International Friends Day: Shining a light on social animals : When we talk about friends we never consider animals have friends or animals being social, more so animals in the wild. Well as the world celebrates international friends’ day allow us shine a light on the social animals in the wild. You may have seen them in the wild before or you may be yet to see them with is ok, it doesn’t hurt to know about them.
We are shining a light on these animals because we know animals like humans are capable having and sharing the same feelings and emotions like humans, so it’s good once in a while to highlight these things in these animals. It may be change the you look at them and also help you join the animal conservation movement.
We also urge you as you learn more about these social animals plan a safari today to go see them and enjoy their company. Contact one of our tour operators today and let them help you navigate the whole planning and coordination of your trip, you don’t have to suffer, we make it ease and enjoyable.
So here below are some of the most social animals you can find on your safari in East Africa.
- Elephants
Elephant community are matriarch communities. The males usually stay in solitude as the females and the young ones stay in close bonded herds led by the female. The group will have about 15 – 12 members, sometimes more of related females with their cubs. The elephants feed and nurture in these herds and also move as a herd. In times of danger the strong members of the herd usually the older females will shield the young ones and vulnerable and then go on to fight the enemy, that how they show their love for the family. When they are resting, the young ones can also play with the adult females. The females also find food or eating places for the herd.
You can find elephants Murchison Falls National Park, Kidepo National Park, Queen Elizabeth National Park in Uganda and Akagera National Park in Rwanda.
- Lions
Lions are the most social of all the wild cat species, and live in prides. While males have a harder life once they become older. But these big cats usually stay in their prides led by the males, who protect and mate with the females in the group. Interesting with these cats, the females usually find the eating places or the prey for the group; then the males take it from there by killing the prey and making it available for the group.
The females also nurture the young and keep the group neat together.
You can find lions in Queen Elizabeth National Park, Murchison Falls National Park and Kidepo National Park in Uganda, in Rwanda Akagera National Park in Rwanda.
- Mountain gorillas and Chimpanzees
These famous primates, both live in forests, the mountain gorillas in forested mountains whereas the chimpanzees in rain forests. They both live in closely knit groups led by the males; the chimpanzees live in bigger groups of about 20 to 30 members well as the mountain gorillas live in abit smaller groups of about 8 to 15 members. Both primate species since there are like humans like to keep close company with each other, like to nurture young ones, feed together, play together and do things together. This makes them some of the most social animals in the wild. The mountain gorillas are so closely knit in their families that if you attack one of them or their young ones the males will fight you to death.
Also to note, both these primate species are peaceful animals, so they can actually be friendly to humans though if disturbed they are very dangerous.
You can find mountain gorillas in Uganda’s Bwindi National Park and Mgahinga National park, Rwanda in Volcanoes National Park and Virunga National Park in the DRC.
The chimpanzees are found in Kibale National Park in Uganda, Nyungwe National Park in Rwanda and Virunga National Park in the DRC.
