I saw my first group of killer whales near Bird Island in Algoa Bay on the 20th Febtruary 1999. It was a group of four (three adults and a calf) spotted near a Bryde's Whale. they had captured a baby bottlenose dolphin and were "flicking" it to each other using their large flippers. The cries of the baby dolphin were quite unnerving but are one of the cruel things in nature that are necessary for a top predator's survival.

Killer whales are the largest member of the dolphin family. When any cetacean (group name forwhales, dolphins and porpoises) attains more than four metres it becomes known as a whale (withthe exception of the dwarf and pygmy sperm whales). Like many cetaceans these animals are knownby two names. The name Orca is derived from Orcus, the Roman god of the underworld whotortured wrongdoers in the afterlife. The term killer whale probably comes from the fact that theydo kill whales and were often seen feeding on dead whales during the days of whaling. These whalesare the top predators in the marine ecosystem.

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The Knysna seahorse (hippocampus capensis) is a species of fish in the Syngnathidae family and is native to South Africa.

It lives in the Keurbooms River in Plettenberg Bay (Plett), throughout the Knysna Lagoon and up to Swartvlei in Sedgefield.

It is one of the smallest kinds of seahorse and is on the verge of extinction due to extreme floods.

It feeds on a variety of zooplankton and is a very delicate little guy from 5-11 centimetres long.

It is usually a greenish-brown or dark brown colour and is the general "seahorse shape".

The body is basically made of a lot of bony rings, the snout is rather short and the neck arches in a smooth curve.

Seahorses have no teeth and no stomach. They lurk among vegetation using camouflage to ambush small prey items, such as plankton, which they then swallow whole.

When seahorses reproduce the eggs are sent to the male's pouch. Yes, unlike humans, the male becomes the pregnant one!

As soon as the seahorse is born it is sent to defend for itself.

-Jessica

The Red Panda is native to the eastern Himalayas and southwestern China. It is the only living species of the genus Ailrurus.

It is a little bit bigger than a domestic cat and has a reddish-brown coat and a long shaggy tail which it uses when climbing trees to help it stay balanced.

They also use their tails blankets to keep their faces warm in winter and autumn.

Don't be fooled by its adorable face and figure! These little creatures are actually quite dangerous. They have really sharp teeth as well as long claws.

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The Cape Dwarf Chameleon (Bradypodion pumilum), is native to South Africa and is an endangered species.

The Cape Dwarf Chameleon can reach lengths up to 6 inches, including the tail of course. And unlike many species, both male and females of this species are roughly the same size when they reach adulthood.

These chameleons are just under an inch when they are born! But they don’t hatch from eggs like other lizards. They are born live with very soft egg-like membrane around the them which is discarded immediately after birth. And literally, they look exactly like mini-versions of the adults!

Normally very very very slow moving, these chameleons also have a characteristic shake which let them look more like leaves to prey and predators. It is actually an interesting behavior shared with other chameleons.

And when they feel threatened or are provoked, they will actually inflate themselves, hiss, change colour dramatically!