Oke’s Musings: Poetry, People and Places

Tag: wildlife

  • Folk Narratives: Bees & Elephants

    Most human-wildlife interactions are violent; one party gets to hurt the other. Hence, we need to negotiate living spaces with our non-human neighbors. The facts are glaring—population growth encouraged human encroachment on wildlife territory. When wildlife intrudes into farmlands for food, they get killed or maimed. We don’t want this. A folk narrative from Kenya…

  • Quotes from the Wild

    Let us believe, then, until some dismal authority forbids us, that elephants meet by the bright Indian moonlight in the ballrooms they clear in the depths of the forest, and dance mammoth quadrilles and reels to the sighing of the wind through the trees and their own trumpeting, shrill and sudden as the Highlander’s hoch!…

  • Image: Strolling Elephants

  • African Zebra

    An extraordinary land Africa is a land of diversity and breathtaking beauty. From the rising golden sun to swiftly flowing rivers and peaceful, grazing black wildebeest across the brown and green savannah, you can always catch a glimpse of nature’s beautiful paradise. And nature has a way of healing everything… If you ever get the…

  • Butterfly

    See Mother Nature’s art See her paintings, black and white Behold gift of the rising sun, The wind a prize to be won So fly pet of the blue clouds … and friend of the wind Break forth from your cocoon Hit the silky walls wide open Fly away, you pretty butterfly Travel farther away,…

  • View from my Backyard

    Beware! There’s a furry ninja lurking in the shadows of this tree! Like when you see him in this slow-mo vid. The trees here are home to many squirrels and birds and it’s just at my backyard! I have known these squirrels since I was a kid. This morning I patiently waited to watch them…

  • Visit Africa: Safari

    Safari is a term used for expeditions to observe or hunt animals in their natural habitats. It has a Swahili origin and it is commonly used in East Africa. You might want to consider Safari as a holiday option. There are beautiful things waiting for you to enjoy. The misty sunrise and magical sunset will…

  • African Wildlife: Bongo

    Bongos might be the largest antelope in Africa, but they are very timid. They scare easily and will run away and hide when frightened.

  • Friendship

    There’s always a companion for everyone. There’s someone to confide in and share issues of life with. Friendship is characterized by love, sympathy, kindness, loyalty, generosity, forgiveness, altruism, mutual understanding, compassion, trust and ability to be oneself and to express one’s feelings.Even Africa’s wild agree that everybody needs a companion, a friend. Do you agree?…

  • Human – Animal Relationship Awareness Week

    The goal of this week is to raise awareness of the importance of human – animal relationships and highlight the benefits and variety of these special bond. Whether it’s a puppy, giraffe or a caterpillar, all creatures deserve our love and respect. How will you recognize the holiday? Raise awareness, pay extra attention to your…

  • Herd of Elephants

    A group of Elephants is called a herd. Elephants are herbivores and peaceful animals. Sometimes writers call them “Gentle Giants.” They are found all over Africa and are territorial. Elephants are social animals and love mud bathing. Most of their day is spent grazing. Their diet include barks, tree leaves and roots. Here’s an advice:…

  • The Spotted Hyena

    I was amazed the first time I saw this animal. That was during a trip organized by my secondary school to Songhai Redemption Centre, near Owerri, Nigeria. The spotted hyena (Crocuta crocuta) is Africa’s most common large carnivore. They have excellent nighttime vision and hearing and usually bear litters of two to four cubs. Cubs…

  • AWF: Manyara Ranch Conservancy

    From a mismanaged cattle ranch to a prime wildlife area. When African Wildlife Foundation began operating Manyara Ranch Conservancy, poaching was rampant in the area. Now, the 45,000 acre ranch is a well maintained wildlife corridor between Tanzania’s Tarangire and Manyara National Parks. Video from African Wildlife Foundation.

  • Why you should visit Africa

    If you are in rural Africa, you will be very lucky to witness events you may never see anywhere else in the world when the sun sets! The sunrise brings joy. Dew, heaven’s water, gathers on rooftops, tree leaves, and grasses. The sun may stay for a while, but it can rise as early as…

  • Tales from the Giraffe

    Oh lovely tower! You stand above roofs and trees And graze on the wild Savannah You nibble at fresh tree leaves,  And the whole land is yours!  You visit our streams, majestically You stray through the quiet village And stole all attention to yourself  * Nights are for the folk tales,  Stories groomed in the…

  • Africa: Retelling the story

    What if there was no love in me for you Africa…? I shrug, I will not think of it… I wonder which other songs are left for me to sing I wonder what can give me much joy for a better future And I thank God for this gift, for Africa, for the world For…

  • Note: Nature as an African

      Mother Nature is an African. I say this because I have seen why. Africa is unrivaled in wildlife species and variety. I have had an Ostrich tower over me back then in Ondo state of Nigeria and I have met the Hyena which could have passed for a demon with her red eyes and…