Breaking News: Sokoke Pipit spotted at Pugu
Not easy to understand that with the present status of the Pugu Forest still globally endangered species are found like the recent spotting of the Sokoke Pipit (Anthus sokokensis)
Few remaining Rondo Dwarf Galago
The secretive and almost extinct Rondo Dwarf Galago is still a regular visitor of the Pugu Hills Nature Centre. At night from your bed in the banda you may hear it calling.
Children without Nature
The publishing of an article about the worrying absence of Nature in the life of upgrowing children in the UK is not only a warning relevant in Europe
Pugu Hills Closed
We are sorry to inform our customers that Pugu Hills Nature Centre will be closed during the rainy season for maintenance.
Pugu Plastic Forest Reserve
A Trash Art Work in the making at Pugu Hills Nature Centre symbolising the struggle of Humans against Nature! Will humans manage to win and bury nature in its trash?Animal of the Week
- Details
- Category: Nature
- Published on Wednesday, 09 November 2011 13:18
- Written by Super User
- Hits: 2668
The Animal of the Week records provides an indication of increase or decrease of animal biodiversity. A selection is made of new or rarer species sited.
Most animals will be birds which are easier to detect and at the same time providing a good indication of availability of insects, which presence reflects diversity of food available.
week: 01-09-2012
The Old Man |
| Tony asked my attention for the bird overhead. For birdwatchers this is normally done in the middle of a conversation (otherwise the bird is gone). At first I did not believe my eyes while I still associate the "Old Man" (Marabou in French) with the old Africa I knew with safaris and elephants drinking in the river some 40 years back? I was exited that they had followed me after all those years to Pugu, adding a bit of safari feel to the Pugu Hills Nature Centre close to Dar es Salaam a city of millions. |
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week: 06-07-2012
Charming Slender Snake |
| Snakes are not really the crowd-pullers of the Pugu Hills Nature Centre. But most of them are beautifully colored or have amazing skin patterns. Like the harmless sandsnake with its beautiful stripes. This fast moving snake is very friendly. On one of the occassions when we tried to get a close-up of the snake our late dog "Fisi" stepped on the poor creature who did not even get angry about it but just wanted to be away from this group of intruders. |
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week: 26-05-2012
Hyena Foot Prints |
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The spotted hyena has been a regular visitor over the years at Pugu Hills Nature Centre. The most memorable event being a young hyena who was found unconcious and could not even be reanimated by the sense of a chicken bone in front of his nose. Early next morning he was collected by four adults and dissappeared? The print of this hyena is more recent (19 May 2012) than the above event which took place some years back. It has always been difficult to distinguish between the hyenas from the wildlife traders in the area where they can escape under the chicken wire and the wild ones. This latest visit seems to be from free hyenas who also left foot prints along the Mackinnon road The guests do not need to worry about the hyena visits who are renowed for their cowardness in African tales and studies. You can click on the image to enlarge it and you can distinguish the nail impression which is typical for these dog-like scavangers. |
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week: 04-04-2012
Trapped in the house for the best Nature Photography |
| The bird trapped in the house during Eastern holiday was very similar to the previous "animal of the week" (Grey Cuckoo). We could have a case here, the fact that the Grey Cuckoo birds were definitly in a flock which is not the habit of the Lead-coloured Flycatcher gives us the benefit of the doubt. |
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A flock of silent mystery birds |
| It is seldom that you have a camera with you when there is a photograph to be made. A group of elegant grey cuckoo shrikes made me run for the camera but in vain, they had left when I was back. With the help of the internet and the bird book, the shrike and his image has been added to the records. |
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week:13-02-2012
A favourite branch for birds |
| There is a branch of the Long pod Cassia which provides a good view on the nature pool at Pugu Hills. It is also comfortably close to the restaurant deck for photographing. The branch has been visited by the long tailed comorant, bee-eaters and rollers among the more colorful birds. This lovely picture (credit to Maisha) is a Broad-billed Roller with the Long pod Cassia blossom in the background. |
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week:06-02-2012
Mystery Singing Rat finally solved |
| For many years we have tried to get a glimpse of the singing "rat" (Kiswahili Panja), as it was described by the nightwatchmen. With a sound close to the squirel song but definitly only at night, we never managed to track down the vocalist, while it was too far, too late or too dark, until last Friday (10/02/2012). Close to the house it could not be missed it eventually exposed itself in the flashlight. A tiny galago (bush baby) able to walk along the bottomside of the tree branch and incredibly agile. No photographs yet nor sound tracks, but we are hopeful it was the Rondo dwarf galalogo. One of 25 top most endangered primates in the world may have found a safe heaven at Pugu Hills with some hope for an improved environment if the present measures to protect the Pugu Forest, start bearing fruits. |
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week: 11-01-2012
Spotted Eagle Owl |
| This big owl of some 50 cm height is resting around the football field at daytime and will fly away when somebody is passing on the nature trail |
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week: 13-12-2011
WashaWasha |
| In the absence of the scientific name the general swahili description of a caterpillar is used. Ku-washa means "burn" or "light" from light the fire. The hair of this caterpillar could be stinging. |
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week: 7-11-2011
Retz' Helmet Shrike |
| The last days a flock of noisy Retz' Helmet Shrikes has visited the camp hill in the morning. The energetic birds inspect tree to tree for any treat while at the same time attracting all attention chasing insects and being very vocal. |
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