national geographic kids south africa

Issue 109 September 2013 R28,00 (VAT incl.)
Issue 109 September 2013 R28,00 (VAT incl.)
9 771811 723006
0 9 1 0 9
Proudly SA
Proudly SAProudly SA
LAST CHANCE
TO ENTER!
LAST CHANCE
TO ENTER!
30 Cool Things About South Africa,
Win A Gas Braai,
Awesome Posters
HELP US
SET A
GUINNESS
WORLD
RECORD
TITLE
HELP US
SET A
GUINNESS
WORLD
RECORD
TITLE
HELP
US
SET A
GUINNESS
WORLD
RECORD

TITLE

HI, KiDS
There are so many positive things to get involved in this month – all
of which we should be doing for the rest of the year. So here is an
action list of things to do. Tick as many as you can!
Dare to Explore!
LUCKY SUBSCRIBER LUCKY SUBSCRIBER LUCKY SUBSCRIBER LUCKY SUBSCRIBER LUCKY SUBS LUCKY SUBS LUCKY SUBS
•
Escape from Planet Earth
(Blu-ray or DVD)
• Camp chair
• Sleeping bag
• Two man tent
• T-shirt
September’s subscriber of the month is Kerrisha Dorasamy, 7, from
Woodmead, Sandton. She has won* the ultimate
Escape From Planet Earth
branded adventure camping hamper valued at R2 500, this includes:
* Terms and conditions on page 39
WRITE TO US!
Send us your letters, pictures and
comments. Let us know when it is your
birthday. We want to hear from you!
• Write to us at: The Editor, NG KIDS,
PO Box 1802, Cape Town 8000.
• Send an e-mail to or
SMS* a letter to “NGK Letters” at 33970.
* SMSs cost R1,50. Free SMSs do not
apply. See www.ngkids.co.za for terms

and conditions.
L
E
T
T
E
R
O
F
T
H
E
M
O
N
T
H
CARIKA AND TINKA
PS I’D LOVE TO KNOW
WHAT YOUR FAVOURITE
STORIES, COVERS AND
POSTERS HAVE BEEN SO
FAR THIS YEAR.
D
E
A
R
F
ION
A

I’
M

CR
AZY A
BOUT
NG KIDS! I
LOVE
A
NIM
A
LS
J
UST
A
S

MUCH
A
ND

THIS
M
A
G
AZ
INE

IS

PERFECT

BEC
A
USE

IT

TE
A
CHES
ME
A
BOUT
A
NIM
A
LS
. I
HOPE
I
C
A
N

MEET
Y
OU

SOMED

AY. T
HIS

IS
MY
DOG
T
INK
A,
SHE
’
S
A
CROSS

BETWEEN
A
BOERBOEL
A
ND
A
PITBULL
. S
HE
’
S

M
Y Y
OUNGEST

DOG
,
BUT
THE

L
A
RGEST
. I’
D

LIKE

TO

KNOW

IF
Y
OU
COULD

DO
A
N

ISSUE

ON

TIGERS
.
K
IND

REG
A
RDS
CA
RIK
A B
ONTHU
Y
S
S
TELLENBOSCH
Ster-Kinekor Entertainment is thrilled to release kiddies
DVD,
Escape from Planet Earth
. The new 3-D animated
family film, will catapult you to planets worlds apart
and is now available on DVD and Blu-ray!
1 September | Spring Day
•
Unscramble the flower names (page 45).
•
Go on a nature trail.

2 to 6 September | Arbor Week

•
Plant a tree.

8 September | International Literacy Day
•
Enter our competition to win book hampers (page 15).
•
Read more books.
16 to 21 September | Clean-up SA week
•
Get involved in a clean-up party.

20 September | National Recycling day
•
Get crafty with recycled material (page 46).
•
Help your parents with the recycling at home.
21 to 29 September | NG Great Nature

Project
•
Turn to page 12 and enter.
24 September | Heritage Day
•
Read 30 cool things about SA (page 36).
•
Win a gas braai or a book for your
parents (page 38).
•
Ask a friend about their

cultural traditions.
Pet Friends Forever
6
26
18
14
22
Poster: Humpback Whale
Great Nature
Project
Nature’s
Recyclers
Click for
Conservation
Dare to Explore
29
36
30 Cool Things About South Africa
Funny Fill-in
41 45
What In The World
REGULARSREGULARSREGULARSREGULARS
Conservation AwarenessConservation AwarenessConservation AwarenessConservation Awareness
WINWINWINWIN
Family Project
46
47
Art Zone
Find the vultur e! We
hid ten vultures in the

magazine. Here’s one
of them but can you
spot all ten?
i
N
S
I
D
E
12
38
48
Young Chefs
Competition
It’s your last chance to enter!
Braai Day
Competition
Win a braai or a cool book.
Fun Factory
Win movie hampers and CDs.
Cover PhotograPh: © toNY heaLD / NPL / MINDeN PICtUreS
Page 3: JaMeS garaghtY (FIoNa); aLL other IMageS SUPPLIeD
Page 4: IStoCKPhoto (vULtUre ILLUStratIoN, hIMaLaYaN Cat, 30 CooL thINgS aBoUt SoUth aFrICa,
What IN the WorLD); FIoNa thoMSoN (BIrD); aFrIPICS (vULtUre, hUMPBaCK WhaLe);
MIChaeL aDaMS (PICKerSgILL’S reeD Frog); PhototaLK / gettY IMageS (WhIte-SPotteD JeLLYFISh); DaN SIPPLe (FUNNY FILL-IN)
ON THE COVERON THE COVERON THE COVERON THE COVER
ADVERTORIAL
We know how much you love your pets.
Now you can send us photos, drawings
and letters especially for this page!

You can also send questions about your
pet to our NG KIDS vet.
ISTOCKPHOTO (DOG, HIMALAYAN CAT, DOG ILLUSTRATIONS); ALL OTHER IMAGES SUPPLIED
SWEET BREEDS
3

Facts about
Himalayan Cats
Like Persian cats but with big blue
eyes. The basic colour is white or
cream.
They are very friendly and love
human company.
The long, lush coat has to be
brushed every day!
1
2
3
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)
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ISTOCKPHOTO (DOG, HIMALAYAN CAT, DOG ILLUSTRATIONS); ALL OTHER IMAGES SUPPLIED
Send us your pet-related letters, questions, pictures, drawings and jokes!
•E-mailto•AskaparenttopostyourpetonourFacebookpageatwww.facebook.com/NationalGeographicKidsSA
• SendalettertoTheEditor,POBox1802,CapeTown8000
We would love to meet your pets!
Ifyouhave
questionsabout
yourpets(furry,
featheredor
scaled),askour
localNGKIDSvet,
ProfessorPaws.
A:Likehumansdogscanbe
allergictopollenandgrass.Alot
ofpollenisreleasedinspringwhen
treesbudandflowersbloom.It’s
besttoaskyourvettofindout
whatsheisallergicto.Yourvet
mightdoaskintest.
Q:Whyismydogsosneezy
anditchy?
Health check
for your dog

Ask your parent to do these
with you as you have to be very
gentle and you don’t want a
nip. If you are in any doubt,
visit your vet.
I SPY IN HIS EYE. Gently pull the eyelids apart
with your index finger and thumb. Can you see
your reflection? All is fine. Go to the vet if they
are milky.
NOTE HIS NOSE. Is it wet and cold? Then your dog
is healthy and happy. If it’s warm and dry it may be
that he is dehydrated.
PEER IN HIS EAR. Look for any discharge,
swelling or smell that could be an ear infection.
You can clean your dog’s ears every so often with
a cotton wool dipped in ear wash.
Dear Fiona
Thisismydog,Piper.Sheisfour
yearsold.Wetakehertothebeach
forwalks.
Shehaslotsofenergyandalways
wantstoplay.
Sheisagoodvacuumcleaner
whenfooddropsonthefloorat
dinnertime.
Sherunsalotandlovestoplay–
especiallyball.
Thispictureshowshowshelikes
tosleep.
IloveNGKIDSandhopeyoucan

putherpictureinthemagazine.
–James Thornton, 7, Blouberg,
Cape Town
Piper
8
S E P T E M B E R 20 1 3
Juergen Freund / Caters news (siswi, both); JeFF Moore / splash news / newsCoM (triFle);
© darren england / newspix (Migaloo); © Mike batterhaM / newspix (Migaloo digging)
TEETH
BRUSHES
AP
E
O
P
EN WIDE!
Central Kalimantan, Borneo
Siswi the orang-utan would make a dentist proud. The 34-year-old
ape has been spotted scrubbing her teeth with a toothbrush! “She
doesn’t brush regularly,” says Biruté Mary Galdikas, president of
Orangutan Foundation International, which works to protect Tanjung
Puting National Park where Siswi lives. “But if someone hands her a
toothbrush and she’s in the mood, she’ll start cleaning her mouth.”
Does Siswi scrub her chompers to prevent cavities? Not exactly.
Orang-utans sometimes use their fingers to clean their teeth but
they’re also very good at imitating actions they see. Siswi has
watched many humans living in the area brush their teeth at a
nearby river. “When she brushes, she’s copying them,” Biruté says.
The orang-utan may also enjoy the minty taste of toothpaste.
Another reason why the animal cleans her teeth: she’s getting ready
to pose for the camera. “Siswi’s much more likely to start brushing if

someone’s about to take a picture,” Biruté says. “She’s a bit of a diva.”
– John Micklos, Jr
where
did i put
the
floss?
N ati o N a l Ge o G r a p h i c Ki D S
9
Trif le
Daniel
Siswi
Migaloo
Buckinghamshire, England
When Trifle the hedgehog injured three of his legs, he received a lot of TLC – and some
fancy footwear. To help the prickly animal recover, veterinarians at Tiggywinkles
Wildlife Hospital fitted his legs with miniature blue casts.
Trifle had been rushed to the hospital after he was found limping badly.
An X-ray showed the hedgehog’s front leg was broken and his two back legs
were fractured. Vets wrapped the limbs in bandages and plaster, just like
casts made for humans. Soon Trifle was on the move again. “This little guy
had so much energy, even casts couldn’t stop him from running around,”
head nurse Clare Campbell says. “And they positioned his bones so they could
heal more quickly.”
After a couple of months, Trifle’s casts came off and the hedgehog was set
free in the hospital’s garden so vets could keep an eye on him. “Trifle is
coping very well without the casts,” Clare says. “He doesn’t miss them – even
though they did make him look pretty stylish!” – John Micklos, Jr.
H
E
DG

EH
OG
FAS
H
ION
STAT
E
M
E
NT
Brisbane, Australia
Migaloo the dog has a real nose for history. She’s the world’s first canine
archaeologist, using her powerful sniffer to find buried ancient remains.
“The work is like a game to Migaloo,” owner Gary Jackson says. “When she
arrives at an archaeological site, she immediately begins smelling the soil for
bones.” The four-year-old pooch trained for six months to prepare for her job
and was rewarded with a game of fetch whenever she made a discovery.
Now Migaloo regularly joins excavation teams to search for remains of
Australia’s first inhabitants, the Aborigine. The pup’s coolest find? Bones that
were 600 years old and buried two metres underground!
“Dogs have at least 125 million receptors in their noses that pick up scents
– humans only have 5 to 10 million,” dog expert Stewart Hilliard says. “This
super sensitive snout makes dogs like Migaloo great for archaeological work.”
Migaloo also has some cool moves. “When she makes a find, she does a shimmy,”
Gary says. “It’s her victory dance.” – April Capochino Myers
DOG BECOMES ARCHAEOLOGIST
blue is
definitely
my colour.
wonder

if i’ll find
an ancient
chew toy.
10
S E P T E M B E R 20 1 3
Check out these
Check out these
outrageous facts.
outrageous facts.
BY MICHELLE HARRIS AND JULIE BEER
© Isselee / DreamstIme (aarDvark, horse), © rangIzzz / DreamstIme (DIrt), © stanIslav voronov / DreamstIme (shovel), Image DIgItally composeD;
© Darko plohl / DreamstIme (strawberry); © renker666 / DreamstIme (musIc notes); © nIlsz / DreamstIme (tabasco); © russell glenIster /
corbIs (cat); © mIchael eDwarD / DreamstIme (moth); © luchschen / DreamstIme (tortIlla); © nIxIp / DreamstIme (skIn)
Check out
the book
National
Geographic
Kids Weird
But True
5 and the
Weird But
True app.
MORE?
WANT
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WANT
The ATLAS MOTH’S
wingspan is about

as long as an iPad.
The ATLAS MOTH’S
wingspan is about
as long as an iPad.
Spider silk
has been used
to make violin
strings.
can
you
dig it?
A
ARDVARK
CAN
DIG
FASTER
THAN SEVERAL
SHOVELS.
PEOPLE WITH
AN
AARDVARK
CAN
DIG
FASTER
THAN SEVERAL
SHOVELS.
PEOPLE WITH
AN
The average
strawberry

has
200 seeds.
56 MILLION
YEARS AGO
HORSES WERE
THE SIZE OF
HOUSE
CATS.
Some
artists
paint portraits
on baked
tortillas.
YOUR SKIN
SHEDS AND
regrows
ABOUT ONCE A MONTH.
Many
astronauts
crave
TABASCO
SAUCE
in space.

Official White hOuse PhOtO by chuck kennedy (mrs. Omez (baylOth); selena gO, bObama and bO r);
michael s. QuintOn ck Ohutterstsrseneau / a. mh PseOuirrel); JQhic creative (sPgraOegnal Oatin /
O(fr g); nancy bauer / shutterstOck (butterfly); tOny camPbell / shutterstOck (bird);
fiOna thOmsOn (bird, flOWer)
Join national GeoGraphic’s Great nature
proJect and help set the record for the

larGest online photo album of animals!
W
e know you love exploring. So why not take a picture to show the world? From 21 to 29 September 2013 people all over the
planet will be sharing awesome outdoor photos as part of the Great Nature Project. It is a worldwide celebration encouraging
people of all ages to appreciate nature by taking a snapshot of a plant or an animal and sharing it. Together we’ll create a
global snapshot of the diverse life on our planet – and every animal picture will help set a Guinness World Record Title.
All photos must incorporate a
plant or an animal but only the
animal ones will go towards the
Guinness World Record Title.
Go wild! In South Africa we are
lucky to have lots of wildlife and
an amazing variety of plants,
but photographs taken in your
backyard will do.
Close-up pics are better
than faraway shots.
Readers! Get your parents, uncles and aunts and grandparents involved. Don’t forget your teachers.
Adults can upload their pictures to Instagram, Flickr and Twitter using the hashtag #greatnature.
To take part in the record add #animal to any photo of an animal.
GO ONLINE FOR MORE INFORMATION
ABOUT THE GREAT NATURE PROJECT:
kids.nationalgeographic.com/GreatNature
It’s easy to partIcIpate!
Take a picture of an animal – a butterfly, a squirrel, even
your pet outside. (The animal must be a major part of the
photo, which must be at least 300 by 300 pixels.)
Grab a parent and upload your photo to ngkidsmyshot.com.
Hashtag the photo #GreatNature and #animal.
Go take more photos! You can upload as many as you want,

as long as they’re all different.
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50
BO THE DOG AND MICHELLE
OB
AM
A
ON THE WHITE HOUSE LA
W
N
S
ELENA GO
MEZ’S DOG BAYLOR
IN
L
OS
A
NGELES,
C
ALIFORNIA
MICHELLE
OB
A
MA
SNAPS THE A
B
OVE
SELF-PORTRAIT OF
B
O AND HER.
PLUS!PLUS!
Check out

animal photos
by America’s
First Lady,
Michelle Obama,
Selena Gomez,
Danica Patrick,
and more at
kids.nationalgeographic.com/
GreatNature
We need
100 000
photos
of animals to set this
record. So get your friends,
family – even your entire
school – to send us
animal pictures!
Choose your
category
and make your
favourite dish
(
or dishes
).
Give your dish an
original title!
Write down
your recipe and take a
photo
of your fab food. Remember to

send in only
ONE
recipe per category!
Post to:
NG KIDS Young Chefs
Competition, PO Box 1802, Cape Town
8001.
Don’t forget to include the entry
form on page 39*!

E-mail to:

.
Include all the
information on the entry form in your
e-mail.
Deliver to: NG KIDS Office, Media24, 18th floor,
ABSA Building, 4 Adderley Street, Cape Town
Enter online: Visit the NG KIDS SA fan page
on Facebook and click on the
Young Chefs
Competition
tab at
www.facebook.com/
NationalGeographicKidsSA.
*Turn
T
o page 39 for TH
e

en
T
r
Y
for
M
an
D
T
er
M
s an
D
con
D
i
T
ions.
HOW TO ENTER
L
B
R
AI
N
A
N
D
BO
DY FU
E

Do you have a recipe for a healthy
meal that will make you a sports
star or keep your mind sharp?
It
could be a salad, smoothie or a
main meal.
W
E
I
R
D BU
T

TR
U
E
SA
N
D
W
IC
H
Invent your own awesome
combination for a wrap or make
up your own wacky sandwich
filling. Go wild with cream cheese,
herbs or maybe vegetables.
PA
RT
Y

SN
ACKS
What do you think would be the best
savoury or sweet snack to have at
your next party?
P
ERFE
C
T
PADK
O
S
OR
OU
T
D
OOR

FOO
D
If you know how to cook in a can, on a
stick over a fire or have a favourite
braai treat, send us your recipe!
S
end us your recipe with
a photograph in any of the
following categories:
WH
A
T

Y
O
U

D
O
Is your
dish

the
go-to snack

at a party? Then
you’re
who we’re
looking for!
The

NG
KIDS

Y
oung
C
hefs
C
ompetition is back
and we are excited to see
what all of you

young chefs
have
in store for
us this year!
S
end us
your
favourite
recipe and
win!
COOKIE KIT
COOKING APRON
Put
on your chef
jacket and hat and get cooking!
The cooking kits are designed
with little hands in mind, made of
silicone that resists heat and is
cool to the touch. Each kit contains
essential tools and recipes that
will get you baking in no time!
www.kidchenconcepts.co.za
Y
O
U
R
K
I
T
GINGERBREAD KIT

G
R
A
N
D
P
RI
Z
E
The winner in each of the four
categories will get a hamper valued
at R5 000 which includes separate
kits for a cake, cookies, gingerbread
and pancake. They will also win a
membership to Kidchen Concepts as
well as an apron, chef jacket and hat
PLUS The Snappy Chef Induction
Stove, a mini oven and a cooking
supplies hamper.
open
T
o
a
LL
K
i
D
s
fro
M TH

e
age
of
6 T
o
14.
i
T’
s

Y
our
L
as
T
c
H
ance
T
o W
o
W
us
W
i
our
TH Y
crea
T
i

V
i
TY
in
TH
e
K
i
T
c
H
en
!
co
M
pe
T
i
T
ion

c
L
oses
24
sep
T
e
MB
er

2013. H
urr
Y
up
an
D
en
T
er!
CAKE KIT
PANCAKE KIT
E
NTRIES
WILL
B
E
J
UDGED
ON
TASTE
(40
PERCENT
),
CREATI
V
ITY
(30
PERCENT
)
AND

PRESENTATION
(30
PERCENT
). TH
E
J
UDGES
’
DECISION
IS
F
INAL
.
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CHEF JACKET AND HAT
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15
THIS IS A CAPTION
Trein na Kalkbaai
Graham and his family are
excited to spend the day
at the beach but to get
there they must travel by
train. That’s where all the
fun begins…
Waarvoor is
seerowers
bang?
Everyone knows

pirates are brave
and fearless, but
Sanmarie uncovers the ONE
thing they are really, really
scared of!
Cats Ahoy!
Alfonso the cat hears
there’s a trawler on its
way to the harbour
carrying loads of fish so
he hatches a brave, bold
plan that involves cats –
lots of cats.
Stick Dog
Join this loveable wet-nosed hero and his hilarious
friends on their journey to find the perfect burger.
Jack and the
Flumflum Tree
Set sail with Jack and his
crew of two to the Isle of
Blowyernose. Can they
get the flumflum fruit
they need to cure
Granny’s mozzles?
Fancy Nancy and
the Mermaid Ballet
Fancy Nancy loses out to another
ballerina as the star mermaid in the
school ballet and she’s a little sad
about it. Instead she gets to play a

little tree. It sounds dull, but can she
make it fun?
I’m Dougal Trump
and It’s Not My Fault!
Dougal, a soccer-
mad kid, is afraid
of a mysterious
creature living
in the family’s
garden shed.
Nobody believes
him, so he’s
blamed for all that goes wrong.
The Unforgotten
Coat
Two Mongolian refugee
brothers, Chingis and
Nergui Tuul, make an
unforgettable impression
on their school teacher,
Julie. Then they sud-
denly disappear. When she
tracks them down many
years later, Julie uncovers
the truth.
The One and Only Ivan
A story of friendship, bravery and a
courageous fight for freedom.
Wake
This mythical

novel is set in a
dark world
brimming with
unimaginable
secrets.
BOOKSBOOKS
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SMS “NGK BOOKS” your name,
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ALL IMAGES SUPPLIED.

15
A hippopotamus helps baby
animals cross a raging river.
BY KAREN DE SEVE
I
t is rush hour in Africa. Every October thousands of wildebeest and zebras gather along the
banks of the Mara River. They wait to cross the deep, rushing waters as part of their seasonal
journey from the Masai Mara National Reserve in Kenya to the Serengeti National Park in
Tanzania. The river flows so fast that full-grown animals struggle to swim to the other side.
“When the river is full, lots of animals drown trying to cross,” says Tom Yule, who runs the nearby
Lemala Mara safari camp. Watching from the river’s edge, Tom sees a wildebeest calf and later a
zebra foal jump into the water. But he doesn’t expect what happens next.
wIldebeest
calf
The little wildebeest tries to paddle across the river but is swept away by the
strong current. The calf tries to keep its head above water while floating

downstream. Suddenly something rises out of the water: a large, dark head
followed by the hulking body of a hippopotamus. “The hippo had been lying in the water
near where the animals jump in and immediately went after the calf,” Tom says. Hippos
can be aggressive and even deadly when defending territory, so he
wonders if the hippo will attack the young wildebeest.
The strong hippo defies the current and uses its body
to stop the wildebeest calf’s scary ride downstream.
Like a tugboat guiding a ship filled with precious
cargo, the hippo shepherds the little beast to the other
side of the river. Tom and other bystanders watch in
disbelief. “I had never witnessed anything like that,”
he says. The wildebeest reaches the opposite bank and
runs back upstream to rejoin the herd.
1
2
16
s e p t e m b e r 20 1 3
© tony heald / npl / minden pictures (big picture); tom yule (three insets)
ZEBRA IN
TROUBLE
Tom thinks the drama is over when suddenly the
river grabs hold of a small zebra foal. He watches
as the tiny striped head dips underwater and
then resurfaces. Just when it looks as if the zebra
won’t make it, the hippo suddenly appears. Again the
huge hippo helps the baby across to the shallow
water on the other side. The exhausted youngster
can barely stand. The hippo gently nudges the zebra
into a safe nook between two large rocks.
“The hippo got out of the water

and started to nuzzle the
foal with its great
jaws,” Tom says.
“And then it
coaxed the zebra
to cross a small
channel and
climb up the
slope of the
opposite bank
to its mum.”
3
Tom thinks the hippo will be too exhausted for any more
superhero moments. But it settles back into the river to keep a
watchful eye.
There are other accounts of hippos comforting baby animals after
saving them from near death, including from a crocodile. “Animals are
unpredictable and each one has its own personality,” Tom says. “This
hippo’s instincts are to help those that need it. It’s just like
protective people who help others.”
4
MORE?
WANT
MORE?
WANT
MORE?
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MORE?
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MORE?

WANT
MORE?
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MORE?
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MORE?
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MORE?
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MORE?
MORE?
WANT
GO ONLINE FOR A VIDEO OF A HIPPO CLEANING STATION AT
kids.nationalgeographic.com/videos/
SAFE ON

LAND
N ati o N a l Ge o G r a p h i c Ki D S
17
B
elieve it or not, vultures are
obsessed with hygiene. They
clean up carcasses of animals
that have died of natural causes
or predator attacks. Special acids
in their digestive systems destroy
bacteria like anthrax, cholera and
rabies, preventing the spread of
life-threatening diseases. Vultures
also bath regularly! After feeding,
they wash in water pools and rest in
the sun to dry.
Most vulture species share some
features but each one has a specific
job in nature’s recycling squad.
Special tasks need special tools,
so let’s find out what makes a few
of South Africa’s vultures the best
birds in the cleaning business.
If there is a carcass to be
cleaned up, this colourful

fellow will be the first at the
scene. Being a smaller vulture, it is
light and agile and does not rely on thermals as much.
Its striking black and white feathers are signals for

the bigger species that soar higher. They keep an
eye on the white-headed vulture and when it swoops
down, they follow. Being the early bird suits this
vulture’s shy and slightly grouchy nature. Once other
species arrive, it prefers to take bits of meat and
feed some distance away from the crowd.
Na ture’s
18
SE P T E M B E R 20 1 3
Nature’s
11
Lappet-faced vu
L
ture
[
t
he boss]
The lappet-faced vulture is called the “King of Vultures”
because it is so big, strong and bossy. Its wingspan measures
almost three metres and it is a grumpy, aggressive
character. But these are not the only reasons for other species
to step back when the boss arrives. Its big, curved beak allows it
to tear tough hide. If an animal has died of natural causes, other
vultures often cannot feed until it has opened up the carcass.
Most of them prefer soft meat but that suits the lappet-faced
vulture. Its favourite bits are hide, tendons and sinew which are
all too tough for the rest. Even if it does arrive last, it will always
have plenty to eat.
1
2

AFRIPICS (MAIN,1, 5, INSERT); ISTOCKPHOTO (2);
GRAHAM SEARLL (3, 4, BACKGROUND P
AGE
20-21)
White-
headed vu
L
ture

[
t
he ear
L
y bird]
BY RENÉE DE WET
Recyclers
WHITE-BACKED VULTURE
[
T
HE MOP MOBSTER]
NA TURE’S
White-backed vultures are big, heavy birds
that depend on smaller species to lead them
to a meal. They are the most widespread of
African vultures and found in flocks of up
to 200 birds! Such a flock can strip an
elephant carcass in a few hours –

and make a lot of noise doing it.
White-backed vultures hiss and fight

frantically to get their share. Luckily
for the rest of the team their huge
flocks make them prefer big game like
rhinos and hippos, otherwise the other
species might starve!
How vultures
keep the veld
clean and healthy
NATURE’S
The hooded vulture is smaller
than the other members of
nature’s cleaning team, so it is
usually pushed aside by bigger
species. But its long, narrow
beak helps it to make the
most of leftovers by picking
out morsels between bones.
If it is still hungry, it is quite
happy to snack on bird eggs,
insects and small animals.
Hooded vultures are also less
nervous around humans and
have earned the nickname “
garbage collectors” from
scavenging at rubbish dumps.
H
OODED VULTURE
[
T
HE POLISHER]

1
4
1
3
20
f e b r u a r y 20 1 3
CREDITS TO BE ADDED (IMAGE TO CREDIT)
Bearded Vulture
[
t
he last sweeper]
This big, shaggy bird looks more like an eagle
and differs a lot from other vultures. It has
feathers on its head, lives in the mountains and
eats mostly bones. Its sharp beak cuts through
the ligaments that hold bones together and
its wide mouth allows it to swallow bones up to
25 centimetres long. Bigger bones have to be
broken first, so the bearded vulture drops them
on to rocks from a height of about 60 metres. It
can then scoop out the marrow with its rough,
narrow tongue.
1
5
DID
YOU
KNOW?
A group of vultures is called a venue.
A flock of vultures circling in the air
is called a kettle. Vultures can reach

speeds of up to 120 kilometres
per hour as they swoop down
for a meal.
DID
YOU
KNOW?
A
threatened vulture can
vomit up its meal to help
it take off more
quickly.
20
Se P T e M b e r 20 1 3
Many species roost in tall
trees or on high cliffs so
that they can take off more
easily but they must wait for the
sun to warm the ground. This
creates thermals, or rising
pockets of hot air, which the
vultures use to keep them soaring
Long necks allow them to get into the nooks and crannies of a carcass
to do a proper cleaning job. Bald heads are easier to keep clean and this
protects them from disease. They also keep vultures cool in the sun, but
it can get a bit chilly when they soar a few kilometres above the ground. Not to
worry – they have built-in scarves! While they soar, they pull their heads into the
ruff of feathers around the base of their necks to keep warm.
How vultures are perfectly
designed for recycling
2

1
What a mess!
All our vultures are in trouble.
Accidentally colliding with high
tension wires can kill or badly injure
them. Less wildlife roaming free
means less food and many have to
eat insects and small animals. This
food isn’t nutritious enough to
prevent deformities and illness.
Farmers sometimes poison
carcasses to kill predators but end
up killing vultures instead. Even
some livestock medicines can harm
them. Vultures can help farmers.
When they draw attention to dead
livestock, disease outbreaks can be
stopped in time. Vultures also get
rid of carcasses that are not fit for
humans to eat.
VItaL BIRDs
Dr Gerhard Verdoorn, Director of
the Griffon Poison Information
Centre, explains that disease would
spread like wildfire from game parks
and conservation areas to farms
without vultures. “It would be a
disaster,” he says. “Vultures are at
the top of the food chain and losing
them would have a serious impact

on the whole ecology.” Vultures only
raise one chick at a time and out of
100 hatchlings only five survive to
adulthood. Vulture populations
cannot keep up with the big losses
they are suffering now.
a DaY FOR VuLtuRes!
International Vulture Day is on
7 September 2013. It started when
Birds of Prey Programme in South
Africa and the Hawk Conservancy
Trust in England decided to work
together and turn their project
into an international event.
Populations of many species are
under threat and some are facing
extinction. Here are some of the
local groups taking part in this day:
Bearded Vulture Task Force, Maluti
Drakensberg Vulture Project and
Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife.
Go to www.vultureday.org to find
out more.
Let’s cLean It up!
We depend on vultures to do what
they do best – clean up and work
together. We can follow their
example by teaming up to wipe out
wrong ideas about these amazing
birds. Organisations like VulPro

are doing it already. At its
educational and rehabilitation
centre in Hartbeespoort injured
vultures get treatment and
people get a chance to learn
about and even interact
with them.
Lunch tIme
The first vulture restaurant was
created in the Giant’s Castle
Nature Reserve in the 1960s, but
this successful plan for saving
vultures only became popular in
the 1990s. Now there are 149
vulture restaurants in South Africa.
VulPro’s research helps to ensure
that the birds get safe food and
that everyone from the vultures
to landowners and from farmers
to kids benefit from this amazing
conservation effort. “Vultures are
indicators of the health of our
environment,” says Kerri Wolter, the
founder and manager of VulPro. “We
should protect them for the sake of
our own ecosystem and our planet.”
without burning much energy as
they scan the ground for food.
3
They are big birds, so they

can eat quickly and easily.
Vultures eat up to 10 percent
of their weight in one meal. That’s like
you eating 25 hamburgers in one go.
BY FIONA THOMSON
R
ecording what you learn is an important part of a scientist’s
job. When you are in the field it’s good to keep your camera
handy and even better if photography is your hobby. Meet
four animal conservationists who love taking photographs of
the animals they love.
Name: Michael Adams
Conservationist, Reptile Park,
National Zoological Gardens of
South Africa
my work: I’m part of a team
caring for the reptiles and
amphibians at the zoo. I take
particular pride in caring for
the endangered Pickersgill’s
reed frogs we got as part of a
collaborative programme.
my photograph: This is a
picture of the Pickersgill’s
reed frog that is endemic to
the KwaZulu-Natal coast.
The species is critically
endangered and the zoo is
taking part in a captive
breeding programme. It is only

three centimetres long, so it
requires a special lens to
get the right picture.
Name: Marine Drouilly
Conservation biologist,
University of Cape Town
my work: Every day is full of
discoveries and adventure. I
study how animals interact with
one another, their environment
and with people. This is the
science called ecology.
this photograph was taken
in July 2010 on Kodiak Island,
Alaska, in the extreme northwest
of America. That is more than
16 000 kilometres from South
Africa! We were researching
what climate change does to the
main food resources of Kodiak
bears, the biggest brown bears in
the world. These three cubs were
watching their mother fishing
salmons and learning her tricks.
The sow (the female bear) had a
GPS collar that we used to follow
her so we could find out what
she ate.
22
SE P T E M B E R 20 1 3

pickersgill’s reed frog
kodiak cubs
Dr. Amber Gillett (All)
Name: Lauren de Vos
Researcher, Marine Research
Institute, University of Cape Town
my Work: As a scientist I’m
devoted to protecting our
vulnerable oceans. I use BRUV
(Baited Underwater Video) which
I edit into clips that show people
what my work is about.
my photograph:
This is a roman, a brightly
coloured fish that lives on the
reef and is often caught by
fishermen. The roman lives long
and defends its territory fiercely!
The photo was taken in False
Bay in the Western Cape. In the
background you can see a
leopard catshark. Taking photos
and video helps me to figure out
how many fish live in an area,
what different species can be
found and where they live. The
cameras allow me to do this
without disturbing the sea
creatures. I use the information
to help protect our oceans.

Name: Ross Wanless
Researcher, Percy Fitzpatrick
Institute for African Ornothology
my Work: I’ve got the coolest
job: making sure seabirds such as
albatrosses and penguins don’t
become extinct.
my photograph. Part of my
work involves studying the Tristan
albatross, which breeds only at
Gough Island in the South Atlantic
Ocean. Their huge wings are used
to catch the wind. With the right
winds they can fly more than 100
kilometres (that would be from
Johannesburg to Pretoria and
back) without flapping their wings
once. They are listed as Critically
Endangered, which means there
are very few of them left, and
their numbers are going down
every year. I use photography to
create awareness of their plight.
Make your mark and take part
The National Geographic Society, to which NG KIDS belongs, has its headquarters in Washington in America.
It is a non-profit organisation devoted to the conservation of the world’s cultural, historical and natural
resources. Its purpose is to inspire people to care about their planet. This year the Society celebrates its
125th anniversary. One birthday event is to create an enormous collection of photographs to celebrate
biodiversity. National Geographic is famous for its amazing photography. Now it’s your turn. Find out on
page 12 how you can take part in the Great Nature Project.

michAel ADAms (PickersGill’s reeD froG); mArine Drouilly (koDiAk cubs); lAuren De Vos (romAn with A leoPArD cAtshArk); ross wAnless (tristAn AlbAtross)
S
23
Still from video of a romaN With a leopard catShark
triStaN albatroSS
BY DORI ZWEIG
SHINSUKE KAMIOKA / GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS (WATANABE); GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS (CHARLY);
PHOTOSHOT / NEWSCOM (CHINA). INFORMATION PROVIDED BY © 2013 GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS LIMITED.
Is your toilet running? Edd China’s
is! The world’s fastest bathroom can
travel up to 68 kilometres per hour.
The contraption is a motorcycle
underneath bathroom fixtures that
don’t work. Edd sits on a toilet and
steers the vehicle with controls in
the sink. Passengers can ride in a
bathtub on top of the motorcycle’s
sidecar and there’s even a laundry
basket for dirty clothes.
HOw's
the air up
there?
These are some small shoes to
fill – horseshoes, that is. With a
shoulder height of 63 centimetres
Charly is the smallest living
stallion. That’s shorter than a
cricket bat. Charly is tiny, but
there’s an even tinier mare:
Thumbelina, who’s 19 centimetres

shorter.
hair stands
straiGht UP
This is one hair-raising guy! Kazuhiro Watanabe of Japan holds the
record for the tallest Mohawk, measuring more than 106 centimetres
tall. Three cans of hair spray – plus lots of hair gel – help sculpt the
masterpiece. Kazuhiro usually wears his hair in a ponytail since his
Mohawk creates challenges such as ducking through doorways. Another
challenge? Small dogs often bark at him.
MOVING
TOILET
MINI-HORSE
Go online for more information about Guinness
World Records at kids.nationalgeographic.com/r ecordvideos/.
24
S E P T E M B E R 20 1 3

•AFRIPICS (CAPE FUR SEALS)
01
O2 O3 O4 O5 O6 O7
O8 O9
10
11
International
Literacy Day
Spring Equinox
International Rhino Day
Heritage Day / Braai Day International
Humanitarian Day
C L E A N - U P SA WE E K

A R B O R WE E K
12 13
14
15
16
17
18 19 20 21
22 23 24 25 26 27 28
29 30
National Recycling Day
End of term
International Coastal
Clean-up