THE GARDEN POND

AND ITS WILDLIFE

GROUP 10: WORLD HABITA
Gardeners can help wildlife in their area by establishing an
ornamental pond. A well-managed aquatic environment can
attract birds and support amphibians, fish, and insects.
POND PLANTS
Weeds are essential to ponds.
They produce oxygen, which
dissolves in the water and sup-
ports aquatic invertebrates and
fish. Islands of frog's-bit or water
lilies and clumps of sedges and
yellow irises at the water's edge
provide cover and serve as plat-
forms for aquatic insects. Large
ponds sometimes have cattails.
Too many weeds choke pond
life, however. Mats of algae or
duckweed should be removed.
CONSERVATION
In Great Britain the rare great
crested newt may at times be
glimpsed in large ponds, but
THE WATER SPIDER
The water spider is the only spi-
der that is truly aquatic. Above-
ground it breathes in the same
way as other spiders, but it can
also breathe underwater. First,
its tiny abdominal hairs trap air
above the surface. Then the spi-
der submerges and releases the
trapped air into a bell-shaped
underwater web, which it teth-
ers to plants using silky strands.
When under water, the spider
breathes oxygen from the air un-
der its body hair and replenishes
this supply from the bell. It feeds
and breeds in the water.
farmers and developers have
drained much of its watery
habitat. It has been protected
Left: It is impor-
tant to keep a
pond in good
condition year-
round because
frogs may gath-
er as early as
January in or-
der to breed in
the water.
(c)MC":MXC":VI IMP BV/IMP INC": WILDlIFF FAC":T FILpM PRINTED IN U.S.A
Left: Borders
planted with
monkey flower,
bloody cranes-
bill, and other
attractive spe-
cies create an
ideal environ-
mentforin-
sects. Useful
aquatic plants
include the wa-
ter IiIYt water
crowfoot, and
frog's-bit.
since 1981. Another protected
pond visitor in Great Britain is
the natterjack toad.
In several countries the filling
in of farm ponds has created
problems for frogs and toads,
but the boom in garden ponds
has saved some animals from
extinction. There are now areas
where frogs and toads no long-
er inhabit rural ponds but are
abundant in urban ponds.
Left: By living
above and be-
low the water,
the water spi-
dercan take
advantage of
a range of preYt
but it is also ex-
posed to many
enemies, in-
cluding water
scorpions and
dragonfly lar-
vae. In the wa-
ter it catches
tadpoles and
eats them in its
air bell.
US P 6001 12 073 PACKET 73
Creating a pond in a garden can provide a rich
and fascinating wildlife habitat. In early summer it
comes alive with the hum of myriad insects. In urban
and suburban areas, garden ponds often serve as
important breeding grounds for frogs and toads.
~ POND AMPHIBIANS
All amphibians depend on wa-
ter to complete their develop-
ment. Frogs spend the winter
deep in the damp mud of pond
beds, breathing through their
clammy skin. In early spring
they emerge to spawn, or lay
their eggs, in the pond. Toads
also lay their eggs in the pond.
Front inset left: The smooth newt
is attracted to a pond full of weeds.
Front inset right: The great ram's
horn snail grows to one inch.
The frog's mass of eggs floats
on the surface, but the toad's
long, thin chains of eggs sink
or entwine around plants.
A frog may lay up to 4,000
eggs, but predators kill so many
that only five percent survive.
The tadpoles at first eat algae
and small plants but later feed
on animal matter. Many are
eaten by dragonfly larvae, fish,
and water beetles. Froglets are
at risk from sharp-eyed herons.
~ POND SNAilS
About 20 species of water snail
commonly occur in ponds. The
great pond snail has a conical
shell that grows to two inches.
As its name suggests, the ram's
horn snail has a spiraling shell.
Employing its radula (filelike
Newts spend the winter un-
der large stones near the pond.
They breed in the pond during
spring and summer. These am-
phibians feed on frog tadpoles
as well as water fleas.
The smooth newt is known
for its unusual courtship display.
The male's belly turns a fiery red
color. The female lays approxi-
mately 300 eggs and then wraps
each in its own leaf in order to
hide it from predators.
tongue), the pond snail feeds
on microscopic algae. The ma-
jority of pond snails breathe
oxygen through lungs. They
climb up aquatic plant stems
to absorb oxygen from the sur-
face film on the water.
KEY TO SPECIES
Natterjack toad
2 Water crowfoot
3 Water boatman
4 Ram's horn snail
5 Goldfish
6 Great diving water beetle
7 Smooth newt
~ POND INSECTS & SPIDERS
In thelifecycle of a typical insect,
the larva does most of the eat-
ing and growing, and the more
mobile adult mates, lays eggs,
and dies. A lush garden pond
offers plenty of plant or animal
food for the hungry larva. The
adult often flies from the pond,
returning only to breed, but in
some species the adult lives un-
der, on, or beside the water.
Dragonfly nymphs (larvae)
spend up to two years in the
pond, growing larger each time
that they molt. These nymphs
are among the most predatory
insects in the garden pond. They
lunge at small insects, tadpoles,
or small fish and then shred their
victims with cutting jaws.
Aquatic insects and spiders are
able to breathe oxygen under-
water, but they do so in various
ways. The nymphs of dragon-
flies and damselflies have exter-
nal gills. Both mosquito and gnat
8 House sparrow
9 Emperor dragonfly
10 Water milfoil
11 Water lily
12 Water strider
13 Mosquito larva and pupa
14 Water spider
larvae have siphons (tiny tubes)
that penetrate the surface film
of water to reach the air.
Some diving beetles and wa-
ter spiders have hairs that cover
their bodies and trap bubbles of
air each time they surface. They
breathe underwater from this
supply until it is exhausted and
then return for more air. The ox-
ygen enters their bodies through
spiracles (tiny holes), as in any
land-based insect.
I
SKOMER MARINE NATURE
RESERVE AND ITS WILDLIFE
The waters that surround the small island of Skomer, off the coast
of Wales in Great Britain, contain a wealth of animal and
plant life. This area is protected as a nature reserve.
KEY FACTS
PROTECTI NG SKOMER' S WI LDLIFE
Skomer Marine Nature Reserve
includes 1 7 miles of coastline.
It surrounds the island and ex-
tends to the coastline of the
Marloes Peninsula in Wales.
Within the reserve the wildlife
is well protected. Boating and
fishing both take place in the
waters around Skomer, and
THE SKOMER VOLE
The Skomer vole is one of five
subspecies of bank vole found
in Great Britain. It is paler than
bank voles on the mainland
and twice as heavy. Other dif-
ferences lie in its skull shape
and teeth. It also seems to be
tamer, probably because its
habitat is not disturbed much
I
by humans or large mammals.
The Skomer vole makes its
nest in ferns and brambles on
1-
left: The island
of Grassholm,
near Skomer,
has the third
largest gannet
colony in the
North Atlantic.
Up to 22,000
birds cluster on
the island or fly
overhead, cry-
ing noisily.
Garland .' Midland
Skomer l Isle .
'.. . 0 '
Mew Stone The
WALES
the superb underwater scenery
and varied marine wildlife are
attractive to divers. However,
all the visitors to the area are
alerted to its importance for
wildlife and asked to follow
guidelines to help protect it.
Boat users, for example, are
told not to pollute the waters
left: Scallops
live in muddy
sand in the sea-
bed. Because of
overfishing, they
have become
rare in England.
They are now
protected in the
Skomer Reserve.
grassy banks that reach down
to the sea. It is a nighttime for-
ager, feeding on seeds, berries,
Neck
BROAOSOUNO
Gateholm

MadB
U
Frank's Point
by spilling fuel. They are also
requested to avoid groups of
seabirds on the water surface.
Waterskiing is strongly discour-
aged. Divers are not allowed to
take scallops and are asked not
to collect any crabs or lobsters.
Anglers are advised never to
leave any fishing tackle behind,
because hooks and fishing lines
can injure or kill wildlife.
Ultimately, the success of the
Skomer Marine Nature Reserve
depends on whether people
care about the wildlife that in-
habits the area. If visitors follow
the guidelines, Skomer's waters
will continue to remain rich in
plants and animals.
fungi, and other plant matter.
It may eat its food right away
or hoard it for later.
left: The Sko-
mer "giant"
vole, which is
heavier than
mainland bank
voles, may have
arrived on the
boats of early
settlers.
MCMXCVI IMP BV/IMP INC. WILDLIFE FACT FILETM PRINTED IN U.S.A. US P 6001 12 076 PACKET 76
Skomer is the largest in a complex of small islands that
includes both Skokholm and Midland Isle. Composed of
volcanic rock, the island is covered with heath and moors.
The land is riddled with the burrows of rodents, and in
summer the ground is carpeted with wildflowers.
SKOMER'S PLANTS
Plants in the sea off the shores
of Skomer provide both food
and shelter for marine animals.
Kelp, a brown seaweed, grows
on rocks, where it is firmly held
by a knotty, rootlike attachment
called a holdfost. Its puckered
fronds may be 11 feet long.
Kelp forms a dense undersea
forest around much of Skomer's
coast. Its sturdy stems are colo-
nized by other plants such as
dulse, which is a red seaweed
that grows in single ribbons or
a branched mass.
Skomer's cliffs are dotted with
green clumps of rock samphire.
Right: Tufts of sea thrift and sea
campion conceal rodents' burrows.
Front inset left:
Thechough
nests on the
cliffs of Skomer.
Its bright red
bill and legs
distinguish it
from the raven,
which breeds
there as well.
Front inset
right: In the
reserve the edi-
ble sea urchin is
safe from divers.
When cleaned,
its test, or skele-
ton, is a sought-
after souvenir.
The ground above supports sea
campion and sea squill. Skullcap
and meadowsweet grow in the
valleys and marshes.
Right: The corkwing wrasse alters
its color to match its background.
Left: The sea
mouse is actu-
ally a worm
that inhabits
sandy coastal
seabeds. It gets
its name from
the mat of fine
hairs on its
back.
BIRDS &: MAMMALS
There are no large predatory
mammals on Skomer, so rab-
bits, mice, and shrews thrive on
the heath and grassy slopes.
Shearwaters feed on the fish
in the seas near Skomer. About
100,000 birds breed here, in
what may be the world's largest
shearwater colony. Manx shear-
water pairs tunnel into the soil
orfind a rock crevice or empty
rabbit burrow. The female lays a
white egg in late April or May.
Shearwaters are clumsy on
land, so they live mostly at sea.
Left: The rugged cliffs of Skomer
support the largest colony of kitti-
wakes in Wales.
When they return to their nests,
however, they do so at night to
avoid the predatory great black-
backed gull.
Skomer is also an important
breeding ground for gray seals,
which use its beaches, inlets,
and sea caves. Between 75 and
100 pups are born on Skomer
each year.
Offshore, other large mam-
mals take advantage of the rich
food supply. Killer whales, dol-
phins, and porpoises are some-
times seen.
Right: The pygmy shrew is Great
Britain 5" tiniest mammal. It feeds
on insects on Skomer.
Left: Well be-
low the low
tidemark, the
sea fan sifts
tiny organisms
from the sea.
A violet more
rounded form
lives in deeper
waters.
SKOMER'S FISH &: INVERTEBRATES
In the waters around Skomer,
lobsters hide in rock crevices
and crabs wander over under-
sea rocks. There are also sea
urchins, sponges, limpets, bar-
nacles, sea fans, and brittle stars.
A brittle star has long, cordlike
arms that, if grasped, snap off
to let the animal escape.
Branched and lacy sea fans are
some of the most beautiful sea
creatures. The tiny polyps on
their branches extend their ten-
tacles to feed on planktonic ani-
mals and plants in the current.
Darting among the fronds of
kelp are small fish called wrasse.
Several species occur around
Skomer, including the corkwing
wrasse. In the breeding season
the male becomes very colorful,
displaying his vivid metallic red-
and-blue markings in front of
the red females. When he at-
tracts a mate, she lays her eggs
in a seaweed nest that he has
constructed. She then leaves
him to fertilize and look after
the eggs until they hatch.
Wrasse eat worms, prawns,
small crabs, and barnacles. They
use their thick, strong lips to pry
their prey from rocks or weeds,
and then crunch them up in
their toothed jaws. Corkwing
wrasse are cleaners, picking up
parasites from the scales of oth-
er fish species.
BADKHYZ NATURE RESERVE
AND ITS WILDLIFE
8adkhyz Nature Reserve lies in Turkmenia, near the borders
of Afghanistan and Iran. Its name, which means "the wind
has risen, " comes from the winds that lash its hills and plains.

BADKHYZ'S PLANT LIFE
) left: Most of
the plants in
8adkhyz are
short-lived.
They depend
on drought-
resistant seeds
or fleshy bulbs
for survival.
About 40 spe-
cies are found
only here.
c::::::> )'
During a brief moist period in
spring, the plants of Badkhyz's
plateau burst into flower. The
hills are clothed in grasses and
sedges, and dotted with pop-
pies, tulips, delphiniums, and
irises. The blooms die in a few
months, scorched by the sun.
The giant fennel sends up
Caspian
r./\/-'
(

'\ CHINA
Sea
j"_-, \.. Badkhyz __ _
Nature Reserve ,,-
/", '-',
,. ..... t.
-Tehran
Y TedzhenR. -
IRAN \ Kabul
U\FGHANISTAN .....
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./ i
Persian Gulf ___ /--'
stout tapering stems four inches
across at the base and over six
feet high. Small birds nest in its
feathery branches, and a vari-
ety of unique insects also live
there. The top growth dies in
summer, but the plant survives
underground for six to nine
years, producing new stems
left: The pista-
chio tree is the
most important
of the reserve's
plants. It grows
slowly, taking
up to 400 years
to mature.
each spring. Finally, the fennel
blooms with greenish yellow
flowers. After the wind scatters
the seeds, the plant dies.
Wild fig, apricot, and almond
trees grow on the plateau. The
most plentiful tree, however, is
the pistachio. It provides shelter,
nest sites, and nuts for many an-
imals. This tree grows in sparse
groups, since each tree's roots
may extend up to 100 feet.
The gnarled saxaul tree grows
in deserts. Its drooping, leafless
stems conserve moisture, and
its long roots probe deep for
water. Animals and numerous
plants thrive in its shade.
SAVING THE ASIATIC WILD ASS

The Badkhyz Nature Reserve
was established in 1941 mainly
to save the kuian, a type of Asi-
atic wild ass. Hunted almost to
extinction, the kulan also suf-
fered from human encroach-
ment on its steppe and desert
habitat. Its population was
scattered in tiny fragments.
By 1 941 there were only 150
kulans left in the Badkhyz area.
The animal was protected, and
its habits and needs were stud-
MCMXCVI IMP BV/IMP INC. WILDLIFE FACT FILETM
ied. Research was difficult be-
cause the kulan flees from in-
truders and can run at speeds
of over 35 miles per hour.
Captive breeding programs
were set up and asses moved
into protected areas. As a re-
sult, numbers have increased.
There are now more than 3,000
kulans in the Badkhyz region.
left: The kulan is a subspecies of J
the Asiatic wild ass that is found
only in Turkmenia.
PRINTED IN U.S.A. US P 6001 12078 PACKET 78
The 8adkhyz Nature Reserve includes dramatic mountain
ravines, desert, and savanna with pistachio trees that
provide shelter and food for many animals. A number of
rare species, such as the Asiatic wild ass and the goitered
gazelle, live in this protected area. There are even a few
leopards from the almost extinct Iranian subspecies.
~ VARIED HABITATS
Covering almost 340 square
miles, much of Badkhyz is a hilly
plateau with gorges and moun-
tain ridges. Pistachio trees dot
the rolling hills, so the landscape
resembles the African savanna.
Ten inches of rain fall each year,
mostly in winter. The water seeps
into rocks, and icy springs gush
from the parched earth in late
winter. Plants and animals must
make the most of this water and
be tough enough to survive hot,
dry summers as well as bitterly
cold winters.
In the south there is a rift val-
ley with a dramatic sandstone
ridge that rises to 1,600 feet in
Front inset
left: The larg-
est vulture in
Eurasia is the
black vulture.
It is considered
vulnerable, but
it thrives in the
wilderness of
Badkhyz.
Front inset
right: Hors-
field's tortoise
is common in
this region. It
nibbles leaves
in rocky areas.
places. The ridge overlooks a
gorge that is 12 miles long and
6 miles wide-the Er-Oilan-Duz
Depression. On the floor of the
gorge lie salt lakes. In summer
the sun evaporates the water,
and the lakes turn into salt flats.
Dust gives them a rosy hue.
Scattered around the salt pans
are conical hills with the craters
of long-extinct volcanoes. This
lunar landscape runs into the
deep gully of the Kyzyl-Dzhar
Canyon, which winds through
pink rock for 11 miles.
Right: The shy striped hyena roams
the mountains in search of carrion
(dead animal flesh).
~ BIRDS
More than 250 bird species live
in Badkhyz, including 30 birds
of prey. The Egyptian vulture,
griffon vulture, golden eagle,
and long-legged buzzard soar
over the cliffs on rising currents
of warm air.
Other birds include the stri-
ated scops owl, blue-cheeked
~ M A M M A L S
Badkhyz has protected and re-
stocked three species of hoofed
mammal : the kulan (a subspe-
cies of the Asiatic wild ass), the
dainty goitered gazelle, and the
wild sheep, which is known for
the male's curling horns.
A total of 48 mammal species
have been recorded in Badkhyz.
Its many rodents survive with-
out drinking, getting moisture
from plants and dew. They in-
clude jerboas, which hop along
at speeds of 22 miles per hour,
Left: The arkhar, or wild sheep, has
been hunted almost to extinction
outside the reserve.
bee-eater, and various wheat-
ears. The insect-eating little owl
escapes from the heat by hid-
ing in a gerbil burrow. The
white-winged spotted wood-
pecker nests in the saxaul tree,
while the grayish brown Turk-
estan titmouse uses a hole in a
pistachio tree.
and various gerbils. The giant
gerbil grows to eight inches
long, and it has a six-inch tail.
With its mate and young, this
burrower can excavate a sys-
tem of tunnels that is as much
as 160 feet across.
The long-eared hedgehog has
large ears that radiate heat to
keep it cool. Other mammals,
such as the white-tailed porcu-
pine, honey badger, caracal,
and lynx, are associated with
Africa or India.
Right: Badkhyz provides one of the
last havens for the goitered gazelle,
ordjeiran.
Left: The rare
Bengal eagle
owl hunts at
night over the
rocky areas of
Badkhyz. Its
usual prey is a
hare or gerbil,
but it is able to
snatch a fox
with its strong
talons.
~ REPTILES & INVERTEBRATES
There are 37 reptile species in
the reserve. The largest is the
desert monitor lizard, which can
grow to five feet long. This dan-
gerous predator is surprisingly
fast. It crushes birds, rodents, liz-
ards, and tortoises in its power-
ful jaws. Smaller reptiles include
geckos and agama lizards.
Among the numerous snakes
is the rare, poisonous Central
Asian cobra. It usually avoids
conflict and performs a threat
display before attacking. The
saw-scaled viper is much more
dangerous. It is less than three
feet long but can be aggressive.
This viper moves by " sidewind-
ing" across the sand, keeping
most of its body off the hot sur-
face. Another snake, the sand
boa, buries itself in sand to wait
for lizards, birds, and rodents.
After seizing its victim in its jaws,
it crushes it to death. The small
blind snake feeds underground
on ants and slugs.
Up to 200 new insect and spi-
der species are discovered in
Badkhyz every year. Colorful
beetles, butterflies, and moths
take advantage of the brief show
of spring flowers. In the dry ar-
eas live scorpions, tarantulas, and
tiny sun spiders that have huge
pincers on their heads.
THE ISLES OF SCILL V
AND THEIR WILDLIFE
GROUP 10: WORLD HABITATS
The Isles of Scilly lie in the Atlantic Ocean off the southwestern
tip of England. Their isolation and mild climate make them
inviting to unusual species, including rare migrant birds.
KEY FACTS
COLORFUL COASTAL PLANTS
On st. Mary\ the largest island,
there are marshes with purple
marsh woundwort, balm-leaved
figwort, and yellow flags, which
can grow to six feet tall. In the
past islanders planted willows in
order to make lobster pots from
the pliant branches. These trees
now provide shelter for migra-
tory birds.
On the islands' coasts, couch
grass acts as a windbreak, trap-
ping sand, which collects to
form coastal dunes. Marram
grass quickly establishes itself
. White Island
rresco .: 0
Bryher lJd .
o :" Great Gamily
' .. ' . "
, .r:; . . ,
St. Mary's

"Annet .1'"'z\) Gugh
""'V ATLANTI C
.,' St. Agnes OCEAN
' Q: "
Gi/stone
-
and helps build up the dunes.
Blue sea holly and horned pop-
pies take root in the dune grass.
In the spring wild garlic gives
way to bluebells, and in June
foxgloves bloom. In the fall the
islands are colored by heather
and bracken.
Left: Self-heal
grows on the
coast. It gets its
name from an
old belief that it
cured the sick.
Right: Despite
salty sea spray,
plants such as
thrift and sea
campion thrive.
RARE SPRING AND SUMMER VISITORS
Hundreds of bird-watchers trav-
el to the Isles of Scilly to observe
exotic migratory birds. Some
birds are blown off-course dur-
ing their fall migrations and rest
on the islands before setting off
on their journeys again. Ameri-
can birds that may appear in-
clude Swainson's thrush, the
lesser golden plover, and the
MCMXCII IMP BV/ IMP INC WILDLIFE FACT FILETM PRINTED IN U.S.A.
American robin. Occasionally,
waterfowl, such as the purple
gallinule, the blue-winged teal,
and the American wigeon, ar-
rive on these shores.
In the spring, a number of mi-
gratory Mediterranean birds, in-
cluding the golden oriole and
the little egret, overshoot their
breeding grounds in southern
Europe and arrive in the Isles of
Scilly as a result.
Left: A rare visitor to the Isles of
Scilly, the colorful hoopoe has a
crest that it can erect.
0160200851 PACKET 85
The rocky, windswept shores of the Isles of Scilly are
frequently the first land that migrating birds reach when
they return to British shores from their wintering grounds.
In addition, these small islands provide a temporary
haven for a variety of exotic birds that are migrating
from the Mediterranean and North America.
~ LANDSCAPE & CLIMATE
The Isles of Scilly consist of more
than 140 low-lying islands, is-
lets, and rocks that lie 27 miles
southwest of England. Only six
of the islands are inhabited.
The islands are the remains of
a granite mass that separated
from the mainland about 3,000
years ago. Strong Atlantic winds
have carved the soft white gran-
ite into strange shapes, especial-
~ INVERTEBRATES
On the islands there are local
forms of the common blue and
meadow brown butterflies. In
summer the green tiger beetle
and the great green bush crick-
Front cover:
The Isles of Scil-
Iy were once
part of main-
land England.
Front inset
left: The purple
sandpiper for-
ages for crus-
taceans at the
water's edge.
Front inset
right: The
Manx shear-
water is a su-
premeglider
that comes
ashore only
to breed.
lyon the southern coast of st.
Mary's. The landscape includes
cliffs, sand dunes, marshes, mar-
itime heath, scrubland, and cul-
tivated fields.
Because of the warm North
Atlantic Drift, the climate is tem-
perate with cool summers and
mild winters. Flowers appear
very early in spring. The islands
are famous for their narcissi.
et are common on the cliffs. In
the waters, featherstars, com-
mon starfish, green sea urchins,
heart urchins, and both jewel
and bead let anemones thrive.
Pipits and wagtails frequently
feed on the islands' beaches,
searching for debris brought in
by the tide. In the fall, waders
such as the buff-breasted sand-
piper and the dotterel are seen
near the water, as well as the
ruddy turnstone, with its pat-
terned plumage. In the rough
coastal grasses, ground-nesting
larks and buntings find food.
The island of Tresco has a big
freshwater pool separated from
the sea by a bank of sand that
provides an important habitat
for breeding birds and rare mi-
grants. Geese and a variety of
ducks, including the oldsquaw,
are found there.
The island of Annet is a sanc-
tuary for nesting seabirds, such
Left: In spring the adult sanderling
develops brown-black markings on
its upperparts.
as the Manx shearwater and
the British storm petrel, which
people used to think warned of
storms. The northern fulmar is
a summer visitor to the islands,
and sooty and great shearwa-
ters arrive in fall. These three
species spend most of the time
flying over the waves with their
wings held stiffly.
Puffins dig holes in the sand
for their nests. Shags live in col-
onies on the outer rocks, where
they make large, untidy nests
that several families use. The
smell of decaying fish indicates
their presence.
Inland there are warblers and
flycatchers. Marsh birds include
herons, crakes, water rails, and
ducks like mallards and teals.
Right: The female common snipe
incubates her eggs in grasses near
marshy land.
Over 100 gray seals breed on
the islands' rocky coasts. They
feed on fish and crustaceans. In
the shallow waters nearby, por-
poises in groups of up to 15
catch herring and mackerel.
The tiny but fierce Scilly, or
lesser white-toothed shrew,
Left: The female gray seal's coat
has dark spots on a pale back-
ground. The male's coat is darker.
Left: The lesser
white- toothed
shrew inhabits
the larger Isles
of S c i l l ~ as well
as the Channel
Islands of Sark
and Jersey.
inhabits most of the larger is-
lands. Unlike most shrews, it
prefers the seashore to fields or
woodland. It emerges from its
nest frequently during the day
and night to feed on spiders
and insects. Only two inches
or so long, the shrew is barely
larger than its prey. This active
little insectivore needs a con-
stant supply of food to survive.
KRUGER NATIONAL PARK
AND ITS WILDLIFE
GROUP 10: WORLD HABITATS
~ = = = = = = = = = = ~ = = = = = = = = -
Kruger National Park is in the northeastern corner of South Africa.
Slightly larger than New Jersey, it contains diverse habitats
and supports an incredible variety of wildlife.
KEY FACTS
MANAGEMENT OF KRUGER NATIONAL PARK
Early conservationists in South
Africa set up simple sanctuaries
to protect certain species from
hunters. Modern efforts, how-
ever, involve complex manage-
ment programs.
CULLI NG
Culling-the selective killing
of animals-is a controversial
practice, but without it many
populations would grow too
large, damaging the environ-
ment and threatening their
own and other species' well-
being. Park officials regularly
cull elephants and buffalo, and
sometimes hippos and impalas.
Rangers in helicopters shoot the
animals with hypodermic darts
containing scopoline, a drug
that paralyzes the muscles. This
drug can kill a buffalo outright,
but an elephant must be shot
after the dart immobilizes it.
Above: The white rhinoceros has
a more placid nature than the re-
lated black rhinoceros.
REINTRODUCING SPECIES
It is park policy to reintroduce
animals that were once native
to the area but have since disap-
peared. This has been done suc-
cessfully with black and white
rhinoceroses. The black rhino
BOTSWANA
.:I
REPUBLIC OF
SOUTH AFRICA
ZIMBABWE
Kruger
National
Park
~ "
olifanlS ft .
Pretoria _
Johannesburg
became extinct in Kruger in the
1930s and was reintroduced in
1971 . There are now about 120
black rhinos living in the park.
The white rhino disappeared
from the area in the 19th centu-
ry but was reintroduced in 1961 .
Today the park has more than
700 white rhinos-the largest
single population in Africa.
FIGHTING DROUGHT
AND DISEASE
Park managers use dams and
wells to ensure water supplies in
a drought. They also regularly
burn the bush to stimulate new
Right: Each year rangers in Kruger
immunize the rare roan antelope
against anthrax.
Left: Although
the hippopota-
mus is clumsy
on land, it is a
good swimmer.
It can be seen
in the park's _ ..
many rivers
and pools.
plant growth. Another impor-
tant task is inoculating certain
species against disease. Vaccines
are kept in stock for outbreaks
of rabies, lung sickness, or rin-
derpest, which wiped out mil-
lions of hoofed animals all over
South Africa during an epidemic
in 1896-97.
MCMXCII IMP BVIIMP INC WILDLIFE FACT FILpM PRINTED IN U.S.A. 0160200791 PACKET 79
The 8,000 square miles of Kruger National Park are
bounded by rivers in both the north and the south and
by mountains in the east. Within this area, there is a range
of terrains, from lush river valleys to arid, sandy veld, or
grassland. This spectacular park is home to at least 140
mammal, 500 bird, and 100 reptile species. All these
populations are carefully managed by park officials.
~ LANDSCAPE
Kruger National Park is named
after Paul Kruger, the late-19th-
century South African president
who established the country's
first game sanctuaries. The park
is bordered in the north by Zim-
babwe. The long eastern side
of Kruger abuts Mozambique.
The park is 200 miles long, av-
erages 40 miles in width, and
has an overall area of 8,000
square miles.
The park is in the Lowveld, a
region of tropical and subtropi-
cal terrain that is crisscrossed
Right: The hippopotamus dehy-
drates rapidly and must go into
deep water to cool off.
Front cover:
Luvuvhu River
lies near the
northern tip
of Kruger.
Front inset
left: More than
2,000 lions live
in Kruger.
Front inset
right: Since
Kruger was es-
tablished, the
number of Af-
rican elephants
in the area has
risen rapidly.
with rivers. The abundant rivers
attract wildlife. Some 2,000 hip-
potamuses, for example, are
found in Kruger's waters. Tor-
rential rains that follow the heat
and humidity of summer swell
the rivers with floodwaters that
are full of nutrient-rich mud.
~ ELEPHANTS
Elephants are Kruger National
Park's most well known success
story. By 1912 hunting had re-
duced the elephant population
in the area to 25 or 30.
The Sabie Game Reserve, the
forerunner of Kruger National
Park, had been set up in 1898.
Its protection enabled the re-
maining elephants to start re-
Before Kruger National Park was
established, herds of plains ani-
mals such as zebras and wilde-
beests made annual migrations
to the west, seeking better graz-
ing. The park's western bound-
ary is now fenced, preventing
migrations, and the herd num-
bers are controlled in order to
avoid overgrazing. Impalas are
the most abundant large mam-
mals in the park, with a popula-
tion numbering over 1 38,000.
Left: For the first three or four days
the bond between the mother ze-
bra and her foal is very close.
establishing their numbers. By
1958, with protected breeding
and immigration from Mozam-
bique, the park's elephant pop-
ulation was almost 1,000.
Numbers are now controlled
to keep the herd at 7,000 ani-
mals. In this way the elephants
stay healthy, and the habitat is
protected from damage.
Lions are the park's most cele-
brated cat species, but there are
also cheetahs and leopards. The
big cats and wild dogs prey on
wildebeests, impalas, and wa-
terbucks. In a prolonged dry
spell, which can last a few years,
the drop in antelope and other
prey directly affects the numbers
as well as the vigor of predators.
When food is very scarce, some
predators, such as lions, may
not breed at all.
Right: The serval is found through-
out Kruger but especially in grass-
land areas.
~ REPTILES
The deadly Nile crocodile lurks
in the main rivers of the park.
Some crocodiles in the Luvuvhu
and Olifant rivers are 15 feet in
length. They prey on buffalo,
zebras, and fully grown lions.
The leopard tortoise maintains
its numbers, despite bushfires
and predators. The female lays
up to 30 eggs each spring.
~ B I R D S
Among the 500 or more. bird
species in Kruger National Park
is the powerful, long-legged os-
trich, which prefers the open,
flat country north of the Sabie
River. The small, colorful red
bishop frequents reed beds and
marshes, where the male courts
a harem of up to seven females.
The large marabou stork feeds
mostly on carrion (dead animal
flesh), but it may also kill and eat
snakes or young crocodiles. The
open-billed stork, which feeds
exclusively on mollusks, is a year-
Left: The secretary bird feeds on
the ground but roosts high up in
the treetops.
Some snakes in the park are
dangerous to people, such as
the black mamba, the Mozam-
bique spitting cobra, and the
well-camouflaged puff adder.
The African rock python stays
close to water, where it catches
animals coming to drink. Up to
13 feet long, it can crush and kill
prey as large as an impala.
round resident that breeds near
the Limpopo River.
The secretary bird, with its
long legs and crest, is common
in the park. It strides over open
scrubland, searching for prey. It
tackles snakes and stamps them
to death with its feet.
Vultures and eagles soar high
above. The martial eagle is the
largest African eagle, possessing
a wingspan of up to eight and a
half feet. The dramatic bateleur
eagle, with its bright red face
and legs and very short tail, also
soars and glides above the trees.
Kruger is one of the few places
where it is seen.
CAMARGUE REGIONAL
PARK AND ITS WILDLIFE
GROUP 10: WORLD HABITATS
Wetlands throughout the world are threatened by drainage,
development, and pollution. One area requiring protection is the
Camargue in the south of France, in the delta of the Rhone River.
KEY FACTS
---- - - = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = ~
HELPING GREATER FLAMINGOS
There may be only 35 greater
flamingo breeding sites in the
world. The Camargue is the
most important site in Europe,
with about 12,000 of these
rose-colored birds.
Greater flamingos nest on
islands in coastal ponds. Each
pair builds a mud mound up
to a foot high on which the
female lays her egg. Before
FRANCE
Montpellier
ec:z.Q",-
MEDITERRANEAN
e
Nimes
making these mounds, flamin-
gos often remove vegetation
from the area, exposing soil so
that it is washed away. To stop
erosion, local conservationists
have built artificial nesting is-
lands of clay and mud.
Cold spells may hurt winter-
ing flamingos. If ponds freeze,
feeding becomes difficult. In
Left: During winter, greater flamin-
gos court in the shallow borders of
the Camargue lakes.
A FUTURE FOR THE WETLANDS
The Camargue Regional Park
was established to safeguard
wildlife and the land, but the
I area is still at risk. In the last 50
years, 40 percent of the wilder-
I
ness has been lost due to salt
production and some industrial
expansion. Another significant
problem is that local farmers
are turning from grazing cat-
tle and horses to growing rice.
Chemicals from the rice fields
wash into the wild wetlands
and ponds, along with pollu-
tion from the Rhone. In addi-
Right: Stacks of salt stretch to the
horizon on land that formerly sup-
ported lush vegetation.
tion, pollution from Marseilles
fouls the eastern shores.
Tourism is disrupting wildlife,
and hunters shoot thousands
of ducks each year. Low-flying
jets disturb breeding species.
MCMXCII IMP BV/ IMP INC WI LDLI FE FACT FILETM PRINTED IN U.S.A.
Marseilles
e
the winter of 1985 about 3,000
birds died. Local helpers took
action, enclosing 1,000 birds in
specially built centers until the
frost had passed.
Dry winters in North Africa
may bring many extra flamin-
gos to the Camargue for the
cold months. In the past farm-
ers shot birds that fed on rice
fields, but now there are de-
vices to scare birds away and
save them from farmers' guns.
The reserve now protects only
part of the Camargue. Conser-
vationists hope that the French
government will soon extend
the protection and help local
farmers preserve the wetlands.
01602009::11 PAr.KFT ,n
With its sweeping sand dunes and wide, shallow lakes,
the Cam argue is an ideal place for wildlife. It is the home
of the famous Camargue wild horses and bulls, as well as
a region of vital importance to birds. However, continuing
development, combined with changes in local agricultural
practices, poses a threat to the future of these wetlands.
~ THE WILD DELTA
Near the end of its journey from
Switzerland to France's Mediter-
ranean coast, the Rhone River
splits into the Grand and the Pe-
tit Rhone. In between these two
branches lies the Camargue, a
major European wetland site.
The Camargue Regional Park
contains the triangle between
the two branches and the Med-
iterranean, except for one small
patch near Aries. The park cov-
ers about 325 square miles, but
only about 50 square miles are
protected as a nature reserve. In
other areas, wildlife must coex-
Front cover:
Shallow lakes
studded with
treeless clumps
of lush grasses
are typical of
the Camargue.
Front inset
left: The viper-
ine snake preys
on frogs and
fish.
Front inset
right: In winter
the pintail flies
in from colder
areas to dabble
on wetlands in
the Camargue.
Up to 10,000
pintails may
gather for the
winter season.
ist with cattle raising, rice grow-
ing, and the production of salt
by a process that evaporates the
seawater from pools.
The Camargue has a variety of
habitats. There are over 60 miles
of sandy beaches, and these are
backed by small dunes. Behind
the dunes lie open salt marshes
with salty pools, including a big
stretch of water called the Etang
de Vaccares. Further inland are
dry grasslands, lakes, and fresh-
water marshes. Riverside woods,
mostly of white poplar, grow be-
side the Rhone.
The Camargue is an important
site for its birds. There are eight
gull species, with hundreds of
herring gulls and thousands of
black-headed gulls. There are
also ten tern species, including
six that breed in the area.
In spring flamingos fly from
Africa to breed on lakes in the
Camargue. Stalking in the shal-
lows with their heads down, the
birds filter food from the water.
Avocets, with their pied plum-
age, also nest in the area.
The European bittern lives in
the reed beds, well hidden by its
striped brown plumage. With its
Left: Many black-headed gulls pile
up reeds to make their nests in the
Camargue lakes.
Left: The nutria,
an introduced
species, is now
at home in the
Camargue's wa-
terways, where
it eats aquatic
plants. It lives
in a colony in a
reed nest or bur-
row close to the
water's edge.
deep, booming call, the bittern
is more often heard than seen.
Night herons nest in the trees
and feed among the ponds and
wetland vegetation after dusk.
In spring and fall, thousands of
migrating waders feed at the
pond edges.
During the winter, water birds
gather in the Camargue. More
than 200,000 ducks spend the
winter in the area, including up
to 50,000 mallards, over 25,000
wigeons, and 10,000 shovelers.
Some lagoons in the Camargue
appear black with thousands of
wintering coots.
Right: The adaptable mallard can
make use of wetlands throughout
the Northern Hemisphere.
Left: The Ca-
margue is fa-
mous for its
white horses.
Many local
people now
breed them to
boost tourism.
~ MAMMALS, AMPHIBIANS &: REPTILES
The nutria was introduced in- The wetlands' combination of
to Europe from South America. lakes, swampy vegetation, and
This large rodent thrives in the dry land is ideal for newts and
Camargue's freshwater areas, several frog and toad species.
but some are killed on nearby Treefrogs are common, using
roads. Wild boars outnumber the small suckers at the tips of
beavers in the area, although their fingers and toes to climb
the boars are rarely seen. trees. On spring nights their stri-
The Camargue is well known dent, pulsing calls are heard in
for its semiwild horses and cat- the reed beds.
tie. These animals attract many The grass snake and viperine
of the 80,000 yearly visitors to snake like damp habitats, where
the park. they can hunt amphibians and
Left: The European treefrog breeds
in the Camargue's reedy wetlands
in late spring.
fish. The viperine snake is the
more aquatic of the two, but it
is also found on dry land.
COTO DONANA NATIONAL
PARK AND ITS WILDLIFE
Coto Doiiana National Park in the southwest of Spain is one of
the finest remaining wetlands in Europe. Famous as a bird
sanctuary, it is also an important refuge for other animals.
KEY FACTS
THREATS TO COTO DONANA
Although protected since 1969,
Coto Donana is threatened by
the development projects in sur-
rounding areas, including a pro-
posed highway to Cadiz and a
dam on the Guadalquivir River,
which feeds the park's marshes.
The greatest threat is a water
shortage. Tourist housing is al-
ready depleting the park's water
THE SPANI SH LYNX
One of Europe's most endan-
gered mammals is the Spanish,
or pardal, lynx. Once common
in Spain, Portugal, and southern
France, this lynx now numbers
only 1,000 to 2,000 individuals,
with a population of 20 to 30
found within the boundaries of
Coto Donana.
In addition to protecting the
lynx from hunters, the park helps
Left: The banks
of the streams
in Coto Donana
are filled with
wildflowers, in-
sects, and small
rodents. B i r d s ~
deer, and wild
boar find shel-
ter in the stone
pine and euca-
lyptus woods.
supply, and more buildings are
being planned. Local farmers
take billions of gallons each year
for irrigation. As a result of all
this, some lagoons in the park
are now dry. The underground
water table has also dropped,
allowing salt water to enter the
marshes. In addition, agricul-
tural chemicals have seeped
the animal survive by supplying
its main source of prey-rabbits.
Outside the park, the planting
of large, uniform conifer forests
has caused a decline in the num-
bers of rabbits. As a result, the
lynx population has declined
as well.
Right: The Spanish lynx is smaller
than other lynx and has particular-
ly long whiskers.
THE SPANISH IMPERIAL EAGLE
With only 120 to 150 pairs sur-
viving in isolated populations in
Spain, the Spanish imperial ea-
gle is one of Europe's rarest birds.
Coto Donana's wooded plains,
with their supply of rabbits and
other small mammal prey, are
one of the bird's few remaining
nesting grounds.
This subspecies of the imperial
eagle of eastern Europe is distin-
guished by the white markings
on its wings. It lives on plains
and other low, open areas, mak-
into rivers upstream and are
poisoning the park's water.
The Spanish government has
set up a commission to exam-
ine Coto Donana's problems.
However, conservationists are
afraid that the local econom-
ic needs may take precedence
over the needs of the park and
its wildlife.
ing it more vulnerable than the
eagles of remote mountain re-
gions. It builds its large, bulky
nest on top of a tree, where it
may be disturbed by snakes or
humans. Other eagles' nests are
out of reach on cliff ledges.
Coto Donana National Park is a mecca for bird-watchers.
It is not only home to an impressive array of resident birds,
it is also a stopping point for millions of birds that migrate
from Europe to Africa each winter. The abundant wildlife in
this area has earned it protection for centuries as a royal
hunting reserve. Today, however, agriculture and tourist
development threaten the survival of this wilderness.
~ HABITATS
Within its 770 square miles, the
Coto Donana National Park has
several different types of terrain.
The park stretches inland on a
flat plain from the beach and
coastal sand dunes. The dunes,
which are held together by the
roots of scrub pine and marram
grass, provide nest sites for the
stone curlew and other birds.
Behind the dunes are woods
of stone pine and juniper with
Front inset
left: The gold-
en eagle visits
Coto Donana
National Park
in the winter-
time. It soars
high above
the ground,
then plum-
mets to earth
to prey on
rabbits and
small rodents.
Front inset
right: The wild
boar has died
out in many
parts of Europe,
but it still sur-
vives in some
wild places,
such as Coto
Donana Na-
tional Park.
flowering plants. Farther inland
there is a sandy heath, with cork
oaks and thickets of halimium,
green heather, and gorse.
The most important habitat
is the marshland, known locally
as Las Marismas. It is one of the
largest marsh areas in Europe,
and it supports many animals,
especially wading birds. In fall
thousands of migrating birds
stop to feed on their journey.
~ REPTILES & AMPHIBIANS
There are several snake species
that live on the sandy plains of
Coto Donana. Most, such as the
hooded snake, ladder snake, lit-
tle smooth snake, and viperine
snake are not poisonous. The
Montpellier snake and Lataste's
viper, however, are venomous
hunters of small mammals, rep-
tiles, and birds.
Coto Donana has a variety of
resident and visiting birds of
prey. Hobbies, booted eagles,
black kites, and buzzards nest in
the stone pine woods. Soaring
on the warm air currents that
rise from the plains, buzzards
scan the ground for prey.
Winter visitors include the
osprey, marsh harrier, Bonelli's
eagle, and peregrine falcon,
which breeds in the run-down
medieval towers on the beach.
These birds prey on small mam-
mals in the dunes and woods.
Coto Donana is most famous
for its water birds. More than
200 species visit the park to rest
and feed during migration, to
Left: The rare purple gallinule, also
called the purple swamp hen, win-
ters in Coto Donana.
The spiny-toed lizard and Al-
gerian sand lizard bask on the
sandy soil. The spur-thighed
tortoise nibbles vegetation as it
moves through thickets.
The marshes provide a home
for many amphibian species.
Among them is the natterjack
toad, which is rare in parts of
Europe but common here.
breed, or to spend the winter.
Over a third of a million ducks
flee the cold of northern Eu-
rope to gather on the marshes
in winter, when the floodwa-
ters are highest. These birds in-
clude the ruddy shelduck and
red-crested pochard, as well as
the rare white-headed duck
and marbled teal.
Thousands of wading birds
also come in winter. In spring
and summer, waders such as
the Eurasian curlew, avocet, and
dunlin nest on raised areas of
ground in the reeds. Purple her-
ons, egrets, and spoonbills feed
in the marshes, and greater fla-
mingos visit the lagoons.
Right: The black-winged stilt nests
in the marshes along with thou-
sands of other wading birds.
Rabbits that feed in the dry re-
gions of Coto Donana provide
food for foxes and lynx. On the
heath, the Mediterranean mon-
goose feeds on lizards, brown
rats, snakes, and invertebrates. It
moves into the dried-up marsh
in summer to prey on ducklings
and young water birds.
Left: The numerous fallow deer in
Coto Donana are now protected
from hunters.
Left: The
Montpellier
snake, which
can grow to
over six feet in
length, hunts in
the scrubby ar-
eas. It bites its
victim with its
fangs and in-
jects its fast-
acting venom.
In the stone pine woods and
among the heath's cork oaks,
the wild boar searches for nuts
and roots. It also eats worms,
insects, and any other small ani-
mals it can catch.
Red and fallow deer, as well as
many small rodents, roam the
stone pine woods. Other mam-
mals include otters, polecats,
genets, red squirrels, badgers,
pine voles, and garden dormice.
THE CONGO BASIN
AND ITS WILDLIFE
The giant Congo River sweeps in a great curve across equatorial
Africa. Its network of tributaries, swamps, and flooded land
forms a huge drainage area known as the Congo Basin.
KEY FACTS
THE CHANGING RIVER
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ~
The Congo River has three dis-
tinct sections on its cUNing path
to the sea. In its upper section,
where tributaries from Zambia
and southern Zaire converge,
the climate is dry and wooded
grasslands predominate.
After the Boyoma, or Stanley,
Falls near Kisangani, the middle
section goes through the equa-
torial forest, becoming larger as
more tributaries empty into it.
The lower section begins af-
ter Malebo, or Stanley, Pool-a
broad, shallow stretch where the
river divides around an island.
The Congo flows across a wide
plain and starts dropping to the
sea. It becomes deeper and nar-
rower, flowing over waterfalls
and through steep valleys. On
reaching the sea, it continues
j
a while in a submarine canyon.
Right: In its middle section the Con-
go River divides around strings of
small islands.
FISHING ON THE CONGO RIVER
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Left: Much of
the Congo River
is bordered by
dense, almost
impenetrable
rainforest.
Many rural people, such as the
Enya, the Manyanga, and the
Ngala, or "water people," live
along the banks of the Congo
and its tributaries. They adapt
their fishing methods to the wa-
ter flow. If the current is strong,
they may attach conical baskets
to poles. The cones point down-
stream, so fish are trapped inside
by the current. In marshy areas,
the current is so sluggish that
some tribes just put natural poi-
sons into the water to kill fish.
Left: Local people catch the many
fish that live in the Congo River.
0160200921 PACKET 92
The course of the Congo River remained a mystery until
1877, when the explorer Sir Henry Morton Stanley
completed a difficult journey from its source to the sea.
Today,. scientists know much more about the Congo Basin,
but the river's distant forested backwaters are still uncharted.
~ THE CONGO BASIN
Central Africa's Congo Basin is
the huge drainage area of the
Congo and its tributaries. Cov-
ering about 1,425,000 square
miles, it includes most of Zaire
and Congo, as well as parts of
Zambia, Angola, the Central Af-
rican Republic, and Cameroon.
The 2,900-mile-long Congo
River is Africa's second longest
river, and it carries more water
~ HABITAT
Much of the Congo River runs
through constantly moist areas
where the annual rainfall is often
60 inches. The hot, wet climate
supports one of the largest con-
tinuous rainforests in the world.
Rich vegetation engulfs streams
and long stretches of riverbank,
Front cover:
The Congo
River gathers
water from a
very large rain-
soaked area in
central Africa.
Front inset
left: The ele-
phant fish is
named for its
unusual snout.
Front inset
right: A young
clawless otter
stays with its
mother until it
is a year old.
than the longer Nile. Every sec-
ond, 54,000 cubic yards of water
flow from its mouth. In places its
banks are over seven miles apart.
The Congo is called the Zaire
River where it passes through
Zaire. En route to the Atlantic it
swings north, west, and south-
west, crossing the equator twice.
It receives water from its many
tributaries, such as the Ubangi.
while tall grasses border other
parts of the river.
The Congo Basin is a network
of deep rivers, streams, swamps,
marshes, and lakes.
Right: During the day the hippopot-
amus spends much of its time in the
water to keep cool.
A variety of fish live in the Con-
go Basin, including many un-
usual species. Like other catfish,
the Congo upside-down catfish
sweeps along the river bottom,
feeling for food with its tenta-
cles. But this species also sweeps
the water surface by swimming
upside down.
Using its long, downturned
snout, the elephant fish probes
the mud for worms, insect lar-
vae, and other invertebrates.
Left: The African darter is equipped
with webbed feet and swims well. It
spears fish with its sharp bill.
Left: The Afri-
can jacana lays
glossy, scribbled
eggs and tends
them in a simple
floating nest in
swampy parts
of the Congo
River.
The African lungfish lives in
swamps, although the waters
may dry out during the year. It
survives by burying itself in the
mud, secreting a coat of mucus,
and breathing in air through a
small opening to the surface.
The rivers and lakes contain
sharp-toothed predators such as
the Nile perch and the tiger fish,
which may weigh as much as
110 pounds. These fish hunt ti-
lapia and other smaller fish.
Right: A butterfly fish can leap out
of the water and glide above the
surface on its fins.
Left: The Afri-
can fish eagle
can snatch fish
from the Con-
g05 surface
without stop-
ping in flight.
~ A DIVERSITY OF SPECIES
A variety of reptiles, birds, and
mammals live in the Congo Ba-
sin. Slender water snakes hunt
for frogs, tadpoles, and fish. The
Congo dwarf crocodile, which is
about three feet long, and the
West African long-snouted croc-
odile catch frogs, fish, and water
birds in swamps and ponds. The
bigger Nile crocodile snatches
prey such as hogs and small an-
telope along the water's edge.
Water birds are most abun-
dant on tributaries, ponds, and
marshes. The goliath heron and
the African darter stand waiting
for fish, while the African finfoot
and Hartlaub's duck eat insects,
mollusks, and shrimps. Along
riverbanks and lake edges, king-
fishers, fishing owls, and African
fish eagles swoop down from
overhanging branches to catch
fish near the surface.
The largest mammals are the
hippopotamus and the giant
forest hog. In quiet pools and
sluggish streams, the African
clawless otter swims after fish.
Left: The rare West African dwarf
crocodile is only found in central
and western Africa.
THE CAIRNGORMS AND
THEIR WILDLIFE
GROUP 10: WORLD HABITA
The Cairngorms form part of the Grampian Mountains and
are sometimes called Scotland's Lapland. These highlands,
with peaks rising over 4,000 feet, have a variety of wildlife.
KEY FACTS
THE LANDSCAPE OF THE CAIRNGORMS
The Cairngorms extend from
the Scottish Highlands into the
Grampian Mountains, forming
a rolling plateau over 3,000 feet
high. They contain some of the
highest mountains in Great Brit-
ain and include the 4,300-foot-
high Ben Macdhui. The granite
mountains contain feldspar de-
posits, which sometimes give
the rocks a pink tinge. The area
is known for a yellow or smoky
brown quartz called coirngorm.
The landscape varies, ranging
from snowcapped peaks to low,
Below: The Spey valley is a rich
mixture of forest and farmland
some 650 feet above sea level.
rolling hills, which are often cov-
ered with conifers. Deep glens
(narrow, steep-sided valleys) cut
through the mountains. In sum-
mer, crystal-clear lochs and fast-
flowing streams are fed by the
melting snow.
The Spey valley is in the north-
west, and directly to the south
lies the Cairngorms National Na-
ture Reserve, which has almost
100 square miles of wild, moun-
tainous country. Protected by
law since 1954, this area is Great
Britain's largest reserve as well as
one of Europe's biggest conser-
vation regions. The Rothiemur-
chus Forest, which is north of
IQ MCMXCII IMP BVIIMP INC WILDLIFE FACT FILETM PRINTED IN U.S.A.
Left: The effects
of the last Ice
Age are visible
throughout the
Cairngorms. A
huge ice sheet
moved across
the mountains
about 10,000
years ago and
deepened the
steep-sided val-
leys. The valleys
are now reser-
voirs for rain
and melting
snow.
the reserve, is the largest pine-
wood in Scotland, with trees up
to 300 years old.
On the mountaintops, the av-
erage temperature stays below
freezing for several months each
year. More snow falls in this area
than anywher<e else in the British
Isles. Heavy snow drifts until the
end of April, when it begins to
melt and feeds the streams, riv-
ers, and waterfalls. At lower ele-
vations in the Cairngorms there
are sheltered glens, where the
climate is less extreme.
Below: The Cairngorms are one of
the few highland areas where the
Eurasian dotterel is still seen.
0160200891 PACKET 89
The Cairngorms provide a home for a great many different
plants and animals. Alpine flowers flourish high in the
mountains, and hardy birds such as the Eurasian dotterel
and the rock ptarmigan build their nests there. 5emiwild
reindeer roam the high ground above the Glen More Forest.
Red deer, wildcats, red foxes, and mountain hares can be
found lower down on the wooded mountain slopes.
~ INSECTS
Over 400 moth species live in
the Cairngorms National Na-
ture Reserve, and there are al-
so many butterfly species. The
Cairngorms Reserve is the only
known site in Great Britain of
the mountain burnet moth.
On sunny days the mountain
ringlet butterfly flies over bog-
gy ground. The Scotch argus is
another rare butterfly seen only
in sunny weather.
On the pinewoods floor there
are the huge nests of the wood
ant. This predator helps control
insects that damage the pines.
Front cover:
The Spey is one
of the fastest-
flowing rivers in
Great Britain.
Front inset
left: In winter
the rock ptar-
migan is nearly
pure white, but
it molts to mot-
tled brown in
summer.
Front inset
right: The Scot-
tish mountains
are the strong-
hold of the big
golden eagle.
~ TREES &: PLANTS
Arctic and alpine grasses, li-
chens, and sedges, including
starwort mouse-ear and hare's
foot sedge, grow on the hills
of the Cairngorms. In summer,
short, hardy grasses are found
among the boulders of snow-
fields, interspersed with pink-
flowering wild azalea as well as
several saxifrage species.
~ MAMMALS
In summer red deer move up
the slopes to get away from flies
and biting midges. In the high
ground above the Glen More
Forest, reindeer that were intro-
duced into the region about 30
years ago feed on lichens.
There are some mountain, or
blue, hares on high ground, but
most live on lower ground in the
eastern part of the Cairngorms
reserve. This hare's white winter
coat helps camouflage it from
the golden eagle as well as oth-
er predators. In summer it usu-
Left: Although both sexes of rein-
deer have antlers, the female 's are
usually smaller.
Lower down, crowberry, bil-
berry, and dwarf willow-all
important food plants for the
rock ptarmigan-grow in shel-
tered hollows. On the hillsides,
newly planted conifer forests
border ancient woodlands of
Scotch pine, birch, aspen, and
oak underplanted with rowan,
alder, willow, and juniper.
ally molts, shedding its fur to be-
come a grayish brown. The tim-
ing of the molt depends on the
amount of snow cover.
The red fox, ermine, and Scot-
tish wildcat visit the mountain-
tops in summer. But they spend
most of the year on the lower
forested slopes, where small ro-
dent prey species are plentiful.
The ancient pines of nearby
Rothiemurchus Forest are home
t o the badger and roe deer. The
red squirrel lives in the tree can-
opy all year.
Right: After the winter snow melts,
the mountain hare grows its brown
summer coat.
~ BIRDS
The Cairngorms are rich in bird
life. The rock ptarmigan nests
on the ground high up in the
mountains. This member of the
grouse family is a favorite food
of the golden eagle and the per-
egrine falcon. However, it cam-
ouflages itself by changing color
with the seasons. Its white win-
ter plumage molts to a speckled
gray-brown in spring. At lower
altitudes, the rock ptarmigan is
replaced by the red grouse.
Left: The Cairngorms are one of
the few places in Great Britain
where red deer are still found.
Left: The Scot-
tish crossbill gets
its name from its
double bilt with
which it can ex-
tract seeds from
pinecones. The
birds that feed
on Scotch pines
possess stouter
beaks to deal
with the tough
cones.
The Eurasian dotterel is a rare
wading bird that was once com-
mon in much of Great Britain. It
arrives in early May from north-
ern Africa and the Middle East
to breed in the mountains.
Small birds can be found at
lower altitudes, where there are
more insects to eat. The com-
mon sandpiper nests near some
lochs. Forest birds include the
crested tit, woodcock, and Scot-
tish crossbill. Migrants such as
the gray goose, redwing, and
fieldfare pass through. The os-
prey even nests in the area.
UJONG KULON NATIONAL PARK
AND ITS WILDLIFE
Ujong Kulon in Indonesia has only recently been declared a
national park. This paradise now preserves Java IS richest natural
treasures from the ravages of deforestation and intensive farming.
KEY FACTS
KRAKATAU-DEVASTATION AND RENEWAL
" 0 0
JAVA SEA <>
/)0
Left: Anak Krak-
atau is still ac-
tive today-a
grim reminder
of the big erup-
tion that killed
about 36,000
local people in
1883. However,
plants are slow-
ly taking hold
on the crater.
Insects from the
mainland, car-
ried by the wind,
pollinate these
plants and pro-
vide food for
nesting birds.
() Krakatau
On August 27, 1883, on an is-
land between Java and Suma-
tra, the volcano Krakatau blew
up. It was a huge eruption, with
the explosions being heard as
far away as Australia and Burma
(now Myanmar). The next day
the earth's crust collapsed there,
and the sea poured into the big
hole, boiling on contact with
the molten rock. Traces of the
resulting tidal waves reached as
far as France.
The area was geologically rest-
less for some time. In 1928 a
new crater emerged near the
site of one of Krakatau's original
DID YOU KNOW?
Indonesia is the world's fifth
most populous nation. It has
over 13,700 islands, spanning
more than 3,000 miles east to
west and 1,100 miles north to
south. With more than 1,500
bird species, 530 mammals,
UjongKulon
National
Park
three peaks. It became known
as Anak Krakatau.
Volcanic ash had smothered
western Java's rainforest. For a
number of years all that grew
was scrub and pampas grass,
providing an ideal habitat for
banteng (wild cattle). Now, al-
most a century later, the rainfor-
est has crept back.
Today, on Anak Krakatau's lava
slopes scrub and grass are tak-
ing hold. Trees grow on the is-
land's beach. Although no large
Right: Banteng feed on coastal
pastures but may lose grazing
areas as forests reclaim the land.
and 3,000 fish, Indonesia may
have more animal species than
any other country.
Indonesia is home to the giant
stick, the world's longest insect.
Females grow to 13 inches.
The Komodo dragon, or giant
MCMXCII IMP BVIIMP INC WILDLIFE FACT FILETM PRINTED IN U.S.A.
mammals have yet found their
way from the mainland, there
are rats, bats, snakes, insects,
and birds. The peregrine falcon
now nests by the crater.
monitor lizard, lives on Komo-
do Island in Indonesia. Up to
12 feet long, it is the world's
largest lizard.
The Krakatau eruption was
audible 2,500 miles away in
Queensland, Australia.
0160200901 PACKET 90
Ujong Kulon National Park is best known as the last
stronghold of the rare lavan rhinoceros. It is also a haven
for wild cattle, rusa deer, and more than 200 bird species.
Covering some 200 square miles, it includes the island of
Krakatau, where there was one of the world's greatest
volcanic explosions in 7883. The volcano's new peak is
named Anak Krakatau, meaning "child of Krakatau. II
~ THE LANDSCAPE OF UJONG KULON
Ujong Kulon National Park lies of Java by a strip of marshland.
at the southwestern tip of Java The park contains lowland rain-
in Indonesia. It has been a na- forest, grassland, hills, river val-
t ure reserve since 1921, but it leys, sandy beaches, estuaries,
was not declared a national park and mangrove swamps.
until 1980. The active volcano The now extinct Javan tiger
Anak Krakatau first appeared in once lived in this area. Most of
1928, and it now stands about the park's present animals are
500 feet high. It is of unique in- found in other Javan reserves,
terest to scientists. but Ujong Kulon has the most
Ujong Kulon National Park in- concentrated array of wildlife.
cludes several islands other than
Krakatau. But its main area is a
peninsula connected to the rest
Front inset
left: The forests
in Ujong Kulon
are home to the
banded broad-
bill. This heavy-
looking bird
has a bright
turquoise bill
and a loud,
buzzing call.
Front inset
right: The wa-
ter monitor is
much smaller
than its cousin
the Komodo
dragon. But it
is an active
hunter with
sharp claws
and a power-
ful bite.
Right: Humans have yet to set foot
in much of Ujong Kulon 5 dense low-
land rainforest.
~ BIRDS
Ujong Kulon is rich in bird life.
Frigatebirds and Asian sea ea-
gles inhabit the shore. Wood-
peckers, babblers, barbets, and
peacocks, such as the rare green
peafowl, live in the forest. Pied
and wreathed hornbills feed on
fruit in the forest canopy.
Along the eastern side of the
peninsula, hundreds of colorful
blue-throated bee eaters can be
found in the pastures, nesting in
burrows. Local species include
the Javan barred owlet, the Ja-
van kingfisher, and three of Ja-
va's six barbets.
Sadly, illegal trapping of birds
is common. Birds perch in cages
outside almost every home, and
bird markets flourish.
~ THE JAVAN RHINOCEROS
Ujong Kulon National Park may
be the last sanctuary of the en-
dangered Javan rhinoceros, al-
though there are unconfirmed
reports of 10 to 12 animals in
Vietnam. This species benefited
from changes caused by Kraka-
tau's eruption. In particular the
regrown rainforest provides it
with many young saplings and
medium-size trees for food.
There are approximatley 50
Javan rhinos in the park. The
growth of their population is
limited more by the fairly small
habitat than by poaching. Al-
though illegal killing is still a
Left: Once overhunted, today the
rusa deer has recovered and thrives
in Ujong Kulon.
threat to the species, the Indo-
nesian government is now rel-
atively tough on poachers.
The one-horned Javan rhino
eats shoots, young branches,
and leaves. It acts as a natural
forester-leaning its two-ton
bulk against small trees to fell
them for food and in this way
providing more space for the
remaining trees. The rhino fre-
quently wallows in streams with
only its nose and forehead vis-
ible. It has a mutually beneficial
relationship with various fish
and crabs, which nibble ticks
"from its skin.
Right: The lavan rhino is very shy.
Footprints or dung may be the only
clues to its presence.
Left: The river-
banks of Ujong
Kulon echo with
the cries of the
green peafowl,
a relative of the
better-known
blue peafowl.
Both sexes have
richly colored
faces, and the
male possesses
a long, fan-
ning tail.
~ WILDLIFE OF COAST, STREAM &: MARSH
The Cigenter River is one of Ja-
va's last habitats for the estua-
rine crocodile. Land crabs hurry
and frogs hop through man-
grove swamps, and the green
turtle lays its eggs on sandy
beaches. Fishing cats hunt in
the marshes and streams. In
the forest, leopards and civet
cats stalk wild pigs, rusa deer,
and smaller prey.
Flying foxes, with wings that
span over six feet, live both in
coastal caves and in the forest.
They fly up to 80 miles every
night to feed on fruit trees, re-
turning at dawn and then rest-
ing during the day.
Left: The fishing cat scoops passing
fish out of the water with its paw.
SERENGETI NATIONAL
PARK AND ITS WILDLIFE
GROUP 10: WORLD HABITATS
Serengeti National Park, with its wide open spaces, clear blue
skies, and magnificent array of animals, is one of the world most
famous wildlife reserves. I t typifies many dream of Africa.
THE GREAT WILDEBEEST MIGRATION
Every year, when the grass dies
near the end of May, herds of
over a million wildebeest mass
in the south of the Serengeti,
ready to start their annual mi-
gration in search of richer graz-
ing. Several thousand zebras join
the wildebeest in their quest for
fresh pasture. The animals stay
within family groups through-
out the trip.
The migration is one of the
greatest wonders of the natural
world. It coincides with the mat-
ing season, when males keep ri-
vals away from their females.
The trek begins at a walking
pace, moving west in a column
several miles long. Then the for-
mation splits. One group heads
northeast and one turns north
to the Masai Mara Reserve in
Kenya, where there is pasture
and water. At this point the trek

-\ .
I Nairobi
o Serengeti Q)c'J
N8tiopal
Mw ___ Park ( . ...
- r ( MI. Kilimanjaro ...
/-
Lake Victoria
/
TANZANIA ,
\ o
accelerates to a noisy stampede
with galloping hooves and loud
bleating. As the animals cross
the wide Mara River, hundreds
drown in the strong, swirling
currents. Predators follow the
migration, picking off stragglers.
In November, when the rains
return, the herds surge back to
the plains of the Serengeti.
Left: The annu-
al migration of
the Serengeti's
wildebeest is a
dangerous af-
fair. Each year
hundreds die
when the pace
quickens.
CONSERVATION AND RESEARCH
In 1962 the Serengeti Research
Institute was set up in the park's
headquarters to study the re-
gion's wildlife, vegetation, and
climate. Today, more is known
about this area's ecosystem (en-
compassing the Ngorongoro
Conservation Unit in the south-
west and the Maswa and Masai
Mara reserves in the north) than
almost any other in the world.
The Serengeti's lions are the
best studied in the world. Some
are electronically monitored to
build a picture of their habits.
In the 1970s, 90 percent of the
Left: The Af-
rican wild dog
is most active
during early
morning and
evening, mov-
ing onto the
plains to hunt
in large, highly
social packs.
MCMXCII IMP BV/ IMP INC WILDLIFE FACT FILETM PRINTED IN U.S.A.
black rhinos were slaughtered
for their horns, but poaching is
now under control. Wildebeest
have increased fourfold in the
last decade. There are also more
buffalo and hyenas.
But threats to the Serengeti's
wildlife still remain. Overgrazing
may harm the soil. Elephants of-
ten damage wooded areas by
stripping bark and foliage from
acacia trees. Local people in the
northwest are demanding more
agricultural land. A drought like
one that took place during the
1960s would have a catastroph-
ic effect on grazing animals and
the park's ecosystem.
0160200961 PACKET 96
Serengeti National Park is located in the northwestern part
of Tanzania, and it extends over approximately 5,500
square miles. This reserve contains a variety of habitats,
including rolling expanses of treeless plains and wooded
grasslands, as well as the thick scrub of river valleys.
~ HABITAT & CLIMATE
Originally formed by volcanic
activity, the Serengeti has been
shaped over thousands of years
by the effects of sun, wind, and
rain. Kopjes, or granite outcrops,
dot the landscape, and around
them volcanic ash and dust have
been sculpted by the elements
to form the plains.
In the south, the park consists
mainly of open grass plains. In
the rainy season from Novem-
ber to May, the sky is heavy with
storm clouds, and these regions
become a sea of green grass-
a lush paradise for grazing ani-
mals. But this supply dries up
Front cover:
Herds of wilde-
beest start their
annual migra-
tion across the
plains of Seren-
geti National
Park.
Front inset
left: Serengeti
National Park
is home to the
world's largest
population of
lions.
Front inset
right: The Ser-
engeti's popu-
lation of black
rhinos was se-
verely depleted
in the 1970s,
when a great
number were
killed for their
horns.
when the rains stop in June. The
sun then beats down relentless-
ly for four months.
In the central part of the Ser-
engeti, there are huge expanses
of savanna, dotted with acacia
trees, providing shade for pred-
ators seeking refuge from the
midday sun. Bordering the long
grass are woodland areas that
are sometimes hilly. Near Lake
Victoria to the west, there are
dense woods extending along
the banks of the Grumeti River.
Right: Fischer's lovebird is one of
the most dramatic of the many
birds in Serengeti National Park.
~ R E P T l l E S
In the Grumeti River, near the
floodplains of Lake Victoria, Nile
crocodiles up to 13 feet long lurk
in the shallows. They may seize
waterbucks and dik-diks.
The Serengeti's snakes include
the puff adder, lethal black mam-
The Serengeti National Park is
famous for its big herds of graz-
ing animals. The southern and
central plains are home to two
million or so wildebeest, half a
million Thomson's gazelles, and
250,000 zebras. These animals
provide food for predators.
The cheetah is a solitary hunt-
er that employs its speed to run
down prey. The much heavier
and slower lion uses a different
tactic. It lurks low to the ground
in the long grass near a grazing
herd and slowly edges toward
its prey. By hunting in a group,
it can tackle large animals, even
Left: Among the tallest mammals
on earth, Masai giraffes roam the
plains of the Serengeti.
ba, and rock python, which can
be 20 feet long. The agama liz-
ard often basks on rocks in the
morning sun. The male has a
bright red head with a purplish
body, while the female and ju-
venile have blue or green heads.
buffalo. However, in the dry sea-
son, when the grass is short, the
lion cannot find the cover that it
needs to stalk its prey.
The kills of lions and cheetahs
provide meals for scavengers. At
night the spotted hyena's eerie
cackle is heard on the plains as
packs of from 1 0 to 100 set out
to hunt or scavenge. The civet
and serval are two small cat spe-
cies that emerge at night to for-
age on the plains.
In the dense woods along the
Grumeti River, black-and-white
colobus monkeys leap noisily
through the treetops.
Right: Troops of vervet monkeys
inhabit the woodland areas near
rivers in the Serengeti.
Almost 500 bird species can be
found in the Serengeti, includ-
ing resident species and season-
al visitors. Two common birds
are the Swahili sparrow and the
ring-necked dove, which makes
gentle cooing sounds. After the
wet season begins in November,
flocks of wintering birds arrive
from Asia and Europe to feed on
the abundant insects. Among
these birds are European swifts,
storks, terns, and swallows. Kes-
trels and harriers swoop down
to pick rodents from the plains.
The wooded areas are home
to native birds like the superb
Left: The secre-
tary bird gets its
name from the
quill-like crest
of feathers on
its head. It nests
on the tops of
acacia trees.
starling with its deep blue chest
and chestnut-colored legs, the
lilac-breasted roller, and the col-
orful Fischer's lovebird.
The ostrich is a frequent sight
in the long grass. With its long
legs and neck, it spots danger at
a distance and provides a warn-
ing system for other animals.
While predatory mammals are
feeding from a kill, vultures and
marabou storks wait in nearby
trees or circle menacingly over-
head, ready to strip the carcass
of all remaining flesh. Marabou
storks may even chase a hyena
or hunting dog from its kill.