SANParks.org Forums

the toe nails don't show, so it'll probably have something to do with the weight distribution on "take-off and land"...

Can't remember whether the hind foot will fall on the front foot or just behind it? Front print is round, hind foot is oval....

The "heel" of the elephant leaves a smoother surface in the track than the "toe". The other way of determining the direction of movement is... as the "toe" of the feet is lifted off the ground, it drags a small bit of soil forward with it. This is only visible is loose soil, not on very hard earth.

Sounds right. Imberbe?

Good thoughts Bishop!



He is indeed correct OWN.

The other way of telling is by looking at the placing of the feet. At a normal walking speed, and elephant will place his hind foot on, but slightly in front of the place his front foot just vacated. So this leaves two partially overlapping spoor, with the hind foot spoor (slightly smaller and more oval) indicating the direction of movement.

Anthony ... IT.

Thanks Imberbe. Fascinating learning this thread!

Im walking along a sand road in the KNP and come across some spoor of what looks like a medium sized bird thats been walking in the road. The tracks are about 2cm in length. But the strange thing is that the bird has been walking in what looks like circles!? What bird was here??

Is there an explanation for this? I would love to know if there is!?!?

They say that ostriches get some brain disease that makes them suddenly begin to run around in circles until they either collapse from exhaustion or die. Ever heard that one?
I know that's not the bird you're thinking of, but I thought I'd throw in my thruppence worth.
And what are you doing walking on a sand road in Kruger?

Tough one Anthony, take it you don't have a photo of an individual track?

[quote]And what are you doing walking on a sand road in Kruger? /quote]

Just a hypothetical situation... iv seen these tracks many times in the camps..

No i have no photo's of these tracks.

Clue... the bird is common in Kruger and the call of this bird has been nicknamed by many as "the call of the bushveld".

I would have thought the fish eagle is the most famous call of the bushveld; but they are not found in camps.
So, the guinea fowl perhaps?

Nope. Smaller...

Has nobody seen these tracks? Looking at them, you would say that the bird could have been drunk, walking in drunken circles...

Anybody??

"Voice of the bushveld"? Swainson's? Or does it have a new name again...