Nile crocodiles are very stiff and not very comfortable on land, and they stick out like sore thumbs. Mostly, they move only when needed or when feeling threatened. But in the water, they are way too easygoing, often hiding and running about continually. They are extremely alert and have the capacity to swim at high speed and incredible agility in the water. Interestingly enough, Nile crocodiles swim almost effortlessly and it comes as second nature. Hence, people often wonder how crocodiles that do not have fins or gills like other aquatic animals, spend almost their entire lives in the water.
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In Kenya, the most common type of crocodile is the Nile crocodile. A Nile crocodile is not a beautiful sight. It is unsightly. But it is fascinating to watch, albeit from a distance. It has a purple under part and a bronze colored back. The flanks are yellow in color and scutes form on the tail and back. The colors keep changing, as it grows old. The Nile crocodile is widely distributed in the Southern Africa including Botswana, Namibia, Zimbabwe, and Zambia and has a healthy population in many East African countries such as Ethiopia, Somalia, Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania.
Crocodiles have played an important part in human culture. Some people in certain parts of the world worship them as supernatural creatures while some others use them for decorative or medical purposes. But hunting for skin and meat caused the greatest havoc to its survival. And the value of crocodile skin depends on several factors. Needless to say, the Nile crocodiles found in Kenya is one of the highly sought out skins for making high-quality leather. It is the ossification under the belly that is a major factor that separates the skin of Nile crocodile from the other crocodile species.
One of the largest crocodilians is the Nile crocodile found in eastern Kenya. It is a marine predator that has evolved over centuries. It has a streamlined body, a powerful tail, and webbed hind feet. But the most distinguishable feature of a Nile crocodile is the enlarged tooth on the lower jaw, which juts out and is visible when it keeps its mouth closed. As the size of its body increases, its taste bud and appetite changes as well. And what transforms with that is its food hunting behavior. However, what remains unchanged is the human-crocodile conflict in the wild.
Any wildlife safari traveler in Kenya would concur that cheetahs in the wild are typically solitary animals, but they are the most sociable among all the fat cats. After leaving the mother cheetah around the age of one, siblings stay together for six months. In the cheetah family, it is the domesticated females who take up the lion’s share of bringing up the cubs and forming family relationships. Males’ role starts and ends at mating. Apart from mating, males neither have any familial function nor do they possess any feelings for or bonding with the pregnant mother or the cubs.
There are certain limitations when bringing up cheetahs. People have been killed while interacting with cheetahs. Treating them like domestic pets does not make them safe either. Caring for cheetahs is unlike that of a domestic animal. Even if they have been brought up from a young age, news reports abound of their attacks. Being forced to live in captivity can lead to stress as it prevents them from exhibiting natural instincts. And out of this frustration, cheetahs can become destructive and cause havoc. Urine spraying is one such behavior. In short, cheetahs are a danger to clueless pet owners.
One of the reasons for cheetah’s death is AA amyloidosis, which is a life-threatening illness. Sadly, this destructive disease affects the regular day-to-day functioning and existence of the animals. It is a disease that spreads internally and can eventually cause organ failure ultimately leading to death. It is a killer that can wipe out huge numbers of cheetahs and cause a substantial dent in its population. At one time, there was an epidemic of AA amyloidosis, and very many cheetahs died of this tragedy. Cheetahs do not seem to be able to outrun this disease, pun intended, despite famously speedy.
A running cheetah at its top speed while on a wildlife safari in Kenya is not a rare sight. It is renowned for its incredible speed when in a chase but documentary-makers film cheetahs for the creature’s majesty, and often underplay its speed. However, the BBC bucked the trend in its show The Hunt with aerial shots that reveal that the animal can reach top speeds in no time. In fact, within three seconds it can accelerate up to 60 to 75 miles per hour covering a distance of 1,600 feet with up to 25 feet in just one stroke.
Wildlife biologists and scientists are doubtful whether cheetah can outrun extinction. If the population of cheetahs falls by even just 10 percent on an annual basis, then the numbers would decline by 50 percent in 15 years. Hence, breeding programs have been established in cheetah-populated areas to reverse this trend. The results seem promising in some places but not so much in others. Time will tell. However, if what the team predicts come true, then it is worth doing a wildlife safari in Kenya to watch these remarkable creatures before they get wiped out from the face of the earth.
The Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt, remarkably won the gold medal nine times at the Olympics. People often wondered how the record-breaking runner, Usain Bolt, would fare against a cheetah. The animals even have an acceleration rate rivaling that of the sports car, Lamborghini. Because cheetahs are so fast, photographing them at that speed is nearly impossible. But the National Geographic did it when its Channel conducted a virtual race between Sarah, the cheetah, and Usain Bolt. They were curious to know what would have happened if the animal took part in the 100m final of the World Championship in 2009.