“Discovered”

June 20, 2017 | Nature on the Edge

“Stats” haven’t really been too much of a motivation for me, that is until this past week when my site unexpectedly started ‘pinging’. Topics relating to the Cape Storm got great press pushing up the visitor numbers to an all time high. Then came a further boost with a shout out from Ben Huberman on Discover: Editor’s picks.

I feel quite overwhelmed by the response and would like to post a hearty welcome to all the new followers.

Baby baboon hi

To Ben and the WordPress team, i send a big thank you and a gift of virtual flowers – protea repens. The birds love them for their rich sugary nectar and are also known as the sugarbush protea.

Sugar bush protea

Piggyback: Riding Atop

March 19, 2017 | Nature on the Edge

As baby baboons develop they progess from clinging below their mothers’ bellies to riding atop their backs. This juvenile baboon is probably old enough to be walking alongside its mother; instead it displays a rather confident riding ‘style’.

WPC: Atop

The protective role of ‘big sister’

November 26, 2016August 2, 2017 | Nature on the Edge

It is interesting to watch young baboons act out gender roles. The juvenile males rough and tumble and play fight while the young females practise an infant-protective role in their play.

While mum is foraging baby scampers off to explore. But he is not left on his own for long before ‘big sister’ comes to supervise his activities.

He’s intent on finding a pebble.

Big sister is being protective.

Holding baby close.

Chacma baboons: foraging

November 10, 2016August 2, 2017 | Nature on the Edge

Foraging is a trial and error process for baby baboons. Finding the juiciest grass roots or corms can be a bit hit and miss, but by following mom’s example those tasty corms can be detected. Who says playing with food isn’t fun?

Chacma baboons: Gentle mothers

September 11, 2016August 2, 2017 | Nature on the Edge

Chacma_baoons_mothers_and babies

Chacma_baboons_mothers_with babies

Chacma_baboons_digging_for_bulbs It was cool in the early morning, 9*C when a passing rain shower caught this baboon troop out in the open. The mothers sheltered together paying attention to their babies gently cuddling them to keep them warm. The rain passed and they were soon back into the veld digging for corms and other succulent roots.