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RonW CaptiveBred Addict!
Joined: 16 Jan 2006 Posts: 536 Location: netherlands
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Posted: Wed May 21, 2008 2:12 pm Post subject: just got back from vacation |
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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 ) 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. _________________ Please visit Ron's Reptiles to see my collection
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Lynne ___________
Joined: 30 Jul 2007 Posts: 8265 Location: Kincardine-on-Forth
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Posted: Wed May 21, 2008 3:00 pm Post subject: |
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amazing pictures. those horns are awesome!!!!! _________________
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kroakykaren Site Moderator
Joined: 11 Sep 2005 Posts: 5270 Location: North East
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Posted: Wed May 21, 2008 4:40 pm Post subject: |
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Great pictures Ron, love that young Hyrax _________________
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Stuart Forum Clown
Joined: 27 Mar 2005 Posts: 16835 Location: Hertfordshire
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Posted: Wed May 21, 2008 4:57 pm Post subject: |
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Beautifull images Ron welcome back too. _________________
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RonW CaptiveBred Addict!
Joined: 16 Jan 2006 Posts: 536 Location: netherlands
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Posted: Wed May 21, 2008 7:31 pm Post subject: |
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Thanks you all
That young hyrax was just soooo cute, the girls wanted to take it home _________________ Please visit Ron's Reptiles to see my collection
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jamie_s Site Moderator
Joined: 08 Jan 2006 Posts: 1963
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Posted: Thu May 22, 2008 12:14 am Post subject: |
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looks like you had an awesome time ron great pics too!!the baby hyrax have the cheekiest faces ever _________________ www.jamieswordsreptiles.com |
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jon_g Key Member
Joined: 02 Jun 2006 Posts: 367 Location: Bali, Indonesia
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zarozinia CaptiveBred Addict!
Joined: 25 Nov 2004 Posts: 894 Location: Lost in my own little world
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Posted: Thu May 22, 2008 9:31 am Post subject: |
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Some lovely shots, quite a few very cute and appealing ones too, particularly the hyrax. _________________ Cheers Angi
Proud to be a Geordie!
My Images - http://anginelson.deviantart.com/
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Ailurus Captivebred Communist
Joined: 14 Sep 2006 Posts: 1626 Location: Hertfordshire, England
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Posted: Thu May 22, 2008 5:08 pm Post subject: |
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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 _________________ Tom
Snakes: :Pantherophis: :Coelognathus: :Lampropeltis: :Heterodon: :Antaresia:
Lizards: :Rhacodactylus: :Pogona: :Goniurosaurus:
http://www.youtube.com/user/Ailurus27 |
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SteveL Captivebred Communist
Joined: 30 Apr 2006 Posts: 1531 Location: Cov
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Posted: Tue May 27, 2008 2:32 pm Post subject: |
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Love the green turtle shot ! _________________
jezz wrote: | I dont understand SteveL's sarcasm dohhh |
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