Latest news with #savannah
Yahoo
3 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Bat-eared foxes return to zoo after 30 year wait
A zoo has welcomed two rare bat-eared foxes, 30 years on from when the animal was last there. The two African foxes, which are known for their 13cm (five inches) tall ears, are said to be settling in well at Chester Zoo. Sisters Maasai and Malindi will live alongside 12 porcupines in the zoo's new Heart of Africa habitat and will play a part in the zoo's conservation work. David White, Chester Zoo's team manager, said: "It's incredibly exciting to welcome bat-eared foxes back to Chester Zoo after a 30-year hiatus and they're a wonderful addition to our new Heart of Africa habitat." "They're a truly unique and fascinating species with some amazing adaptations," he added. He said their "enormous ears aren't just for show – they act like satellite dishes and help the foxes detect the tiniest of movements coming from insects beneath the ground, allowing them to detect prey with pinpoint accuracy". Zoo conservationists brought the sisters over to Chester from a zoo in Paris, France, with one of the sisters set to be introduced to a male fox as part of efforts to safeguard the little-known species. Bat-eared foxes were given their name due to their distinctive oversized ears and they are found in the open savannahs and arid grasslands of eastern and southern Africa. In the wild, bat-eared foxes face increasing threats, largely due to habitat loss caused by agriculture, human encroachment and hunting, a zoo spokesperson said. David White said that like many species found in the African savannah, bat-eared foxes were under threat as their habitat became more fragmented as a result of human activity. "That's why our teams are on the ground in several national parks across Kenya and Uganda safeguarding some of the continent's rarest species like northern giraffe, giant pangolins, mountain bongo and Eastern black rhino," he said. "By protecting these species and their habitats we're also helping many of Africa's little known species like bat-eared foxes, that share the same habitats, to go on to thrive once again." Read more stories from Cheshire on the BBC, watch BBC North West Tonight on BBC iPlayer and follow BBC North West on X. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230. 'Giraffes, zebras, antelopes and ostriches have become housemates' Breeding hope as rare fossa arrives at zoo from US Sloth has pioneering surgery to cure toothache Chester Zoo
Yahoo
3 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Bat-eared foxes return to zoo after 30 year wait
A zoo has welcomed two rare bat-eared foxes, 30 years on from when the animal was last there. The two African foxes, which are known for their 13cm (five inches) tall ears, are said to be settling in well at Chester Zoo. Sisters Maasai and Malindi will live alongside 12 porcupines in the zoo's new Heart of Africa habitat and will play a part in the zoo's conservation work. David White, Chester Zoo's team manager, said: "It's incredibly exciting to welcome bat-eared foxes back to Chester Zoo after a 30-year hiatus and they're a wonderful addition to our new Heart of Africa habitat." "They're a truly unique and fascinating species with some amazing adaptations," he added. He said their "enormous ears aren't just for show – they act like satellite dishes and help the foxes detect the tiniest of movements coming from insects beneath the ground, allowing them to detect prey with pinpoint accuracy". Zoo conservationists brought the sisters over to Chester from a zoo in Paris, France, with one of the sisters set to be introduced to a male fox as part of efforts to safeguard the little-known species. Bat-eared foxes were given their name due to their distinctive oversized ears and they are found in the open savannahs and arid grasslands of eastern and southern Africa. In the wild, bat-eared foxes face increasing threats, largely due to habitat loss caused by agriculture, human encroachment and hunting, a zoo spokesperson said. David White said that like many species found in the African savannah, bat-eared foxes were under threat as their habitat became more fragmented as a result of human activity. "That's why our teams are on the ground in several national parks across Kenya and Uganda safeguarding some of the continent's rarest species like northern giraffe, giant pangolins, mountain bongo and Eastern black rhino," he said. "By protecting these species and their habitats we're also helping many of Africa's little known species like bat-eared foxes, that share the same habitats, to go on to thrive once again." Read more stories from Cheshire on the BBC, watch BBC North West Tonight on BBC iPlayer and follow BBC North West on X. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230. 'Giraffes, zebras, antelopes and ostriches have become housemates' Breeding hope as rare fossa arrives at zoo from US Sloth has pioneering surgery to cure toothache Chester Zoo
BBC News
3 days ago
- General
- BBC News
Chester Zoo sees return of rare bat-eared foxes after 30 years
A zoo has welcomed two rare bat-eared foxes, 30 years on from when the animal was last two African foxes, which are known for their 13cm (five inches) tall ears, are said to be settling in well at Chester Maasai and Malindi will live alongside 12 porcupines in the zoo's new Heart of Africa habitat and will play a part in the zoo's conservation White, Chester Zoo's team manager, said: "It's incredibly exciting to welcome bat-eared foxes back to Chester Zoo after a 30-year hiatus and they're a wonderful addition to our new Heart of Africa habitat." "They're a truly unique and fascinating species with some amazing adaptations," he said their "enormous ears aren't just for show – they act like satellite dishes and help the foxes detect the tiniest of movements coming from insects beneath the ground, allowing them to detect prey with pinpoint accuracy". Zoo conservationists brought the sisters over to Chester from a zoo in Paris, France, with one of the sisters set to be introduced to a male fox as part of efforts to safeguard the little-known foxes were given their name due to their distinctive oversized ears and they are found in the open savannahs and arid grasslands of eastern and southern Africa. In the wild, bat-eared foxes face increasing threats, largely due to habitat loss caused by agriculture, human encroachment and hunting, a zoo spokesperson said. David White said that like many species found in the African savannah, bat-eared foxes were under threat as their habitat became more fragmented as a result of human activity."That's why our teams are on the ground in several national parks across Kenya and Uganda safeguarding some of the continent's rarest species like northern giraffe, giant pangolins, mountain bongo and Eastern black rhino," he said. "By protecting these species and their habitats we're also helping many of Africa's little known species like bat-eared foxes, that share the same habitats, to go on to thrive once again." Read more stories from Cheshire on the BBC, watch BBC North West Tonight on BBC iPlayer and follow BBC North West on X. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230.
South China Morning Post
4 days ago
- Business
- South China Morning Post
Style Edit: De Beers' bold Forces of Nature haute joaillerie collection features 58 stunning pieces inspired by the animals of southern Africa – from the mesmerising leopard to the majestic lion
De Beers Jewellers has unveiled chapter two of Forces of Nature, its largest ever haute joaillerie collection. This extraordinary series of 58 one-of-a-kind jewels is presented in eight sets, each dedicated to a majestic animal native to southern Africa – a region that holds a special significance to De Beers as the source of its exceptional diamonds , and an area where the house supports conservation through its Building Forever programme. Forces of Nature explores the beauty and power of the lion, elephant, giraffe, buffalo, rhinoceros, leopard, greater kudu and zebra, and celebrates a particular quality in each animal, from fortitude and magnetism to tenderness and stability. The pieces incorporate rough and polished diamonds in a dazzling variety of shapes and colours, expertly set to maximise their brilliance. Many pieces are transformable, with detachable elements offering versatility. Jewellery from the De Beers Forces of Nature collection's Dignity set. Photo: Handout Advertisement A symbol of nobility and watchful guardianship, the lion is the inspiration behind the Protection set. The Protection necklace is a dramatic piece with a 5.40-carat fancy intense yellow oval-shaped diamond at its centre, surrounded by a voluminous mane of pavé-set diamonds and gold beads. Strung from a necklace comprising five rows of gold spheres, the oval medallion is attached to a tassel of rough yellow and polished white diamonds, their earthy hues evoking the southern African savannah. The tassel is detachable and can be worn on a separate brooch. De Beers Forces of Nature collection Protection necklace. Photo: Handout The Protection cocktail ring sees a superb 4.32-carat cushion-cut fancy intense yellow diamond surrounded by an abundance of gold beads and diamonds. The ring includes hidden details such as pear-shaped diamonds within the split shank and intricate openwork on the reverse. De Beers Forces of Nature collection Protection cocktail ring, inspired by the lion. Photo: Handout Meanwhile, the Tenderness set pays homage to the elephant's gentle nature and famous capacity for lifelong affection. The Tenderness Masterpiece drop necklace is centred around a phenomenal 7.02-carat pear-shaped internally flawless diamond from De Beers' Natural Works of Art collection. The rare treasure is suspended from a vibrant pink oval-shaped diamond on a supple collar of step-cut and round brilliant diamonds. The delicate pink hue evokes eternal love, while the collar culminates in a motif reminiscent of two elephant trunks intertwined. De Beers Forces of Nature collection's Tenderness pendant necklace. Photo: Handout
Asharq Al-Awsat
11-05-2025
- Science
- Asharq Al-Awsat
Jungle Music: Chimp Drumming Reveals Building Blocks of Human Rhythm
Like humans, chimpanzees drum with distinct rhythms - and two subspecies living on opposite sides of Africa have their own signature styles, according to a study published in Current Biology. Previous work showed chimpanzees pound the huge flared buttress roots of rainforest trees to broadcast low‑frequency booms through dense foliage. The idea that ape drumming might hold clues to the origins of human musicality has long fascinated scientists, but collecting enough clean data amid the cacophony of the jungle had, until now, proven elusive. 'Finally we've been able to quantify that chimps drum rhythmically - they don't just randomly drum,' lead author Vesta Eleuteri of the University of Vienna told AFP. The findings lend fresh weight to the theory that the raw ingredients of human music were present before our evolutionary split from chimpanzees six million years ago. For the new study, Eleuteri and colleagues - including senior authors Catherine Hobaiter of the University of St Andrews in the UK and Andrea Ravignani of Sapienza University in Rome - compiled more than a century's worth of observational data. After cutting through the noise, the team focused on 371 high-quality drumming bouts recorded from 11 chimpanzee communities across six populations living in both rainforest and savannah-woodland habitats across eastern and western Africa. Their analysis showed that chimpanzees drum with definitive rhythmic intent - the timing of their strikes is not random. Distinct differences also emerged between subspecies: western chimpanzees tended to produce more evenly timed beats, while eastern chimpanzees more frequently alternated between shorter and longer intervals. Western chimps also drummed more frequently, kept a quicker tempo, and began drumming earlier in their signature chimp calls, made up of rapid pants and hoots. The researchers do not yet know what is driving the differences - but they propose that it might signify differences in social dynamics. The western chimps' faster, predictable pulse might promote or be evidence of greater social cohesion, the authors argue, noting that western groups are generally less aggressive toward outsiders. By contrast, the eastern apes' variable rhythms could carry extra nuance - handy for locating or signaling companions when their parties are more widely dispersed. Next, Hobaiter says she would like to study the data further to understand whether there are intergenerational differences between rhythms within the same groups. 'Music is not only a difference between different musical styles, but a musical style like rock or jazz, is itself going to evolve over time,' she said. 'We're actually going to have to find a way to tease apart group and intergenerational differences to get at that question of whether or not it is socially learned,' she said. 'Do you have one guy that comes in with a new style and the next generation picks it up?'
