There are about one and a half million species of animals in the world. Here are a few more. I obviously have a lot more to photograph.
There are about one and a half million species of animals in the world. Here are a few more. I obviously have a lot more to photograph.
It is the same worldwide: a fed and content cat is a napping cat.
Native equine is the generic term for the 250,000 working donkeys, horses and mules that are used throughout Guatemala for transporting farming products and, like in this picture, wood. They are essential to a large share of the population who live below the poverty level in rural and mountainous areas.
If you like tortoises, then you will love visiting the Honolulu Zoo because they display 13 species. This is an African spurred tortoise. He originates from the Sahara Desert in northern Africa. This largest mainland species weighs 100 to 200 pounds. They also live 100 years or longer. So, chances are good he will be there when you finally check Hawaii off of your bucket list.
151 Kapahulu Ave, Honolulu, HI 96815
Like tourists who love soaking up the Hawaiian warmth, the ring-tailed lemurs often sit upright and expose their bellies to the sunshine. The primate from southern Madagascar has a long, black and white striped tail that outstretches its body by six or seven inches. The enlarged eyes improve their night vision yet they are most active during the day. Their troop size averages from six to two dozen and are dominated by the female. This pair looks like they are taking a time out after an argument.
151 Kapahulu Ave, Honolulu, HI 96815
There are about a half million sheep in Iceland. A common site is herds grazing in grasslands and occasionally sharing the road. This hearty bred of Northern European descent is typically raised for meat. The annual season of herding (smölun) occurs in the autumn when lambs are four or five months old. They also have a special, two-layer coat. On top are the water-repellant, course hairs called tog. The lower soft þel hairs are perfect for warmth. These dual characteristics are retained when spun together. The lopi yarn is what makes Icelandic wool is so popular.
Úthlíð & Laugarvatnsvegur, Iceland
The unofficial welcoming committee at Miyajima is the sika deer. Although wild, they are docile and appear tame while strolling among the tourists looking for handouts. You are repeatedly warned not to feed them. But the deer can’t read the signs. So watch your belongings while snapping their photo. These skillful theves will snatch anything you don’t carefully guard. You will assume the deer you encounter are fawns because of their spots. However, the cervus nippon is one of a few species who maintain their spots at maturity.
Miyajimacho, Hatsukaichi, Hiroshima Prefecture 739-0588, Japan
“Isn’t that adorable” is your first reaction to seeing this Norfolk Terrier wearing a hat and being pushed in a baby stroller. Although treating dogs like a member of the family is as old as cave dwellers, anthropomorphizing is a growing trend worldwide as Baby Boomers become empty nesters and the Echo Boomers (Millennials) are waiting longer to get married and have children. According to a 1996 survey by the American Animal Hospital Association, 75% of pet owners consider their dogs as children. Well, at least this pampered puppy will never have to go to college.
It is common to see donkeys used as work animals in Jordan. There are approximately 18,000 donkeys in the country and two indigenous breeds. The gray-colored Qubressy is much larger than this Black donkey. He was standing patiently in front of a house in Uum Sayhoun. This village of 1,600 residents was formed in 1985 when the government evicted the Al Bdoul tribe from living in the caves at the archeological site of Petra.
Uum Sayhoun, Jordan
It is only a fifteen minute drive north from Petra to Siq al-Barid. Along the way you will pass a Bedouin village and perhaps some of their livestock out for a walk along the road. This herd was unattended but seemed to know their route home after grazing in the semi-desert landscape. Jordan has a population of over 800,000 goats. They are predominately raised by families as a source of milk and meat. 92% of the goats are an indigenous Black Baladi while the rest are Shami or a cross breed.
Uum Sayhoun, Jordan
Versailles, Kentucky, only has 8,500 people. There are a lot more horses among the surrounding thoroughbred, standardbred and saddlebred farms. The Inner Bluegrass Region is covered in lush green pastures. This countryside gave the state its name; Kentucky means “meadow lands.’ The properties are divided by whitewash wood or dry stone fences surrounding the grazing horses. Many of the animals wear these fly masks to protect their eyes from flying insects. Although they look blinded, the masks allow for adequate vision through the semi-transparent mesh.
1420 McCracken Pike, Versailles, KY 40383
These two Sumatran orangutans at the Audubon Zoo in New Orleans look like beggars on a street corner. These natives of Indonesia can grow up to 200 pounds. When they are not looking for an easy handout, the orangutans can create tools for digging out termites, collecting honey and eating fruit. These two are the proud parents of Menari. She was born in 2009. This is an endangered species with only 7,500 living in the wild.
6500 Magazine St, New Orleans, LA 70118
This woodchuck peering out of his burrow lives below the Penobscot Narrows Bridge in Prospect, Maine. His view is not nearly as great as the one on top of the 420 foot observation tower that is part of the cable bridge. However, his heavy claws make him an excellent tree climber so he can see the Penobscot River and Fort Knox State Historic Site.
ME-3 & ME-174, Prospect, ME 04981
First time visitors to Riviera Maya assume these scampering critters are raccoons. Although they are related, these are called coatis. These omnivores have pointed snouts, a reddish coat and ringed tails which typically stand strait up. The females and their young travel in bands up to thirty animals. They make a great photo op but you are cautioned against feeding them despite their persistent begging.
Riviera Maya Golf Club, Carretera Chetumal Benito Juarez Km.250, 77760 Akumal, Q.R., Mexico
At its peak during the 15th century, approximately 1,000 to 1,600 people lived in or just outside the walled city of Tulum. Today the only inhabitants are hundreds of iguanas like this Mexican spiny tail. The less than attractive Ctenosaura Pectinata can grow up to 4 ½ feet. They spend most of their day basking in the sun or hiding in sparse vegetation. However, when they want to move, they can reach a speed above 20 miles per hour.
Carretera federal 307 Cancún - Chetumal Km 230, 77780 Tulum, Q.R., Mexico
When I saw this goat grazing along a road near the 2,300 foot peak of Mount Vrmac I did not realize they are fairly rare. Apparently all goats were banned under Yugoslavian rule in the mid-20th century and a half million animals were slaughtered. They were legalized again in 1984 but the population is now only 10% of the former number. The domestic Balkan goat is primarily raised on small farms for their milk and meat from their kids. This breed is endangered of becoming extent because of excessive cross breeding.
Vrmac, Gornja Lastva, Montenegro
Fes el Bali covers 692 acres and is one of the largest, pedestrian-only zones in the world. All supplies into and out of this ancient city are carried by hand, carts, donkeys and an occasional scooter. This bridled mule carrying Coca-Cola products may seem docile. But if you hear someone shout “balak” or “andak,” it means you are about to be run over by a pack animal.
The dromedary or one-hump camel is indigenous to the Middle East. Since 3,000 B.C., they have been raised as a source of milk, meat and transportation. Although this camelid can tolerate heat above 120° F, it might lose up to 25% of body weight through perspiration. When given the chance, they will lay down in this sternal recumbency position. This calf will stand about six feet and weigh 650 to 1,300 pounds when full grown. He is one of 14 million domestic camels in the world. They have not existed in the wild for over 2,000 years.
N 120, Daoudiate, Unite 4, Rue Samia, Marrakech 40070, Morocco
If riding a camel is on your bucket list, then there are plenty of options in Marrakech. You can opt for a half-day excursion or a quick jaunt followed by a photo opp. Frankly, I recommend the latter. Although dromedary camels are domestic, they are also big, often temperamental and an uncomfortable form of transportation. Soon after your selfie is snapped, the novelty begins to wear off as you are jostled and swayed.
N 120, Daoudiate, Unite 4, Rue Samia, Marrakech 40070, Morocco
This alert, white-tailed doe was deciding whether to raise her flag before running at 30 m.p.h. Her coat is transitioning from its grayish brown in the winter towards its summer brown. She can weigh 90 to 200 pounds. There are over 40 subspecies of white-tailed deer across southern Canada and most of the U.S. This one lives at Wildlife Safari in Winston, Oregon.
There are approximately 400,000 to 600,000 guanaco llamas living wild in the mountain regions of western South America. This brown and cinnamon colored one lives at Wildlife Safari in Winston, Oregon. Notice his wool. It is soft, warm, comparable to cashmere and is used extensively for clothes. The Wildlife Safari organization is “dedicated to conservation, education and research of native and exotic wildlife.” In 1986, they were accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums.
This full grown llama stands about six feet tall, weighs up to 450 pounds and originates from the northwestern part of South America. They are used primarily as a work animal and also for their meat. This one’s job is to delight tourists. Wildlife Safari in Winston was founded by Frank Hart in 1972. Since then, it has grown into the only drive-through wild park in Oregon. Visitors can see over 500 animals among 75 species. Most of them are free range, living in habitats similar to their native country.
There are about 17,000 southern white rhinoceros grazing in the South African wild. The average male is about 5,000 pounds. The largest is nearly twice as heavy. This rhino’s two horns poking out from between the rocks at the Philadelphia Zoo are made from a protein called keratin. This is the same material found in human fingernails. The front horn extends from three to five feet. The rhino is hairless, except around its tail and ears.
3400 W Girard Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19104
A visit to St. Thomas is not complete unless you have seen one of the island’s ugliest residents: the green iguana. As a baby they are very green. As they mature, their scales become different shades of brown, black and rust. Their body can measure up to six feet. These giants are cold blooded so they often bask in the sunshine along rocky shorelines.
The last leg of your driving tour through the Scottish Highlands is from Fort Williams to Glasgow. You will follow scenic A82 for about 110 miles. Initially, the road runs south, parallel to Loch Linnhe and the Great Glen Fault, until you reach this delightful view at the base of the Glencoe Mountain. These blackface sheep are grazing along the Old Ferry Road beneath the Ballachulish Bridge. Since 1975, its steel truss frame has crossed over Loch Leven, connecting the villages of North and South Ballachulish. There are about 6.5 million sheep in Scotland or 1.3 million more than people.
A82 & Old Ferry Rd Fort William PH33 6SB, UK
The Audubon bighorn sheep in the South Dakota Black Hills were hunted to extinction in the early 1900s. Staring in the 1960s, the Rocky Mountain bighorn was introduced to Custer State Park. Now herds are roaming wild again. This female ewe took a protective stance over the nearby flock of juveniles and lambs. There was no ram present with their distinctive curled horns.
13329 U.S. 16A, Custer, SD 57730
I was delighted to see this Grant’s zebra foal at the Basel Zoo in Switzerland that has brown versus the characteristic black body with white stripes. It is the offspring of a similarity colored filly named Chambura who also gave birth to Jura in 2012. The zebra herd breeding at the Basel Zoological Garden is very successful and they are active in twenty animal management and conservation programs.
It was humorous watching this brown, western grey kangaroo interact with two passing turtles. It would hop close to one of them, lower its head for a sniff and then recoil on its hind legs. This immature curiosity suggests it was one of the joeys born in August, 2012. The first kangaroo arrived at Zoo Basel in Switzerland in 1908. Today, there is a significant mob of these southern Australian natives in an outdoor exhibit called Australis.
This adorable face belongs to a female greater kudu antelope from southeastern Africa. Notice her gray tongue looking for food. If you have dreamt about seeing large, exotic animals like this very close without cages and fences, then go to San Antonio, Texas and drive through the 400 acres of Natural Bridge Wildlife Ranch. The attraction has over 500 animals. Many of them approach your car window looking for something to eat.
26515 Natural Bridge Caverns Rd, San Antonio, TX 78266
The horns on this bull, greater kudu antelope have only twisted about one-and-a-half times. This means the animal is about three or four years old. By the sixth year, those horns will extend to two feet and twist again. He will also grow a large mane on his throat and weigh about 600 pounds. The greater kudu antelopes graze on grass and lives along rocky hills and protected plains in southeastern Africa. If that is too far away, you can see a herd at Natural Bridge Wildlife Ranch near San Antonio, Texas.
26515 Natural Bridge Caverns Rd, San Antonio, TX 78266
Most boat tours of Phi Phi Don make a stop at Monkey Beach. As you arrive, you will be greeted by a colony of macaques that run along the rocks and beach with hopes that you will throw them a banana. These long-tailed macaques are cute and fun to watch but don’t get too close or try to pet them. 600 people a year are treated for attacks. The monkeys also carry diseases such as the herpes B virus and rabies that can be fatal.
Monkey Beach, Krabi 81000, Thailand
If you ever dreamed about riding a horse while the waves gently roll into the sand, then Bangtao Beach is where your fantasy can become a reality. The Phuket International Riding Club offers horseback riding for every experience level, from the seasoned equestrian to the novice city slicker. For a special treat, schedule your saddle time around sunset.
Bangtao Beach, 35 Moo 4, Cherngtalay, Thalang, Amphoe Thalang, Phuket 83110, Thailand
Apparently, the warts on the head of the Asian common toad are as unique as fingerprints but I suspect this characteristic is only valuable if you are another toad. As the name suggests, this eight inch amphibian is widely distributed throughout the lowlands of Southeast Asia. It favors inhabited areas where lights at night attract flying insects.
Starting in the 1700s, Bermudians arrived on the island seasonally to rake salt from the salterns. They used donkeys to pull loaded carts from the evaporation ponds to the piers where the salt was loaded onto ships. During the offseason, the donkeys were free to roam. This created a huge population of wild donkeys. Unfortunately for tourists, many of the feral donkeys may be gone by the time you arrive. Grand Turk’s local government is rounding them up before their ride to the Dominican Republic to work on farms. Progress is also being made to establish a permanent donkey sanctuary to care for the remaining animals.
Historic Lighthouse, Lighthouse Rd, Grand Turk Cockburn Town TKCA 1ZZ, Turks and Caicos Islands
The arctic fox from the north polar region looks like an adorable plush toy. He is seen here wearing his summer outfit. In the winter, the animal’s fur turns thick and snow white. This coat was popular among hunters until fur farms emerged. This is one of about a dozen mammals that thrive in the frigid Arctic temperatures. In fact, it only begins to shiver at a temperature of minus 90° F. This arctic fox can be viewed at the Northern Trail section of the Woodland Park Zoo in Seattle, Washington.
There is a good reason why this is called a mountain goat: it lives in rocky terrain above the timberline up to 10,000 feet along the northwestern mountains and coasts of North America. This billy’s white coat is one of two protecting him in climates of minus 50° F with strong, sustained winds. Adult males can reach 225 pounds. Their black horns add growth rings during their 12 to 15 year lifespan. There are about 40,000 to 100,000 mountain goats climbing rocks in the wild. It is easier to see them at the Woodland Park Zoo in Seattle, Washington.
Sundance is a small town in northeast Wyoming with a population of about 1,200. The surrounding grasslands are home to thousands of black-tailed prairie dogs like this one eating a blade of grass. Their colonies can dig 20 to 50 burrows per acre. If you want to feel like Harry Longabaugh, who became the Sundance Kid after being jailed here in 1888, grab your rifle and start shooting. No permit is required to hunt these varmints.
501 E Park St, Sundance, WY 82729