone now)

Me working on data in our office, 2011