New Study Upholds Reputation of Classic ParasiteDecember 02, 2013 – I was ten years old when I first saw Trials of Life, David Attenborough’s landmark series on animal behaviour. Its twelve glorious episodes left an indelible mark in my mind, with unforgettable scenes of killer whales beaching themselves to eat sea-lions and elephant shrews bounding along carefully memorised paths. But if you asked me to […]
The Mystery of the Monogamous MammalsJuly 30, 2013 – The golden lion tamarin is a monogamous primate. A male and a female will bond for life, mating only with each other, and cooperating to rear their family. Over 200 other mammal species are also monogamous, which is puzzling. Why do males stick around? In the news section of today’s New York Times, I have […]
Finding Solitude on Mount FujiNovember 05, 2013 – The snarling, fierce gazes of mighty beasts illuminated by my headlamp light send a momentary jolt of adrenaline through my sleep-deprived body. Upon further inspection, the fearsome pair is revealed to be stone shisa statues, mythical dog-lion creatures that act as guardians from evil spirits. Here they sit, perched beneath the final tori gate high…
TigerApril 02, 2014 – Easily recognized by its coat of reddish-orange with dark stripes, the tiger is the largest wild cat in the world. The big cat's tail is three feet long. On average the big cat weighs 450 pounds, about the same as eight ten-year-old kids. It stands three feet tall with teeth four inches long and claws as long as house keys. A female tiger gives birth to a litter of three or four cubs, who she will care for until they are a year-and-a-half old. These cubs quadruple in size during their first month! The powerful predator generally hunts alone, able to bring down prey such as deer and antelope. Tigers wait until dark to hunt. The tiger sprints to an unsuspecting animal, usually pulling it off its feet with its teeth and claws. If the prey animal is large, the tiger bites its throat to kill it; smaller prey is usually killed when the tiger breaks its neck. Tigers have been known to eat up to 60 pounds of meat in one night, but more often they consume about 12 pounds during a meal. It may take days for a tiger to finish eating its kill. The cat eats until it's full, and then covers the carcass with leaves and dirt. The tiger comes back to feed some more. Tigers live far apart from each other. A tiger knows if it is in another tiger’s territory based on the trees around him. Each tiger marks the trees in its area with urine and special scratches. Unlike most members of the cat family, tigers seem to enjoy water and swim well. Some tigers live where it gets very cold—in India and parts of southeast Asia. The whole species is endangered throughout its range. Tigers have been overhunted for their fur as well as for other body parts that many people use in traditional medicines. Tigers' habitat has also dwindled seriously as humans have developed land for uses such as farming and logging. However, in the Siberian region of Russia, there’s hope that these big cats are making a comeback. Because of their size, strength, and predatory skills, tigers are considered one of the “big cats.” Lions, cheetahs, jaguars, and cougars are also part of this grouping. Tiger stripes are special to each individual, and their tails help them to keep their balance. The big cats share all but 4.4% of their DNA with domestic cats. Take the big cat quiz to see how much you know about these fierce felines. Then, just for fun, see which wild cat you’re most like with our personality quiz.
Lionfish and Friends: How Chefs Tackle Invasive FishJune 23, 2015 – The pretty ones get all the attention—even when it comes to invasive species. The eye-catching but dangerous lionfish …
Genetically Engineering the WildSeptember 25, 2013 – Back in April, I wrote in National Geographic about the provocative idea of bringing extinct species back to life. In the five months that have passed since then, I haven’t spotted any mammoths or saber-tooth lions drifting through my front yard. If “de-extinction” ever does become real, it won’t for quite a while. What I […]
Lionfish Have a “Let’s Hunt Together” SignalJune 24, 2014 – A lionfish is a swimming paradox. It is painted in fierce hues of orange and white but it has an almost melancholy expression. It has fearsome venomous spines sticking out of its back, but elegant fan-shaped fins protruding from its side. And although it floats with an indolent air, it is actually an active and […]
Ruaha National ParkDecember 01, 2012 – Dear @GioPalatucci, I write you from the very dry heart of Tanzania where the ground is very brown, the grass is lion-colored and the trees look like they could all use a bit of water. I tell you Gio, it is everything you imagine Africa to be: forever skies with evasive clouds, the hot, hot…
Every tooth is correct. Every whisker is correct.February 12, 2013 – Remember the picture above? I used it in a post from last week about a team of scientists who had reconstructed the last ancestor of all placental mammals—that’s every human, monkey, bat, dolphin, lion, pangolin, shrew, antelope, and sloth. The animal ended up looking like a furry-tailed shrew, which came as a surprise to absolutely […]
Photo Gallery: Mikumi National ParkNovember 26, 2012 – Founded in 1964, Mikumi National Park is one of the most convenient destinations for seeing a host of common African animals (lion, leopard, elephant, giraffe, zebra, buffalo and impala). Though most visitors stick to the central loop of the park, I would highly encourage travelers to head south into the wooded hills, where there is…
Out of Office: On the Prowl for Panthers in South FloridaApril 08, 2011 – On a recent trip to South Florida, I was treated to an abundance of wildlife sightings: pelicans, geckos, bald eagles, dolphins, and too many alligators to count. But, despite the numerous signs along U.S. Route 41 warning of panther crossings, I never caught a glimpse of the mysterious tawny and brown cat.
Facing HomotheriumNovember 18, 2010 – When craftsman Ken Walker decided to reconstruct an Irish elk for the “recreations” category of the 2005 World Taxidermy Championships, he did not rely on bones alone. Skeletons of the extinct Pleistocene mammal – technically called Megaloceros giganteus – were in no short supply as references, but there are some things that bones just can’t […]
(Baja) California Dreamin: Wednesday, 6/27June 25, 2012 – One minute, you’re snorkeling with colorful parrotfish — the next, you’re surrounded by sea lions, then watching gray whale mothers and their calves perform aquatic arabesques around your kayak. Are you lost in a Wyland mural? Nope — just afloat with National Geographic Expeditions off incomparable Baja California.
Walking Above JerusalemOctober 06, 2011 – By Barbara A. Noe On a recent trip to Jerusalem, when I learn I can climb onto the high stone ramparts surrounding the Old City and spy into the different neighborhoods from above, I head straight to the entrance at Jaffa Gate. These ancient stone ramparts showcase a microcosm of conflicted religious life in the…
The Many Lives of SmilodonNovember 23, 2010 – On a superficial level, the predatory habits of the saber-toothed cat Smilodon would not seem to be especially mysterious. Traditionally – and incorrectly – restored as a lion with extra-long upper canines, this felid obviously used its fearsome dentition to dispatch the large prey of its Pleistocene heyday. Of course, things aren’t as simple as […]
Being “Brave” in ScotlandJune 21, 2012 – Having just watched a sneak preview of the upcoming Pixar release Brave (which premieres tomorrow), I wondered if any movies are secretly inspiring kids to want to travel or see the places they see on the screen. Did The Lion King spur tourism to Africa? How about family tours to China — are they more popular after Kung Fu Panda?