Paintbrush Lily (Scadoxus puniceus): In the spring and early summer these flowers start to show themselves in the coastal ravines and forests of the Eastern Cape and KZN with each stalk bearing only one flower. The stalk appears before the leaves and may reach up to 50-60cm in height and is often spotted with purple near the base. The plants are dormant in winter and use large bulbs and roots to store moisture during this period. Birds love to feed on the nectar produced by the flowers and both
Environmental educator, Joan Young, who loves to stimulate people’s interest in the natural world. She shares her series titled: Nature’s WOW (World of Wonder) and she does this by educating on the full spectrum of South African fauna and flora.
Mauritian Tomb Bat (Tophozous mauritianus): They fly fairly fast and low over open grasslands or spaces in search of food which consists of flying insects including moths and termites which come out after rains. During the day they roost in large trees where the leaves afford them shelter or under the eaves of buildings. Mainly they can be seen in small groups of around 5-8 individuals hanging under the branches.
Whip scorpion (Damon annulatipes) Order Amblypygi: Despite their ferocious appearance which makes them look like a cross between a spider and a scorpion, they are neither but belong to a separate order as they do not have venom and are harmless to humans. Active at night, they often come into houses looking for food and as they are flat, can crawl into the narrowest of places. They move sideways like a crab.
Scops Owl – family Strigidae: These are one of the smallest species of owls with a body length of about 20cm and although very often seen in pairs, can be solitary. It roosts by day against a tree trunk and is well camouflaged among the foliage. Nests are made in hollow trees and an average of three eggs are laid per clutch. They are a woodland species that is absent from forests. Its diet consists of insects and scorpions, dropping down from its perch to catch them.
