An elephant in Meru National Park spreads its ears presumably to appear larger, perhaps it’s surprised or alarmed [KWS/Obed Mule]
With only 8 per cent of Kenya’s landmass being protected for wildlife conservation, wild animals move in and out of these areas in search of pasture and water during certain periods within the year. Kenya Wildlife Service has a mobile rapid response team established to ensure swift response to human-wildlife conflict incidents. Similarly, conservation awareness programmes contribute towards enhancing positive perception of wildlife conservation.
In the wildlife kingdom, every animal has a ‘fight’ or ‘flight’ zone. For instance, if you approach a rat from a distance, it will run away but when you corner it in a hole and put your finger in there, it will bite. It’s also common knowledge that you should never get in between a mother and her baby, or anywhere near an older parent, or an injured brother.
Here are some of the surprising and gruesome traits of superficially friendly wild animals you should know:
Elephants – known for TRAMPLING: Elephants may appear to be slow and friendly but they aren’t. With speeds of up to 40km per hour faster than the world fastest man, humans cannot outrun elephants. An elephant, which is easily infuriated, slaughters its victim with its enormous tusks and trampling one with its massive feet.
Older bulls and young males can be aggressive even when they’re not provoked. In places where poaching is common or their habitats are threatened, elephants are more aggressive.
Giraffe – known for KARATE KICKS: Looking gently tall and gracefully still, giraffes can be very dangerous. Healthy adults are less vulnerable to being killed by predators due to their intimidating size, they give deadly martial art kicks, they are fast runners, and have an excellent vision that allows them to react fast.
A giraffe kicks humans or predators, severely injuring or killed them instantly, so not so many predators dare to attack a giraffe unless they find its young ones or are desperate for a meal, to the extent of risking their lives for it.
Rhinos - known for The SUPERCHARGE: Second in size only to the elephant terrestrial mammals, rhinos have a reputation for being extremely aggressive, especially hook-lipped black rhinoceros.
A little bad-tempered, which makes them very dangerous especially when they pick up the scent of a human being and can charge at speeds of 50 km per hour. They are most likely to attack if taken by surprise. They can't see well, but they do have a keen sense of smell and hearing.
Cows with calves are especially dangerous and will charge under almost any circumstances when feeling threatened. They’ll charge at full force and use their horns to kill or injure what they deem to be a danger or irritant to them.
Hippos – known for the EXCELLENT BITE: Hippos are responsible for more human deaths in Africa than any other wild animal by far - what you really don’t want to do is to get between a hippo and its body of water, it will see this as a direct threat. Its jaws and teeth somewhat resemble a giant paper punch, and a hippo won’t do the decent thing and bite off your head, it will go for your mid-section and bite you clean in half.
Bulls are also known for killing young male calves to minimize challenges. Females have also been known to get extremely aggressive if they sense anyone coming in between their babies, who stay in the water while she feeds on the shore.
Cheetahs - known for ATHLETICISM AND GRACE: These cats can accelerate from 0 – 112km per hour in 3 seconds, making it the fastest land animal on the planet. Cheetahs are very curious animals and have been known to jump on vehicles in national parks and reserves to survey the land to see if any prey is around.
If you stay still and don't move around much, the cheetah will more than likely investigate you and then jump off. More often than not cheetahs will run away from people. If that doesn't work, the cheetah will first hiss and bear its teeth, then fake charge by stamping its front legs on the ground. A cheetah will only attack a human if it feels threatened, cornered or when protecting its cubs. Now that you know, share the gospel according to the animal kingdom.
