Leopards usually keep to themselves, lurking in dense riverine bush, emerging to hunt in the dark. They are superbly camouflaged hunters that creep to within a few metres of their unsuspecting quarry before making a brief and explosive charge (up to 60km/h), pouncing on its prey and dispatching it with a bite to the neck.
A very notable feature of our African elephants is their rather large ears that serve many purposes: Their large surface helps radiate excess heat and cool the elephant down. They are used to communicate visually and they aid in the ability to hear sounds over long distances. On average, an elephant can hear another elephant’s call at 4 km away.
Zebras are white with black stripes. Or are they black with white stripes? Since it is clear that the black stripes are caused by pigment activation and the white stripes by inhibition, it can be assumed that their fur is actually black. Just like their dark skin underneath.
The African Fish Eagle is a fairly large bird of prey. It is the national bird of Namibia, Zimbabwe, Zambia, and South Sudan. As a result of its large range, it is known in many languages: visarend in Afrikaans, nkwazi in Chewa, hungwe in Shona, and inkwazi in Zulu.
Usually heard after sunset, a male lion’s humblng roar can carry for as far as eight kilometers. It’s purpose is to help round up stray members of the pride, which range in size from three to even forty lions. In Tempela, our two prides count a total of 34 individuals ruled by two adult males. Because of their limited space, they decided to remain with their prides for many years now. Luckily for us, that’s a very modern interpretation of lion fatherhood.
First of all, the black rhino is not black, just as the white rhino is not white, but rather they are a worn grey. The main difference between the two species is in the shape of the upper lip: one is hooked while the other is square. Humans are the only real threat to black rhinos and they are still critically endangered. Between 1960 and 1995, their numbers dropped by a sobering 98%. Thanks to conservation efforts, the population has risen again to around 5000 today.
As one of the few non-african species in Tempela, our Blue Macaws Are the very special descendants of the first pair ever brought to Europe by Alexander von Humboldt and his first Orinoco-Expedition in 1800. The blue South-Americans are not only wonderful to look at, these clever birds may also outsmart you for a snack or two.
With a height of 5.5m, the giraffe is the tallest animal in the world. Their numbers in Africa have plummeted by a staggering 40% over the last 30 years. With their very long necks, Giraffes are able to feed on the foliage of trees that is inaccessible to other herbivores. If you take too many photos, they might flash you their tongue: its black and up to 53cm long.
Also listed as vulnerable with only 20,000 animals left, the majestic African lion is a crucial part of the Tempela ecosystem. Two prides form the largest group of apex and keystone predators in the Park. The big cat once ranged throughout Eurasia, Africa and North America but has been reduced today to fragmented populations in Sub-Saharan Africa, having declined by about 43% since the early 1990s.
The African elephant is the largest animal walking the Earth. It is characterized by its long tusks and huge ears. Because tens of thousands of elephants are killed every year for their ivory, they are still listed as vulnerable on the IUCN Red List. This is why we are very proud that Tempela has been a home to these beautiful mammals for many generations.
