World's Biggest Ostrich Farm?

An entrepreneur in Mali hopes to build the world's biggest ostrich farm. LINK: Youtube

Endangered African Wildlife Monitoring - Explained

Wildlife ACT provides free monitoring services to reserves across Africa but relies on the help of volunteers to carry this out.
Go to WildlifeACT.com today to book your dream African conservation experience! LINK: Youtube

Ranger trainees catch and transport wild zebras in Africa

The trainee ranger team help to track, dart and administer antibiotics to an adult zebra on foot. Another exciting installment of Mission Africa, nature programme from BBC Worldwide. LINK: Youtube

PRETTY PECULIAR PLANT

“Platycerium – even the name sounds odd. Mostly referred to as Staghorn or Elkhorn ferns, this genus of fern is, to say the very least, unusual looking. Yet they are fascinating to look at because their fronds are something else, quite unique. To look at a platycerium is to look back in time millions of years. They are found on several continents, South America, Africa, Asia as well as Australia and unsurprisingly thrive in tropical and temperate climates. They really aren’t your average fern at all.” w/ photos. LINK

156 Countries Sing Together for the Starbucks Love Project

On December 7th, 2009 at 1:30pm GMT Starbucks invited musicians from all over the world to sing together at the same time to raise awareness for AIDS in Africa. In that one breathtaking moment, musicians from 156 countries played "All You Need is Love" together. Watch now, as musicians from all around the world come together and share a song. LINK: Youtube

Southern Africa by Air - Victoria Falls

Bushtracks Expeditions - Southern Africa by Air

Although Victoria Falls constitute neither the highest nor the widest waterfall in the world, their claim to be the largest is based on a width of 1.7 km (1 mile) and height of 108 m (360 ft), forming the largest sheet of falling water in the world. The falls' maximum flow rate compares well with that of other major waterfalls.

The unusual form of Victoria Falls enables virtually the whole width of the falls to be viewed face-on, at the same level as the top, from as close as 60 m (200 ft), because the whole Zambezi River drops into a deep, narrow slotlike chasm, connected to a long series of gorges. Few other waterfalls allow such a close approach on foot. LINK: Youtube

The Strange Elegance of the Giraffe-Necked Antelope

Enjoy this piece on Scienceray about the wonderful Giraffe-Necked Antelope of East Africa. Just as their taller friends have evolved to get to the higher branches of green in a barren landscape, this unique species also took to the higher branches of smaller flora.

It’s also obvious, but worth pointing out ~ they’re as cute as all getout.

They will use their forelegs to pull down branches that are even higher than they are and can get to tender new leaves that other animals cannot. As a plus, the GNA does not need to drink water at all – it gets all the moisture it needs from the plants they devour.

Link |Image by Flickr user nonisense. Via: Neatorama

Atlas by Fernando Vicente

In his art blog called Atlas, Spanish artist Fernando Vicente takes the distinct forms of landmasses and convert them into fantastic images. I particularly like the map of Africa turned into a skull (with Europe being the exploding head - lots of political imagery there).

Check out the entire series here: Link | Fernando’s other work: Anatomías (and for those of you who like politics, check out his work for Diario El País). LINK

Jungle alcohol

This is a real video from a French documentary about Africa.
There are trees that grow in Africa which, once a year, produce very juicy fruits that ferment to contain alcohol. Because there is a shortage of water, as soon as the fruits are ripe, animals come there to help protect themselves from the heat.
What happens next? Watch for yourselves. LINK

Absolutely Fricking Amazing "Persistence" Hunt!

This is a "Persistence Hunt" of a Male Kudu, by tribesman of the San on the Kalahari Desert of Africa. LINK: Youtube

African Elephants Attack

Two tourists and a guide are trampled in Southern Africa. LINK: Youtube

The Art of the Edo

A glimpse of the amazing artistic heritage of the Edo people of Nigeria. Their exquisite bronze sculptures showcase the rich and ancient culture of this part of the world. With this art, you can get a true feeling of Africa before the arrival of the European.

Nigeria is one of the most art-oriented countries in Africa. It consists of many different tribes who possess different unique cultural artistic styles and tastes. One of those places is Edo state. Known as the heartbeat of the nation, Edo state is located in the south-eastern part of Nigeria. Benin City, its capital, is inhabited by the Bini people who, apart from other exciting forms of art they are involved in, specialise in a different but unique form of art-Bronze casting and sculpture-related artworks.

Link, Via: yourlewishamcollege, Via: Neatorama

Would You Put Me Down, Please?

Scientists at the Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew were scanning Google Earth and came upon a forest in Mozambique that had never been mapped, so they set out to see what they could find. They found the forest of Mount Mabu, teeming with unusual species of plants and animals.

Among the expedition’s discoveries were three species of butterflies new to science, a new species of adder, six birds that are globally threatened, and this perhaps terrified pygmy chameleon.

“This is potentially the biggest area of medium-altitude forest I’m aware of in southern Africa, yet it was not on the map.”
– expedition leader Jonathan Timberlake, RBC Kew

Shown is a pygmy chameleon found in the Mount Mabu forest.

Link - Via: timesonlin, Via: Neatorama

Sardine Run Shark Feeding Frenzy Phenomenon in Africa

In a spectacular underwater marine ballet, millions of sardines run in hundreds of shoals, swirling, dancing, and transforming in shape in the annual Sardine Run — an unexplained phenomenon that’s been dubbed “the greatest shoal on earth” — for which they make their way through the cold Atlantic waters off the Cape towards the sub-tropical waters of the Indian Ocean, with vast numbers of predators in hot pursuit.

From the last week of May through early July every year, South African pilchard spawn in the cool waters of the Agulhas Bank and move northward in droves for what researchers say could rival East Africa’s great wildebeest migration.

Their sheer numbers create a feeding frenzy along the coastline for sharks, dolphins, and even killer whales for a breathtaking event of the year’s greatest feast which is unique in both magnitude and complexity to the region. LINK



LINK: Youtube

Jacques Resch

Jacques Resch is a surrealist artist born in the south of France, who now resides in Africa.

Entirely self-taught, Resch’s passion for the Arts began at the age of 12 painting otherworldly landscapes to portraits. His style of painting has a remarkable resemblance to the likes of Bosch, Breughel and Dali, but we can also discern in them the full range of society’s fears to which most (if not all) artists are sensitive: problems of progress, drugs, pollution and more. Resch’s style is also influenced by Symbolism, especially on paintings like “Les pyramides” and “Le Diabolo“.

Some of his works can be found for preview on his site. LINK

Circle of Life Safari Kenya Wildebeest Migration Mara River

Documentary in 5 minute. Wildebeest migration crossing river Mara. Lions, zebra, elephant and the big Savana heart of Africa. Movie Theme Enya Adiemus. The Circle of Life. LINK: Youtube

Battle At Kruger - South Africa Lion Attack

This video was filmed in the Kruger National Park and shows a real war between buffalo, lions and crocodiles. The real action starts about 30 seconds in. LINK: Youtube

New Gnarls Barkley video and backstory

John Paul sez, "My sister Wendy went to Jamaica to make a music video for Gnarls Barkley. I've always found it fascinating how she listens to songs and just fantasizes about what imagery or story goes with the music, and then struggles to make the video happen in an incredibly short time frame and on a tight budget. This video is maybe her finest. The imagery comes out of her head, partly inspired by a trip we made to Africa, partly inspired by Jamaican dance hall glory.

"She says that the struggles of shooting in Jamaica were harder than anything she had ever attempted. A combination of bureaucracy, corruption, and thuggery confounded her at every turn but she pulled it off all the same. I know when I picked her up at the airport she was completely spent, exhausted. Her words were, 'I don't know how much longer I can spend being the general in a war zone, shouting commands at everyone.' Fortunately, the release of the video to wide acclaim has revitalized her, and I can't wait to see what she does next." Link, Via: Boingboing, Via: Youtube

Christian the Lion

This cub was taken care of and then released in the wild. After a few years the caretakers decided to see how the cub was doing..see what happens!! LINK

Canyon, the Sand Cat

The Sand Cat is indeed the cutest cat in the world. The Sand Cat (Felis margarita) lives in the deserts from north Africa and throughout Asia. Sand Cats are about the size of a small house cat. They are lised as a near threatened species, but experts feel numbers (like most wild felines) are declining. LINK, Via: Metacafe