The Ark In Space

Lion and Crocodile Fight Over an Impala

Sunday, 3 March 2013

Or, Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner?! Sometimes you never know what to expect at mealtimes, especially if you and your sister are looking after five energetic cubs. Yet one thing you might not expect, if you were a lioness trying to feed a hungry family, is to be joined by an even hungrier crocodile – who doesn’t look as if he wants to share either!

This remarkable footage was taken at the end of September 2012 by Oli Dreike. The 'Kapamba Pride' at Zungulila Bushcamp, South Luangwa, Zambia killed an impala right in front of Tent 2 at Zungulila Bushcamp, interrupting the guests' breakfast. The voracious lions - two females and five cubs (regular visitors to the plain in front of camp that season) - were so absorbed in their meal, that it took them a while to apprehend that they had an unwanted and unwelcome table guest.... the enormous crocodile that lives in the stream in front of encampment had smelt its chance and decided to try it's luck at grabbing a piece of the action. The video speaks for itself!

A Bird Ballet

Saturday, 2 February 2013

Neels Castillon was filming a commercial near Marseille in France. While he and his colleagues were waiting for a helicopter to shoot they noticed something else was going on – something quite wonderful. It is known as a murmuration of starlings and it happens at dusk. Many thousands of starlings take to the skies at the same time and form a giant cloud. They wheel, turn, plummet and soar in an incredible natural spectacle that makes you wonder, quite honestly, how they do it without colliding in to each other!

You may well wonder why they do this. It seems that, as ever, there is safety in numbers and it is thought that this huge congregation of starlings all simultaneously on the move might help to confuse birds of prey.

Don’t be fooled by the huge numbers seen here, however. It has been estimated that starling numbers in the UK and France have plummeted by an incredible 70% in recent years. We may be the last generation to witness this spectacle.

Beneath the Surface

Saturday, 17 November 2012

This is a beautifully made piece of film by Sarosh Jacob. It captures life beneath the surface in a number of places throughout the world, starting with Bonaire and a mesmerizing school of fish. Next we go on to the Cayman Islands and its beautiful coral alongside the Kittiwake shipwreck. From there it is on to Socorro, Mexico and we get to see dolphins and whale sharks: next to Iceland and the Silfra Rift and lagoon. Finally we go to the Philippines, and witness clownfish anemone, schooling jacks, turtle and Palau to see the amazing sight that is Jellyfish Lake.

It is an almost bewildering array of animals and habitats. It is also for those of you who have emailed in specifically asking for more marine life and environments to be featured on Ark in Space. You’re quite right – over 70% of the planet is covered by water!

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