animal myths

Safari Animal Myths Busted

During a safari in Africa you could see the fastest living land mammal in the world, the cheetah; the biggest land animal, the elephant or the most social big cat, the lion. Game drives are a fantastic opportunity to see wildlife in all its shapes and sizes, and to learn a lot about them. However, over the years and often through pop culture, various animal myths have cropped up. We bust a few of these myths about African animals below.

1. Ostriches do NOT bury their heads in the sand

Ostriches eat pebbles and sand to help them digest their food; dig holes in the dirt to use as nests, and use their beaks to turn their eggs. Because they have a small head, when they bend down to do any of these, it looks like their head is buried in the sand.

2. Rhino horn is NOT medicine

Rhino horn has been used in Traditional Chinese Medicine for centuries in the belief that it cures various ailments from fever and gout to rheumatism and headaches. In recent years, it has also been believed to cure cancer. However, rhino horn is made up of keratin (the same substance found in hair and fingernails) and has been proven to have no medicinal value.

3. Snakes are NOT slimy

Snakes may look slimy, because the scales of certain species are smooth and shiny. These snakes are quite clean, which is why their scales shine and sparkle in the light. Snakes, like most reptiles, have dry skin. Different snakes have different scales, some of which are smooth, and some rough; but none are slimy.

4. Bats are NOT blind

The saying “blind as a bat” is incredibly misleading, because they are nothing of the sort. Bats can actually see very well, and have a great sense of smell too. Another myth that exists about bats is that they like swooping down into your hair. What they are actually doing is targeting the insects above your head, and not looking for a place to nest among your locks.

5. Hippos do NOT kill more people than any other animal in Africa

Hippopotami are certainly dangerous, and they kill more people than any other large animal in Africa, but they do not top the list as the most dangerous animal in Africa. When left alone, hippos are fairly passive creatures and will only attack when they feel threatened. The most dangerous animal in Africa is, in fact, the mosquito. Hippos kill about 2 000 people per year, whereas mosquitos kill over two million people annually. And let’s not forget the devastation that human beings cause to animals, and to one another!

Originally published on Safaris Lodge.

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