Chobe
National Park, Botswana (click
on thumbnail for full-size image)
Chobe
National Park is known for having the greatest mammal diversity
in the area. It is also home to thousands and thousands
of elephants. Overpopulation by elephants is quite a problem,
as they have destroyed most of the trees and significantly
change the environment. However, there is quite a bit of
controversy on how to handle the problem, as many find culling
to be barbaric.
The
park and surrounding area are quite crowded, especially in
relation to the isolation of other camps in Botswana. They
limit entrance to 30 vehicles at the gate we went in, which
still meant that all 30 would end up in one place if anything
exciting showed up. We actually had to wait for over half
an hour to get in the first afternoon as the quota had been
met on the long holiday weekend.
Elephant
mock charge. They flare
out their ears when threatened
to look bigger - like they need to...
Two
male elephants trunk-jousting. Good exercise and helps establish
dominance.
Cute
baby elephant drinking.
Hippos
lounging on a beach in the middle of the river. From a distance,
they look much like seals.
A
rare Puku antelope
Baboon
carrying baby on its back. Very small young cling to the mothers
front as they run around and climb trees.
Monitor
lizard crawling
along the river bank.
Large
crocodile
Banded
mongoose make a funny whimpering sound while scurrying
This
Pied Kingfisher caught a fish. We watched it smack the fish
against a branch dozens of times,
maybe to tenderize it?
Spoonbills
have funny bills that are spoon (surprise) shaped at the end.
