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This dagga boy either had a run in with another dagga boy or as you have said, by mentioning the scars on the flank had some visit from lions. Whichever way I would hate to see what his competitior looks like.

Addo Breakfast!!

resized by bert

Hows this for a headset. photographed this handsome guy on the H1-3 near Tshokwane.

This big herd seen on the H3 from the bridge over the Matjula

All freshly "dagga'd" up Cant remember where in Kruger we took the shot, but was in April this year

Mike


resized by bert

In Kruger 3 weeks ago we saw a buffalo that looked like its boss had been viciously pecked at. It was an bright orange colour. Is that a disease?
Will post pics ASAP

Amazing - a pure white buffalo calf. Why does it occur, how often, what are the chances of its survival relative to other calves its age, should the park rear the calf in captivity.

Amazing pic.
Albino animals are born due to a recessive gene that is expressed by chance. Mommy and daddy just happen to carry the gene and by chance this is the gene that is transferred to the sperm and egg during meiosis. Then, eureka a white calf is born.
As for chances for survival, IMO slim, as this calf would stand out like a sore thumb, and no i don't think that the calf should be reared in captivity as this is a recessive gene that is expressed and these gene's usually carry other abnoramalities that is un-healthy. ie not good for the buffalo population.

I have heard about albino buffalos but never thought id see a pic or something. Where and when was it seen?

Just on the point of gernetics.

Each and every living thing carries recessive genes (Also referred to as the genotype) and dominat genes that you can "see" like the colour of a persons eyes (ALso called the Phenotype. A homozygous(Coming from the mother and father) state of any of these rececive genes make it visible, should the locus not be on the gender chromosome.

Some heterozygous states can also be visible and only be spread by one parent (Like hair growing from the ears of men, that is a gene only carried by the males). Recessive genes can be a weakpoint, strongpoint or not influencial on the well-being of any animal.

It is however incorect to say that e rececive gene carries other abnormalities, as a single gene only accounts for itself. This calf may be the strongest ever, or have many other problems, all non related to the gene for albinism that is a single factor non sex linked recessive.

I kind of hope it survives long enought (Within a herd it is a slim possibility) as I would be facinated by a fully grown white buffalo. (As with Moby Dick, this is the stuff that legends are made of.)

Great rare pic.
Hope it gets old enough .
Hardly can call this camouflage

Maybe i tried to oversimplify it. It is well known that recessive gene's are often "connected " to other gene's that carry abnormalities, that if the one is expressed the other "weak treats" will also be expressed.For example cystic fibrosis albinism. yes not all recessive genes carry abnormalities. Take another example, people born with blue eyes,( that is a recessive trait), now physically there is nothing wrong with people who have blue eyes, but statistically it has been shown that people with blue eyes have in general poorer vision. But then again if we want to use the correct terms we must rather say that dominance and recessivity are properties of characters, not genes. [/quote]

Wild doc

Now you're talking , but we run the risk of steering off topic and boring some other forumites.

Seems like we may have a common interest in genetics (Mine purely amateur)

what a rare and special sighting...

but I am understanding my poor eyesight.
I am paying the price for Mel Gibson eyes

dougk I watched an entire documentary on tv which followed the lives of, I think it was, 4 species of animal from birth as albino through their life span. It was beautifully narated, entwined with African folklore, and you would be surprised how many survived, even found ways of adapting to their "differentness".