𝐎𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐤𝐞𝐫 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐚𝐟𝐞𝐭𝐲 𝐨𝐟 #𝐫𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐨𝐜𝐞𝐫𝐨𝐬' 𝐬𝐧𝐨𝐮𝐭

Oxpeckers are also known as Askari wa kifaru, a #Swahili word which translates to “rhino guard.”

New research shows that the bird’s hissing call acts as a warning when other —including human hunters—are approaching. In studies conducted in #SouthAfrica, they found that #rhinos without #oxpeckers on their backs only noticed an approaching human 23% of the time, whereas those carrying the birds detected the nearby person 100% of the time, and from much farther away than those attentive rhinos without oxpeckers to warn them.

This research confirms traditional knowledge the local peoples have known for millennia. 🦏
Photo: Zali_Photo

#Birds #Animals Photography #Nature