50|50 Episode 6 Season 7: 24 March 2016
Moon Bears:
Asiatic black bears – also known as Moon bears – are one of the eight bear species in the world, along with Black bears, Brown bears, Pandas, Polar bears, Sloth bears, Spectacled bears and Sun bears. They get their names from the yellowish-white half crescent markings around their necks. Although bear farming is illegal throughout SE Asia, the practice seems to be continuing unchecked in most parts. However, there is now hope for these bears in the form of NGO Animals Asia, where the illegal bear farms are being shut down and the bears rescued and sent to a sanctuary.
In Die Spervuur: Vultures
Bald, ugly birds with a gruesome taste for gore or charismatic creatures that do an essential but thankless job in the ecosystem? Every visitor to Africa assumes that the major consumers of wild animals are lions, hyenas, leopards, cheetahs, wild dogs and jackals. But they are not. In the Serengeti for example where the total biomass of dead grazing animals is estimated to exceed 40 million tonnes per year the mammalian carnivores can consume only some 36% and the rest is available to vultures. In light of the recent poisoning disaster in the KNP, killing 110 vultures, this regal bird of prey is a fitting species to feature in this week’s instalment of “In Die Spervuur”.
Wonderwêreld: Hippo
The hippopotamus, whose skin alone can weigh half a ton, is the third-largest living land mammal, after Elephants and White rhinos. Not only are they among the largest mammals, they are also in the top 10 LOUDEST animals on earth, bellowing at over 115 decibels. That is like standing 3 meters from a speaker at a rock concert! These heavy weight behemoths feature in this week’s Wonderwêreld.
VeldFokus:
Curiosity nearly gets the better of a warthog, a leopard gets seriously acrobatic over its dinner, and there’s a giant test of strength in the lion kingdom. Asiatic black bears are one of the eight bear species in the world, along with black bears, brown bears, pandas, polar bears, sloth bears, spectacled bears and sun bears. Asiatic black bears are one of the eight bear species in the world, along with black bears, brown bears, pandas, polar bears, sloth bears, spectacled bears and sun bears. Asiatic black bears are one of the eight bear species in the world, along with black bears, brown bears, pandas, polar bears, sloth bears, spectacled bears and sun bears.Asiatic black bears are one of the eight bear species in the world, along with black bears, brown bears, pandas, polar bears, sloth bears, spectacled bears and sun bears.Asiatic black bears are one of the eight bear species in the world, along with black bears, brown bears, pandas, polar bears, sloth bears, spectacled bears and sun bears.Asiatic black bears are one of the eight bear species in the world, along with black bears, brown bears, pandas, polar bears, sloth bears, spectacled bears and sun bears.Asiatic black bears are one of the eight bear species in the world, along with black bears, brown bears, pandas, polar bears, sloth bears, spectacled bears and sun bears.
