Anton Baotic Zoo and Wildlife Research

21/10/2024

🦒 Exciting Giraffe Research Alert! 🌍
I’m thrilled to share that an article I edited, "𝗗𝗶𝘂𝗿𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲 𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗼𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗪𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗔𝗳𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗴𝗶𝗿𝗮𝗳𝗳𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝗮𝗻 𝗮𝗴𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗮𝗹 𝗵𝘂𝗺𝗮𝗻-𝗱𝗼𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗱𝘀𝗰𝗮𝗽𝗲," is now published! The study uncovers how these majestic creatures rest more when close to livestock, which creates a sense of safety, further highlighting how long-term conservation efforts in Niger are promoting peaceful human-wildlife coexistence.

Read more about these findings here: https://doi.org/10.3389/fcosc.2024.1459960

13/10/2024

🤩 Thrilled to have presented my talk, "Exploring the Mutualistic Relationship between Giraffes and Red-billed Oxpeckers", at the Southern African Wildlife Management Association hosted by the Giraffe Conservation Foundation, in Windhoek, Namibia! 🦒🔊

Giraffes are not only majestic browsers but also highly vigilant animals, and my research takes a deeper look into how they respond to red-billed oxpecker alarm calls. This is the first study to experimentally explore how these calls impact giraffe behavior—revealing exciting new insights into interspecies communication and symbiosis in the wild. 🦒🦜

As human pressures on wildlife continue to grow, understanding these interspecies relationships becomes increasingly important for effective conservation efforts. I’m eager to connect with fellow researchers passionate about animal behavior, bioacoustics, and conservation strategies.

📸: Michael Butler Brown 🙏
💶: funded by FWF Österreichischer Wissenschaftsfonds 🙏
👨‍💻: Österreichische Akademie der Wissenschaften Institut für Schallforschung / Acoustics Research Institute - ÖAW

05/10/2024

This was one of my most favorite moments at . I took this photo when I drove back to the lodge. Just as the sun was sinking below the horizon, I bumped into this stunning almost ginger-colored bull. His unique coat caught my eye, and I was instantly captivated.💛🧡

03/09/2024

Just caught this herd after taking a break and enjoying a drink at the waterhole before making the next move 🦒

24/08/2024

Who says two-horns and longnecks can’t hang out? 😉This scene took me back to ‘The Land Before Time‘🦕, where boundaries were set but friendships grew. I really enjoyed this moment as these two giants crossed paths. 🦒🦏

24/08/2024

Just me and this magnificent giraffe bull sharing the same space 🦒 Moments like these make every early morning drive worth it. Feeling so connected to this incredible place.

22/08/2024

What a lovely person Anne was! 🧡

While visiting Wild Tomorrow in July, Mary Dagg was able to lay her mother, Anne Innis Dagg, to rest within the Greater Ukuwela Nature Reserve in South Africa.

"She will spend eternity in an area where a growing herd of giraffes roam the open plains and forests. Observing giraffes and spending time in South Africa’s natural beauty was where my mom was truly her happiest, and it was her last request to have her ashes buried there. I plan to return next year to place a plaque on a nearby tree. We are so grateful to our friends at Wild Tomorrow who provided a permanent home for Anne's final resting place."

22/08/2024

Just when I thought my day in the wild was over, I bumped into this beautiful giraffe female.🦒 I decided to play back a lion roar to her. Instantly, she stopped feeding and moved away. Curious to see where she went, I launched my drone and eventually found her 500m away in a bush, standing protectively with her calf. You could still see the cord, so it was just a few days old! Watching the mother scan the area, so alert and protective, was such a powerful moment! 🧡💚

16/08/2024

sometimes you just need a moment to rest your legs 🫠

14/08/2024

I think this shot turned out quite nice 😊 White rhinos with their trusty oxpeckers, and a giraffe peacefully ruminating in the background. Nature’s balance in action. 🦏🦒

06/08/2024

Have a look ‘Emma’… 👀 Sometimes, it’s nice not to be the center of attention in the field. Today, I learned that a shift in perspective can make all the difference. It’s not personal when giraffes can’t take their eyes off the car – they’re just curious! 🦒🚗💛 🫠

04/08/2024

🌅✨ Just before sunset, I was lucky to bump into the adorable giraffe calf I was privileged to name. According to tradition at , the name must start with the first letter of the mother’s name. So, I chose the name Cinnamon! 🦒❤️ Feeling so grateful for this special moment ☺️

29/07/2024

Today I captured this stunning moment of Shadow feeding and it almost felt she was basking in the late afternoon sunlight. 🦒☀️ She looks so serene, completely at ease, and didn’t run away at all. It was incredible to see her so calm and comfy. 🧡
📍

21/07/2024

Today was another exhausting but incredible day in the field! I drove through the reserve in my white rental bakkie and stopped to search for giraffes using my drone. As I soared up in the air, I realized that my car had already been spotted long before – by a giraffe mother who recently gave birth to a calf! 🦒👶 Check out the lower left corner to see this heartwarming sight. Another great reminder not underestimate giraffes‘ height and how good their eyes are 👀😃

21/06/2024

🌍🦒 Happy World Giraffe Day! 🦒🌍 🥳

Today, we celebrate giraffes who grace the African savannah with their elegance and towering presence. 🌿✨

Ggiraffes are the tallest mammals on Earth, with legs alone that are taller than many humans. Yet, despite their height and beauty, giraffes face threats from habitat loss and poaching. 🏞️🚫

Let’s spread awareness and love for giraffes by sharing fascinating facts, supporting conservation efforts, and appreciating the beauty of nature. 🌍💚

05/06/2024

📚 New Study on the Evolution of the Giraffe's Neck by Taasisi Asilia ya Pori - Wild Nature Institute!! 🦒✨

🔍 The study on Masai giraffes suggests that food, not s*x, drove the evolution of giraffes' long neck.

🌿 Although male and female giraffes have the same body proportions at birth, they are significantly different as they reach s*xual maturity. Females have proportionally longer necks and longer bodies than males, which might help with foraging and calf rearing, while males have wider necks and longer front legs, which might help win fights against other males and with mating.
Credit: Penn State University
Link to the original study: https://doi.org/10.1007/s42991-024-00424-4