It is once again time to get everyone up to date on what is going on in the world of safari blogs. All of the safari blog posts here, as well as much more safari related information can be found right here at TheWildSource.com in our Africa Safari News section. I'd also like to point out that we have just discovered a few new blogs that we'll be working into our news section in the near future. These are great safari blogs directly from the camps that I'm sure you'll enjoy.

Safari Blogs This Week!

1) National Geographic - Albino Whale

Although this isn't something you'd typically see on the Okavango Delta or in the Serengeti - it is still a very interesting natural phenomenon. Migaloo - an albino humpback whale was spotted off the coast of Australia this week. This post over at Nat Geo provides all of the details - including video of the easy to spot humpback.

2) WWF International - Rhino Horn Poaching on the Rise

This is obviously unfortunate news. This Report from WWF International documents how rhinoceros poaching in Africa and in Asia is on the rise as demand in Asia for the horns continues to be strong. Some countries believe the horns have medicinal value. It is a popular misconception that some in Asia covet the horn for its alleged aphrodisiac properties - this is not the case. I did some digging and found this article over on the Nature website at PBS.org which describes that the horn is primarily used for dagger handles in Yemen and as a fever reducer in traditional Chinese medicine - and a completely ineffective one at that.

3) Wilderness-Safaris.com - Cheetahs, Lions, and African Wild Dogs

Cheetah Catches - and is chased off of Impala Kill
In this blog post, from the Chitabe Camp in the Okavango Delta in Botswana, the story is told how a hungry looking female cheetah is able to take down an impala. The cheetah feeds while a hyena continuously lurks unable to locate her. The cheetah managed to get quite a large meal in despite the screams of nearby animals including vervet monkeys, squirrels, and birds that alerted the hyena to the kill in the first place. Overall, a good description and timeline of a typical Cheetah kill.

New DumaTau Lion Coalition
Also this from Wilderness Safaris - a blog post about a new male Lion coalition beginning to form. Three of the five sub-adult males are slowly starting to break away from the rest of the pride. The lions leave on excursions only to later meet up with the pride. It is thought that in the near future - all 5 sub-adult males who are approximately the same age - will leave to form a nomadic coalition before challenging to take over a pride.

African Bees Overpower Lions
Finally, from Wilderness Safaris, we get this - a blog post about a pride of lions that was chased off their African Cape Buffalo kill by a swarm of bees. Apparently, the lions disturbed the hive and were repeatedly stung until the calf was eventually dragged away from the stinging horde.

4) Tarangire Lion Project - Lion Mating

We last checked in with the Tarnagire Lion Project back when Bill was on his 2009 Tanzania Safari. This installment describes how project members have come across a collared female who had recently had cubs yet was about to mate with a new male lion. The team suspects this new lion was probably responsible for infanticide.

5) Desert and Delta Safaris blog - Lion Tracking on Foot

A really interesting read about lion tracking from Xugana Island Lodge in the Okavango Delta of Botswana. The guide spotted lion footprints of a pride that was most likely stalking African Cape Buffalo that had just moved through the area. The guide was able to take them to within a good viewing distance of both the lions and the Cape Buffalo.

In a related post, be sure to check out my own experiences with wildlife tracking, as well as what is involved with tracking animals on safari in my previous blog post.