(The Real) Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them - Big Canids

This article was originally published by Youth Time International Magazine

Humankind has a millennia-long history with canids, having domesticated and bred them into all different shapes and sizes. “Man’s best friends” were originally chosen as our trusty companions due to their loyalty and ability to provide protection.

But what of their wild cousins - today's species who share the same ancestral background as our pet pals from chihuahuas to great danes? From Africa’s endangered painted dog to the species most closely related to our trusty canine companions, the Gray Wolf, this article introduces you to the ten largest feral canids that walk the earth today!

Side-striped Jackal

In at number ten is the timid and rarely seen Side-striped Jackal. These medium-sized canids stand at 40-50 cm in height and weigh around 7-12 kg. Despite their elusive nature, these nocturnal omnivores are distributed across most of sub-Saharan Africa and are listed as least concern on the IUCN Red List. Sightings of Side-striped Jackals are rare, but for the best chances of witnessing them in their natural habitat, take a drive through Kruger National Park, South Africa after sunset.

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Red Fox

The Red Fox has the widest distribution of any canid, spanning across the entire northern hemisphere and even being introduced to New Zealand and Tasmania in Australia. Reaching heights of up to half a metre and masses up to 14 kg, the Red Fox is considered the largest of all true foxes. Despite their size and omnivorous diet, the species is still too small to pose a threat to humans. For this reason, the Red Fox has benefited from the presence of human habitation, and is a common visitor to gardens in many suburban and urban areas. They can be spotted virtually anywhere within their range, but are more frequently seen after dark owing to their nocturnal nature.

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Culpeo

The endangered Culpeo, or, Andean Fox is the second largest canid on the South American continent after the maned wolf. They weigh around the same as the aforementioned Red Fox, but tend to be slightly longer and taller. Larger populations can be found in open country and deciduous forests on the western slopes of the Andes. They have also been introduced to the Falkland Islands off the coast of Argentina. Head to Torres del Paine National Park in Patagonia, Chile for the best chances of seeing Culpeo in the wild.

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Ethiopian Wolf

The species considered the rarest and most vulnerable of all canids, the Ethiopian Wolf is endemic to the highlands of its namesake country. Only around 400 individuals living in six fragmented populations roam the mountains of Ethiopia, making the Ethiopian Wolf Africa’s most endangered carnivore. Also known as the Abyssinian wolf, Simien fox, and cuberow, these medium-sized canids weigh up to 20 kg and can stand at over 60 cm tall. To witness these majestic creatures in their natural environment, pay a visit to Simien Mountains National Park in Ethiopia.

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Dhole

Also named the Asiatic wild dog, whistling dog, red dog, and mountain wolf, Dholes are a highly social species that are native to Central, South and Southeast Asia. With a population estimated at under 2,500 adults, these diurnal pack hunters have been listed as endangered by the IUCN. Habitat loss, disease, persecution and competition with other species (including leopards and tigers) have all been contributing factors toward their decline. Dholes can reach heights of 56 cm to the shoulder and weigh up to 21 kg making them very similar in size to the Ethiopian wolf. Head to Kanha Tiger Reserve of Madhya Pradesh in India for excellent chances of spotting these canine critters in the wild.

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Coyote

The Coyote is a highly versatile species that has adapted well to human modified environments. It is abundant and widely spread throughout North America southwards through Central America into Panama. The largest coyote on record measured 1.5 metres from nose to tail and weighed a whopping 34 kg! However, the most vocal of all North American mammals typically grows to sizes similar to that of the Ethiopian wolf and dhole. Many wild areas in the United States have large populations of Coyotes, including Yellowstone National Park and Rocky Mountain National Park.

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Maned Wolf

The Maned Wolf boasts the title of largest canid in South America. Due to its markings, the species is known locally as aguará guazú, which means “large fox” in the Guarani language. Despite their nickname and given name, the Maned Wolf is neither a fox nor a wolf. In fact, the Maned Wolf is not is not closely related to any other member of the canid family, making the species somewhat unique. They average 23 kg in weight and stand up to 90 cm tall at the shoulder, making them the fourth largest wild canid in the world. For the best chances of spotting Maned Wolves in their natural habitat, venture to the beautiful Serra da Canastra National Park in Brazil.

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African Wild Dog

Also known as the African hunting dog and painted wolf, the largest canid in Africa is a highly endangered species that has all but disappeared from much of its original range. Due to factors which include disease, human persecution and habitat fragmentation, the African Wild Dog population continues to decrease. These lean yet robust predators typically grow up to 70 cm in length and can weigh up to 30 kg. Their frames have evolved for stamina, a trait they demonstrate when chasing their prey to exhaustion. Nearly 80% of all wild dog hunts end in a kill, which is impressive considering the success rate of lions, often viewed as ultimate predators, is only 10%. Reliable areas for African Wild Dogs include Luangwa Valley, Zambia and the Okavango Delta, Botswana.

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Red Wolf

Considered the rarest species of wolf in the world and one of the five most endangered canid species, the Red Wolf is listed as critically endangered by the IUCN. Also known as the Florida black wolf and Mississippi Valley wolf, they are native to the southeastern United States. Only around 50 Red Wolves now roam a confined area of just over 1.7 million acres through northeastern North Carolina. They are typically shorter and more slender than the Gray Wolf, though some specimens can grow to larger sizes than smaller sized Gray Wolves. Spotting Red Wolves in the wild can be difficult, but small populations can be found in Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge and Pocosin Lakes National Wildlife Refuge.

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Gray Wolf

By far the largest of all the wild canids, the Gray Wolf, also known as the timber wolf, are the most widely distributed of all wolf species and were at one time the world’s most widely distributed mammal! One of the planet’s best known and most studied species, the Gray Wolf has been divided into many different subspecies of which five inhabit the North American continent and seven to twelve cover Eurasia. The northwestern wolf, also known as the Mackenzie Valley wolf, Alaskan timber wolf, or Canadian timber wolf is considered to be the largest of all subspecies, with specimens typically weighing 51 kg and standing at 85 cm shoulder height. To see the largest of all subspecies in the wild, head to Wood Buffalo National Park, Alberta, Canada. For excellent chances of spotting Gray Wolves, check out The Lamar Valley located in the remote northeast corner of Yellowstone National Park, United States.

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Photos Shutterstock/Graphics Leigh Woods

How to Capture Stunning Wildlife Photographs on a Low Budget!

An honest article written for aspiring wildlife photographers.

For as long as I can remember I have been fascinated by wildlife and the natural world. As a child, I frequently fantasised about epic safari adventures and always envisioned that one day I might work with animals.

The most fulfilling careers aren't necessarily industry specific. We all have different interests and the things that motivate us vary greatly from one person to the next. In my experience, the happiest people tend to be those with jobs that entail work they feel passionate about.

During my mid-twenties, I developed a keen interest in photography. By merging my two passions in life, the ideal profession becomes quite clear. It feels great to be part of the minority who actually know exactly what they want to do with their life. But there's just one problem. Everybody wants to be a wildlife photographer. Okay, maybe not everybody. But I'm pretty sure most people would happily trade snapping photos of our beautiful planet's flora and fauna for their conventional nine to five.

Money is often the greatest obstacle for those wishing to pursue a career in wildlife photography. Firstly, you have to pay for all of the camera equipment and perhaps even a beginner's photography course to learn the basics. Continuous advances in technology also mean that in order to keep up with the competition, you may well need to regularly invest in new gadgetry. Once you have your medley of photographic devices at hand, you'll then have to part with your hard earned cash to fly yourself to the Serengeti or perhaps the Okavango Delta, if you prefer. That's already a small fortune you're going to have to kiss goodbye, but don't go thinking it stops there. There's also the expense of photo editing software and marketing to consider if you plan on going pro.

It has been almost four years since I made the decision to pack up the corporate lifestyle and the comforts that came with it in order to pursue my dream. Time and experience have taught me that achieving my goal isn't just going to happen overnight. In terms of career, rarely does anything good come to those who haven't worked hard for it. Persistence is key, and I've learned that one needs to be stubborn as a miffed mule to make it in this highly competitive industry.

Despite not being able to call myself a professional wildlife photographer, I am happy to have a foundation in place from which to build from. Fortunately, I've managed to establish a portfolio of fairly high standard wildlife images without having to pay big bucks. I'd like to share how I've managed to do this over the past few years, so that those working with a tight budget can also get the ball rolling. And hey, if it doesn't work out then at least you're going to have one hell of an adventure!

To start off, get yourself a DSLR camera. Don't buy into the fact you need to purchase state-of-the-art equipment to get great wildlife shots. Without a doubt, the more expensive cameras and lenses can help to achieve superior results, but there are a lot of photographers out there with all the gear and no idea. Some of the most creative photographers I've come across are using very basic equipment. All of my wildlife shots have been taken using entry level DSLR cameras and relatively cheap lenses. Most of them were captured using the very standard Canon Rebel T3i (600D) camera and a 55-250mm lens with image stabilizer.

So with the camera issue out of the way, now let's talk about how you can maximise your opportunities to build up a portfolio of stunning wildlife photos on a small budget.

From overlanding camping trips to luxurious five-star lodges, a wide range of itineraries and budgets are catered for with a large selection of tour operators and holiday packages to choose from. But unless you opt for a specialised photographic safari (which are incredibly expensive), expect your chances of capturing high-quality wildlife images to be limited. The average person will need to save up for an entire year to afford just one week on safari. Typically, your package will include a three-hour outing, twice a day. To sum that up, one week on safari might offer somewhere around 40 hours in which you could potentially capture hundreds of awe-inspiring wildlife shots. Unfortunately, however, it doesn't always quite work out like that.

Expect to spend half of the allotted hours driving whilst looking for new animals, and when do you find them, don't assume you're guaranteed to get the perfect shots that you had envisioned. Your subjects are wild creatures after all, with the freedom to do as they please. A journey of giraffe won't necessarily space themselves equally on a sunset horizon just because you''re expecting a handsome return on your investment. Other frustrating factors can include unfavourable lighting, poor vehicle positioning (good guides should be on top of this), and distracting surroundings. For your photo to really grab the viewers eye, the subject needs to pop out, and this can be hard to achieve when there is messy foliage or even other safari vehicles in shot. I once spent three days on safari in South Africa's beautiful Kruger National Park and didn't manage to get a single photo that I was happy with.

So here is the trick. Don't shell out thousands for a safari vacation. Instead, follow in my footsteps and sign up for an FGASA (Field Guides Association of Southern Africa) accredited nature guiding course. Not only did it cost me far less money than a package holiday, but I got to spend every day on a beautiful big five game reserve for two whole months! Furthermore, I gained a wealth of knowledge and practical skills thanks to the comprehensive training programme, and was later rewarded with a professional nature guiding license to boot!

The course entailed a great deal of hard work and studying, but it also afforded me the opportunity to spend lengthy periods of time each day with magnificent animals including lions, elephants, rhinos, leopards, buffalo, giraffe, zebra, hippos and numerous species of antelope. The time spent with them provided plenty of opportunities for capturing some of my favourite photographs to date. Other perks of the programme included gaining certifications in first aid, rifle handling, and off-road driving. Throw in a course on wine tasting and it really was a no-brainer.

The biggest challenge for most people is determining how to negotiate two months out of work. The truth is, you might have to pack your job in. Chasing this dream requires vast amounts of time, effort, and sacrifice. The plus side is that your newfound skills can help open the door to further opportunities. Since obtaining my guiding license, I have led numerous safaris across southern and eastern Africa which, in turn, has allowed me to further enhance my portfolio.

If you're not willing to take the plunge, or perhaps you have other commitments, it's worth mentioning that you don't necessarily have to go on safari (or to Africa for that matter) to capture meritorious wildlife images. Large mammals make for pretty amazing subjects, but during the time I spent training to become a guide, my eyes were suddenly opened to the plethora of wildlife that surrounds us in our everyday lives. Birds and insects are fairly easy to find and often make for equally interesting subjects as the animals you might find in the great wilderness. Some of my favourite photographs are of wildlife I found in local parks and even my own back garden!

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Camera tips:

If you want to achieve top-notch images, you'll first need to familiarise yourself with your camera and practice with the settings. I can't stress highly enough how important it is to do this before you head out on your wildlife adventure. When I first started out, I missed the chance to gather some amazing shots of great white sharks breaching the ocean surface because I hadn't yet learned how to adjust the camera's settings for fast moving subjects. Weather, climate, time of day (i.e. lighting), and the surrounding environment make every scene unique, so you'll need to have a good understanding of what your camera can offer, especially in terms of ISO, aperture, and shutter speed.

One suggestion that I usually make to fellow amateurs (and many photographers will label this blasphemy) is to switch to sports mode (if your camera has this feature) at times when your vehicle is moving. I advise this because every now and again, an animal - particularly elusive species such as leopards - may appear suddenly and have vanished behind thick vegetation before you've had the chance to stop and adjust your settings. Sports mode will allow you to get a fairly clean shot of the fast moving subject even if you might have to compensate with a grainy background. If the animal does decide to stick around, you can always switch back to manual mode and adjust your settings accordingly. This approach is best followed in areas with thick bush and isn't really necessary in open spaces.

For those who are still not confident using manual mode, I'd recommend using the aperture priority setting. Your camera's sensors should focus on the main subject in the foreground, leaving the background with a blurred effect. By selecting the appropriate ISO and shutter speed to suit the environmental conditions, your subject will really come alive. Note that this mode works best when the subject is relatively still.

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Editing tips:

Rarely do photographs capture all of the elements that made the actual scene so special. It is therefore necessary to become accustomed with editing software in order to transform your images into breathtaking works of art.

Play around with brightness, contrast, hues, and saturation to make your photograph all the more eye catching, and try to use similar settings throughout your whole portfolio as you begin to exhibit your own signature style.

If your photo features a particularly interesting subject, but something about the whole picture just doesn't look quite right, try converting into black and white. One of the biggest causes of busy looking photos is often the periphery colours that don't complement the main subject. As an example, you may have captured an incredible shot of an elephant in the open savannah, but a bright red car in the distance may draw too much attention and thus spoil the overall effect. If you happen to be well versed in Photoshop, you can always use this method to eliminate any unwanted features, but don't go too crazy with image manipulation.

Cropping can also play a major role in creating the perfect image as composition is extremely important. I can't tell you how many images I have initially looked over, but later found with a bit of clever cropping, I had a really beautiful photograph all along.

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General tips:

• Maintain a high shutter speed as animals are usually on the move.

• Think about the background and how you will frame the subject.

• Focus on the eyes as it helps the viewer to connect with the subject.

• Take advantage of the more favourable light conditions around sunrise and sunset.

• Photograph from a low position as it gives the subject greater presence and the increased distance from the background helps it to pop out.

• Always bring at least one spare battery and make sure you have enough space on your SD card. There is nothing more frustrating than missing out at the perfect moment because you've run out of power or memory.

• Shoot in RAW to get higher quality images that are easier to edit.

• Use Adobe Lightroom or another comprehensive photo editing software for image processing.

• Only exhibit your best work. I have taken literally tens of thousands of wildlife photos and have condensed them down to the select few I display on my website.

Happy snapping!

A Safari Guide's Guide to Guiding

In 2013, I packed up the comforts of a corporate lifestyle and enrolled on a course with FGASA (Field Guide's Association of Southern Africa) with an end goal of achieving a professional safari guiding license. The intensive course entailed spending several months living and training on a beautiful big-five game reserve in South Africa's eastern cape.

As anyone in the safari industry will tell you, in order to become a successful guide simply “knowing your stuff” just won’t cut the mustard. During training, aspiring guides must become skilled in a number of disciplines before obtaining their certification. Off-road driving, first aid, rifle handling, and wildlife tracking are just some of the skills to be mastered.

However, the most essential characteristic of any guide worth their salt is undoubtedly strong interpersonal skills. Excellent knowledge of wildlife combined with infectious charisma is certainly the winning formula, but since obtaining my license I've witnessed many guides lead thoroughly entertaining game drives purely for their ability to understand and charm an audience.

Am I tremendously experienced in guiding? No. Have I still got a lot to learn? Absolutely. But I've been through a rigorous training program and have led numerous successful safaris across southern and eastern Africa. I have also been afforded many opportunities to play the role of client. Throughout these experiences, I've witnessed well-seasoned guides make some pretty basic yet easy to eliminate errors. Below, I offer some pointers for those looking to up their safari guiding game.

Getting Acquainted

Learn the names of everyone in your game viewer. It makes the whole experience seem far more personal if you offer your clients this simple yet crucial courtesy. Additionally, before setting off for the day ask each client if there are any particular species they wish to see, and make the effort to find them.

If your clients are desperate to see highly elusive or difficult to locate species such as leopard, try to look for tracks or other signs of the animal's presence and use them to tell a story. It won't be the same as witnessing the animal in the flesh, but you'd be amazed at how contented a person can feel just by visualizing. This simple practice can make a big difference and will go a long way toward proving you are continuously considering your client's requests.

Stay Interesting

Avoid listing off boring facts. People don't generally want to know the average weight, life span, and gestation period of every single animal unless they specifically ask. To learn and memorize all of these facts and figures is indeed impressive, but you're going to send your clients to sleep if you reel off the same old details time and again. Instead, increase your overall awareness by observing the surrounding environment and the animal's behavioral reactions. Let's use an example. It's a windy day and you spot a group of giraffe feeding on acacia; gradually moving from one tree to the next in a direction that goes against the breeze. Now let's look at two different guiding presentation options.

Option 1: "Here's some Giraffe. The collective name for giraffe is called a tower or a journey. Their average life expectancy is 25 years and the gestation period is 13-15 months. Giraffes can weigh up to 1.5 tonnes and sleep for only around 20 minutes per day. Their tongues can grow up to 20-inches long."

Just like a sleep-deprived giraffe, everyone in the game viewer is yawning (actually giraffe are considered by some scientists to be the only living vertebrate that doesn't yawn, but that's beside the point). You can get away with using some of these facts every now and again, especially if they happen to be surprising. But let's look at another option.

Option 2: "Here we see a journey of giraffe. As you’ll observe, they are feeding upon these acacia trees and using their incredibly flexible 20-inch long tongues to strip the leaves from the plant's protective thorns. Interestingly, many plant species use a number of defense mechanisms besides thorns. You may have noticed that the giraffe are moving against the wind. This behavior has a clever and deliberate purpose because, believe it or not, it's a counter move against the trees which are effectively talking to one another! Some trees like these acacias produce bad tasting, mouth-drying tannins when under attack. Not only do the trees produce tannins, but they emit a gas called ethylene that sends warning signals to other trees around them. The surrounding trees then produce tannins themselves, before coming under attack by the hungry giraffe. Therefore, the giraffe move against the wind toward the acacias which aren't producing tannins."

I think most would agree that Option 2 is far more interesting and allows you as a guide to speak in a more enthusiastic and engaging manner.

Never Busk!

If a client asks an obscure question which you don't know the answer to, the worst thing you can possibly do is make something up. You'll get found out eventually, which could seriously harm your reputation and cause your client to consider whether all of the facts you presented were false. I once sat with an experienced guide who was asked by a client to list off all the cat species living in the reserve. He started off well by listing lion, leopard, caracal, and serval, but then ruined it by adding genet and civet. The guide may have genuinely believed genet and civet were cat species, and thus seemed convincing to clients who were evidently not suspicious. It's when guides blatantly don't know the answer and make something up that gets them into a sticky spot. Instead, concede to your clients that you don't know the answer and make an educated guess. If you wish to go the extra mile, do some investigating after the game drive and use it as a topic of conversation perhaps later around the camp fire.

Visual Aids and Storytelling

Despite all of your hard work and preparation, there will always be those days where the animals just don't seem to cooperate. Having field guide books at the ready for such occasions can really make a difference. Sometimes, only a few of your clients manage to spot an animal before it has quickly concealed itself behind thick vegetation. This can make those who didn't see the animal feel left out, but showing them pictures in your book can help to slightly alleviate their woes. Field guide books also come in handy on occasions where the subject of your attention is too far in the distance for clear viewing. This can be a very common problem with birds.

Furthermore, if animals don't much feel like making an appearance, make sure to have a few good wildlife related stories to tell and use the surrounding environment to your advantage. There are endless things to talk about, including the history of the area, geology, climate, plant life, and for night drives, astronomy.

Bino-power

Following on from the last point, don't underestimate the power a good set of binoculars has in transforming an ordinary safari into a spectacular one. Always offer your binoculars to clients when pointing out smaller animals or those situated far from the vehicle. They can make or break a game drive, especially when the animals don't want to play ball.

Unspoiled Viewing

Switch off your engine! This common mistake is without question the most frustrating of all. Unless you have some grumpy or startled elephants in close proximity, there is no reason for you to leave the engine running. Not only are you disturbing the animals (resulting in them distancing themselves from the raucous), but you're also denying your clients the rare opportunity to spend a peaceful moment among unspoiled nature. Furthermore, any photographers on board will want nice clean shots of their subjects, and a rumbling engine will result in blurred images!

Attention to Detail

Position your vehicle wisely. When considering how and where to situate your game viewer, the well-being of the animals and plant life should always take priority. Next, you need to think about how you will ensure that everyone in the vehicle will have an unobstructed view. Where possible, try to position the vehicle so that the sun is behind you. It works better for those wishing to take pictures and photographers will thank you for your attentiveness. At sunrise and sunset your clients may actually prefer to face the sun in order to achieve the classic silhouetted images. Even if none of your clients have expensive DSLR cameras, always try to act as if they do. Those with basic point-and-shoot or even smart phone cameras will come away from the safari far more satisfied if they were able to capture amazing shots thanks to your savvy driving skills.

Contagious Passion

Always be enthusiastic! Yes, you've seen an elephant a million times before, but your clients have likely traveled thousands of miles and parted with their hard earned cash for this first time experience! Don't sit with your back turned acting unimpressed. The more zealous you are about your job and the surrounding wildlife, the more likely it'll rub off on your clients. A safari experience should never feel contrived, however, so if your guiding lacks gusto, it's time to find another job!

Wildlife Ambassador

As a guide, it is your duty to advocate for the wildlife that essentially provides you with a living. Talk to guests about current conservation issues. People tend to be more appreciative and empathetic toward wildlife when they're out in the bush. There's surely no better time to encourage support for amazing wildlife protection organisations like the WWF, WCS and Panthera than when your guests are gazing at some of Earth's most magnificent creations.  

Happy Guiding!