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

This article was originally published by Youth Time International Magazine

In this edition of (The Real) Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them we take a closer look into the giants of the natural world. From megafauna roaming Africa’s vast savannas to the creepy critters that lurk the forest undergrowth, discover more about the Goliaths of each taxonomic class and learn where to best locate them.

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Largest Land Mammal: African Bush Elephant

The African Elephant has been classified into two subspecies, namely the African Bush Elephant and the African Forest Elephant. The former is the largest terrestrial animal on earth with the latter in third - after the Asian Elephant. With an average height of 3.3 metres and a mass of 6 tonnes, the African Bush Elephant towers over all others in the family. The largest elephant ever recorded was a bull (male) in Angola. He weighed in at 11 tonnes, and was nearly a meter taller than the average elephant. Due to illegal poaching for their ivory, habitat destruction, and human-wildlife conflict, elephant numbers have dwindled over the past few centuries making them vulnerable to extinction. Among the best places to witness the African Bush Elephant in its natural habitat are the Okavanga Delta, Botswana and the Addo Elephant Park in South Africa.

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Largest Marine Mammal: Blue Whale

Not just the largest of all marine mammals, but claiming the title of largest creature ever to inhabit the Earth, the Blue Whale can grow to lengths of up to 30 metres and weigh up to 180 tonnes. Comparable in size to a small car, they have the largest heart of any animal and possess tongues that can weigh more than an elephant! Due to commercial whaling, their numbers depleted significantly throughout the 19th and 20th centuries, but their population has steadily increased since being protected worldwide from 1966. The IUCN estimates the Blue Whale population at between 10,000 – 25,000 individuals with the best chances of observing these colossal beasts off the coast of Dondra Point in Sri Lanka.

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Largest Bird: Ostrich

The largest of all birds by some distance, the Ostrich can grow up to 2.8 metres in height and weigh close to 145kg (that’s the weight of two average adult humans!). To add to its repertoire, they also boast the fastest land speed of any bird – reaching speeds of up to 70 km/h – and lay the largest eggs of any living bird. Furthermore, along with the largest squids in the ocean, they have the biggest eyes in the entire animal kingdom. Females tend to be about 2/3 the size of males and sport a brown/grey plumage with the males exhibiting black and white feathers. It is thought to be a camouflage technique to evade predators during breeding season whereby the female will sit on the eggs during the day, with the male taking on the responsibility at night. For the best chances of spotting them in the natural environment, head to Oudtshoorn, South Africa which has been aptly named the Ostrich capital of the world.

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Largest Reptile: Saltwater Crocodile

The Saltwater Crocodile is a prehistoric looking reptile that is also known as the estuarine crocodile, sea crocodile, and more informally, saltie. The males grow up to sizes that far exceed that of females, typically reaching up to around 5-6 metres in length and weighing nearly a tonne. Owing to their ability to dwell in a wide range of habitats, these menacing characters have the broadest distribution of any extant crocodile species. In fact, their range spans from the eastern coast of India through to northern Australia. Well known Saltwater Crocodile hotspots include Daintree River in Far North Queensland, and Cahills Crossing, Kakadu National Park, Northern Territory – both located in Australia. Always practice extreme caution when heading out to spot these highly aggressive critters.

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Largest Bony Fish: Mola Mola

The largest of all fishes is actually the cartilaginous whale shark, but since we’ve already covered this species in the Fantastic Beasts series, we decided to shed some spotlight on the largest of the bony fish – the Mola Mola, or, Ocean Sunfish. These odd looking marine animals are often as tall as they are long, with specimens growing up to 3.2 metres in height! The weight of mature Mola Mola can differ greatly, ranging between 250kg to a tonne. Due to the high levels of bycatch observed in many fisheries around the world, Mola Mola has been listed as vulnerable on the IUCN Red List. Their range is circumglobal and there are many operators that offer the chance to dive with Mola Mola, including those based in the Nusa Penida, Indonesia and Oban, Scotland. The Galapagos Islands are also well known for spectacular diving experiences with these gigantic ocean dwellers, among other aquatic animals.

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Largest Amphibian: Chinese Giant Salamander

The most vulnerable to extinction of all animals in this article and the largest of all amphibians, the Chinese Giant Salamander is considered “a living fossil”. Endemic to rocky mountain streams and lakes in China, their numbers have fallen by as much as 80% since the 1950s due to pollution, habitat loss, and use in traditional Chinese medicine. As most Chinese Giant Salamander stop feeding at water temperatures exceeding 20 °C, the species is also highly vulnerable to the effects of global warming. While they rarely reach such lengths in the present day, the Chinese Giant Salamander has been known to grow to as long as 1.8 metres and reach up to 50kg! Spotting them in the wild is a tall order, but doing so would likely happen in the basins of the Yangtze, Yellow and Pearl Rivers within China.

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Largest Insect: Wētāpunga

Unless you’re a diehard entomologist, you probably won’t be planning a trip to spot the world’s largest insect, the wētāpunga any time soon. Endemic to the arboreal forests situated on Little Barrier Island off the coast of New Zealand, these giant crickets can reach lengths up to 7.5 cm and weigh more than a small sparrow! They are heavily predated on by birds (especially saddlebacks) and kiore rats, and in tandem with their restricted distribution this has led them to become listed as a vulnerable species on the IUCN Red List. Note that the heaviest insect in the world is the Goliath Beetle.

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Largest Arachnid: Goliath Birdeater

The Goliath Birdeater is the thing of nightmares for any sufferer or arachnophobia. These enormous blond tarantulas are largest arachnids both by size and weight but second to Laos’ giant huntsman spider by leg-span. The Goliath Birdeater boasts a body length of up to 11.9 cm and can weigh as much as 175g. Their fangs are long enough to penetrate human skin, but seldom do they attack people and when they do, it is almost always in self defence. Further, despite carrying venom it is relatively harmless to humans, comparable to that of a wasp sting. Their diet consists mainly of large arthropods, worms and amphibians, but they have been known to prey on rodents, lizards, snakes, and, as their name suggests, birds! The Goliath Birdeater lives in deep burrows found in marshy and swampy areas of the Amazon Rainforest in northern Brazil and southern Venezuela. However, you’re more likely to find this nocturnal critter dead and served as part of the local cuisine!

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Largest Crustacean: Japanese Spider Crab

Not just the largest of all crustaceans but the biggest arthropod (insects, arachnids, myriapods, and crustaceans) that scuttles the planet, the Japanese Spider Crab can reach up to 5.5 meters from claw to claw and weigh as much as 19kg. Adults are found at depths between 50-600 meters below the water surfaces off the southern coasts of the Japanese island of Honshū, making the species very difficult to observe in the wild. In fact, the only chance you’re ever likely to encounter them in the wild is when they are unrecognizable – shortly after hatching. You may well have brushed past thousands of Japanase Spider Crabs without even knowing it if you’ve ever gone swimming in the waters off the coast of Japan!

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Other Natural World Giants

• Tallest animal: Maasai Giraffe (5.5 metres/1.2 tonnes)

• Largest land carnivore: Polar Bear/Kodiak Bear (3 metres/450kg)

• Largest marine carnivore: Sperm Whale (12 metres/57 tonnes)

• Largest fish: Whale shark (12.5 metres/21.5 tonnes)

• Largest mollusk/invertebrate: Colossal Squid (14 metres/495kg)

• Largest wingspan: Wandering Albatross (3.65 metres)

• Heaviest flying bird: Kori Bustard (18kg)

• Longest marine animal: Lion’s Mane Jellyfish (55 metres)

• Longest land animal: Reticulated Python (7.67 metres)

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All photos Shutterstock. Graphics by Leigh Woods

Happy World Orangutan Day!

Earlier this year, I had the opportunity to observe these incredible and critically endangered primates in the Gunung Leuser ecosystem, Sumatra, Indonesia.

Combining my passion for wildlife with basic design skills, I've started creating infographics demonstrating the plight of some of the most iconic animals to roam the planet, starting with the world's largest arboreal mammal, the orangutan!

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!