Reptile Forum, Reptile Classifieds - CaptiveBred

RonW · Posted: Wed May 21, 2008 2:12 pm Post subject: just got back from vacation

I just got back from Israel. known for all its problems and old stuff, but less well known for its very varied wildlife. For such a small country it has A LOT of different plants and animals.
Here are some pics I took:
Ibex

Love the huge horns

This subspecies has the largest horns of all ibex, very impressive! Unfortunately ibex are endangered, this location has one of the largest herds, about 180 animals. While protected they are still being poached.

Hyrax
lots of these around

a very trusting young one!

some reptiles as well

softshelled turtle (Trionyx triungus), highly endangered in Israel, but we saw quite a few

Caspian turtle (Mauremys caspica), quite common in streams and ponds

Green Turtle (Chelonia mydas)

We went to a turtle rescue center. It was actually closed to the public, but they let us in (felt sorry for us, seeing as we came all the way from the Netherlands Laughing

) and gave us a tour. They take in rescue turtles, young that wash ashore during winter storms, animals that we caught in nets or that have fed on plastic and try to help them so they can be released again. We some horrifically damaged turtles, ut they do manage to return about 60% back to the wild.
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Lynne · Posted: Wed May 21, 2008 3:00 pm Post subject:

amazing pictures. those horns are awesome!!!!!
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kroakykaren · Posted: Wed May 21, 2008 4:40 pm Post subject:

Great pictures Ron, love that young Hyrax Very Happy

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Stuart · Posted: Wed May 21, 2008 4:57 pm Post subject:

Beautifull images Ron welcome back too.
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RonW · Posted: Wed May 21, 2008 7:31 pm Post subject:

Thanks you all Smile

That young hyrax was just soooo cute, the girls wanted to take it home Laughing

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jamie_s · Site Moderator Joined: 08 Jan 2006 Posts: 1963

looks like you had an awesome time ron Wink

great pics too!!the baby hyrax have the cheekiest faces ever Laughing

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jon_g · Posted: Thu May 22, 2008 6:47 am Post subject:

Some very nice shots,

The Ibex shots are very cool,

Thye harax look very amusing !!
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zarozinia · Posted: Thu May 22, 2008 9:31 am Post subject:

Some lovely shots, quite a few very cute and appealing ones too, particularly the hyrax.
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Ailurus · Posted: Thu May 22, 2008 5:08 pm Post subject:

wow awesome pics, looks like you had an awesome time.

We saw rock hyrax when we went to Kenya, they are really cool.

Interesting Fact: Hyrax are actually very pprimitive ungulates, and not rodents, this means that they are classed within the same family as elephants, and aardvarks. They are the closest living relative of the Elephants.

Interesting fact 2: Hyrax can climb up almost completely vertical surfaces, they are like the mammalian equivalent of geckos. They can do this, because in the centre of each foot they have a small indent and the soles of their feet are rubbery. when they push down on a surface, the indent acts like a plunger or one of those little things you get to stick plastic plants onto glass vivs, and gives them very strong grip.

lol sorry i like hyrax
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Snakes: :Pantherophis: :Coelognathus: :Lampropeltis: :Heterodon: :Antaresia:
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SteveL · Posted: Tue May 27, 2008 2:32 pm Post subject:

Love the green turtle shot ! Cool

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