For an unfortunate-looking animal, wildebeests certainly put on a spectacular show. The great wildebeest migration is the greatest movement of terrestrial mammals on Earth. Over a million wildebeest gallop through the Serengeti in search of greener pastures. Catching a glimpse of this action is a coveted safari dream. 4. Hyena When asked to vote thumbs up or thumbs down, Dragonflies class (Year 2) polled a mixture of thumbs up, thumbs down and thumbs in the middle. Dominic thought it was boring, but liked the pictures of the funny animals. Brandon thought it was too long and wasn’t funny. Maia liked “seeing animals I’ve never seen before”. Wildebeests may not be easy on the eyes, but they’re not terribly unattractive when compared to the other animals on this list. Besides, an ugly wildebeest wouldn’t know how ‘ugly’ it was, as their eyesight is extremely poor. The name ‘warthog’ doesn’t scream ‘ good looking’. And there’s no hiding the fact that they’re rather ill-favored in the beauty department. My real breakthrough was THE GRUFFALO, again illustrated by Axel. We work separately - he’s in London and I’m in Glasgow - but he sends me letters with lovely funny pictures on the envelopes.

I studied Drama and French at Bristol University, where I met Malcolm, a guitar-playing medic to whom I’m now married. As always, Julia Donaldson’s rhyming is fabulous. It is never forced or awkward and, with its rhythm and wit, is always a pleasure to read. The illustrations by Axel Scheffler are again lovely. His style is instantaneously recognisable and very child-friendly. The message of the book is charming - that beauty is indeed in the eye of the beholder and that we are perfect just the way we are. I really enjoy writing verse, even though it can be fiendishly difficult. I used to memorise poems as a child and it means a lot to me when parents tell me their child can recite one of my books. There are strong PSHE messages about celebrating everyone as they are and not judging on appearance. Many of the children commented on how important it was to love everyone, no matter what they look like. The book would also be a good starting point for a discussion on family and love within the family. As a faith school, we could then expand this further to discuss the concept of how we are all unique and yet loved by God.

Shy five include the meerkat, aardvark, porcupine, aardwolf, and the cute looking bat-eared fox. UGLY 5. The size of a hyena’s kill or scavenge depends on the size of its clan, which can range between 12 and 24 hyenas. Some clans even have more members. Any extra food will be hidden in watering holes. Hyenas never waste anything. They will even feed on the hooves of their prey. Did You Know? I also continued to write “grown-up” songs and perform them in folk clubs and on the radio, and have recently released two CDs of these songs.

Think about how the different animals move. Could you try to recreate these movements? Could you put together a dance or a performance to show these movements?Still, it pains me to say it, but I thought it was ever so slightly dull. I just don’t think it is destined to be a classic. In any game reserve, 2 nights should be a minimum stay to give you a decent amount of time to hunt down the animals you’re looking for. If you’re heading for the bush , the winter months (May to September) offer cooler temperatures and less greenery, which means animals can be seen more easily. Look through the story and sort some of the words that the author uses to describe the animals (e.g. ugly, spindly, graceful, divine). Which ones are positive and which are negative?

Oliver thought it was mysterious. Sonny pondered the message of the book and told me: “At the end of the book they weren’t really ugly at all - they were lovely.” There would be lots of ways to incorporate The Ugly Five into teaching. It would fit beautifully into any topic work on Africa or animals, particularly looking at how animals are suited to their habitats and the idea of food chains - both the vulture and the hyena are seen scavenging - and also how animals grow. Edward listened carefully and wisely pronounced: “It’s good that they don’t care what they look like, but I prefer The Gruffalo.” When thinking of exemplary mothers, spotted hyenas are usually not top of mind. Surprisingly, female spotted hyenas are incredible mothers. They spend more energy on each of their cubs than any terrestrial carnivore.Pregnancies for female wildebeests last for approximately 8.5 months. They give birth in middle of herd. The stomach acid of a vulture is more powerful and corrosive than that of other birds or animals. These scavengers can eat rotting carcasses infected by dangerous bacteria, as the acid kills the bacteria and does not threaten their health.

These large birds are commonly found in the Lowveld. They are crucial species when it comes to cleaning up the environment. Like hyenas and vultures, they feed on carrion (decaying flesh) and thus provide a huge service to other animals, with regards to diseases spreading. They are also opportunistic fishers often seen on the edges of waterholes, but will also feed on anything from termites to smaller birds. Marabou storks in Hluhluwe-iMfolozi tinged by MarcelYou get the Big 5 , the Little 5 , the Shy 5 . But you also get the Ugly 5 , an entirely subjective and somewhat jokey designation. Recently years a bit more attention has been given to other animals, again in the form of ‘fives’. However, the list is just created by Safari guides and conservationists who wanted people to give a look at other more elusive animal species in Africa’s wilderness. BIG 5. Their diet largely includes greens – such as grass, roots, and bulbs. They are often seen on their knees when feeding, as they also use their tusks for digging up food. The Wildebeest