Safari lessons, part 2

Animals have really interesting forms of communication in the bush. For example, a group of warthogs (known as a sounder) raise their tails straight up as they run through the thicket, so their compatriots can see the little ball of fuzz on the tip and track its movements. Each fuzzball is unique, thus allowing warthogs to ID each other in tall grass. This habit has led to the nickname, "remote-controlled pig," since the tails up look like antenae. (By the way, warthogs feed on their knees, because their necks are too short and skin is too tight to reach the ground standing. Baby warthogs are born with callouses on their knees.)

Similarly, lions have dark patches on the backs of their ears to allow tracking from behind as they hunt in packs in the tall grass.

As for why zebras have stripes, we didn't get a definitive answer there. Some theories include for confusing predators, identification or heat abatement. Whatever the case, no two zebras have the same patterns.

Some other interesting Claven-esque tidbits:

• Egrets follow buffalo and elephants to eat the bugs they stir up as they crash through the bush.
• Female lions leave the pride as they give birth and raise cubs to prevent the males from eating the babies. When females are raising cubs, they do not go into oestrus. As a result, males will eat the babies to encourage female heat, thus creating an opportunity for the male to plant his own seed. Randy.
• Zebra and wildabeest move together because zebra like tall grass and have good eyesight, and wildabeest like short grass. In this way, wildabeest are like parasites.
• When female lions are in oestrus, they select one male and mate every 15-20 minutes for a week. Then she selects a second male for another week. It is generally the second mate who gets her pregnant. And while mating, lions do not eat.
• A group of rhinos is called a crush, giraffe a journey, mongeese a cluster, zebra a kinship and hippos a pod.

Overall, a safari in Africa (or three) is a must for people who like wildlife.