In Touch with Nature – Cape Buffalo or ‘Black Death’

Posted: July 22, 2026 | Author: robertawrites235681907 | Filed under: Animals, In Touch With Nature, Nature, Photography, Poetry, Wildlife | Tags: #InTouchWithNature, #RobbieCheadle, Robbie Cheadle, South Africa, Wildlife, Writing to be Read | 40 Comments

I’m kicking off today’s post with my poem called Cape Buffalo or ‘Black Death’. This poem features in Story Chat Digest Where Stories Meet: An Anthology of Short Stories & Poems (Story Chat Series Book 3) compiled and edited by Marsha Ingrao. You can purchase this book from Amazon US here: https://www.amazon.com/Story-Chat-Digest-Where-Stories-ebook/dp/B0GRKS8QDD/

Cape Buffalo or ‘Black Death’

Don’t be fooled by my mild expression

or mislead by my delightfully curious look

Know I’ve never been domesticated

due to my unpredictable temperament

I’m not a wild yak or wild water buffalo

my attitude is cantankerous and bad

nicknamed ‘Black Death’ or ‘Widow Maker’

I am dangerous and extremely aggressive

fiercely protective of my young and herd

I will charge you with surprising speed

my ferocity will horrify you. Respect me!

Weighting up to 2,000 pounds

my massive frame is supported by

sturdy and muscular legs. Boy, can I move!

I’ll charge you at 56 kilometers per hour

My horns, a hard shield called a ‘boss’

cover my entire head. I use them for defence

against my natural predators including lions,

African wild dogs, spotted hyenas, and Nile crocodiles

You are nothing – you have no teeth and no fur

I will use my horns to toss you with intention

your fall to the ground knocking the air from your lungs

effectively disabling you. Then, I will gore you

while trampling you with focused determination

If you hunt me, don’t miss.

Don’t leave me wounded.

I will deliberately and consciously

hunt you down. Lying in wait for your return

I am a dangerous adversary, and I will kill you.

My painting of a Cape buffalo inspired the above poem. I wasn’t entirely happy with the yes so I repainted them and this is the updated photograph.

Picture caption: Acrylic painting of a Cape buffalo by Robbie Cheadle

Interesting facts about Cape Buffalo

Calf-feeding hack – mother buffaloes have a unique adaption that allows their young to suckle from between their hind legs. This allows the calf to feed while its mother and the rest of the herd are on the move.

Watch my YouTube video to see a Cape buffalo calf feeding from between its mother’s hind legs.

Helmet of bone – Male and female Cape buffalo have horns but older bulls develop a fused, hardened shield across their foreheads known as a “boss”. This helmet acts as a crash helmet during intense territorial fights between the males.

Watch my YouTube video to see a set of magnificent Cape buffalo horns:

The “Dagga Boys” – older male buffalo leave the main breeding herd to live alone or in small bachelor groups called dagga boys. Dagha is the Zulu and Xhosa word for mud. Older male bulls are well known for their fondness for wallowing in mud to protect themselves from the sun and biting insects.

Picture caption: A lone male Cape buffalo covered in thick mud. The animal is feeding at sunset. I love this picture with the golden sky and green grass.

Picture caption: I got pictures of this ‘old boy’ at the salt lick in Madikwe Game Reserve. In this picture you can clearly see his ‘boss’ and you can also see his is old.

Unmatched defense – Cape buffalo are very protective of their herds and have been known to actively mob and chase off lions to rescue injured calves or herd-mates. They were nicknamed ‘black death’ by big game hunters in Africa due to their aggressive and highly unpredictable natures when threatened or wounded. Cape buffalo have killed more hunters in African than almost any other large animal. Unlike other animals that run away when injured, wounded buffalo are known to circle back and hide in the thick, tall grass. When the hunter tracks the buffalo into the bush, it ambushes him.

I was especially pleased with the following two photographs of a male Cape buffalo taken in the Pilanesberg Game Reserve. The buffalo was very close to the vehicle and the winter sun was shining on his horns and coat.

About Robbie Cheadle

Picture caption: Robbie Cheadle author photograph 2025

Roberta Eaton Cheadle, is a South African writer and poet specialising in historical, paranormal, and horror novels and short stories. She is an avid reader in these genres and her writing has been influenced by famous authors including Bram Stoker, Edgar Allan Poe, Amor Towles, Stephen Crane, Enrich Maria Remarque, George Orwell, Stephen King, and Colleen McCullough.

Roberta has two published novels and a collection of short stories and has horror, paranormal, and fantasy short stories included in several anthologies. She is also a contributor to the Ask the Authors 2022 (WordCrafter Writing Reference series).

Roberta is also the author and illustrator of seventeen children’s books, illustrator to a further three children’s books, and the author and illustrator of four poetry books published under the name of Robbie Cheadle, and has poems and short stories featured in several anthologies under this name.

Roberta’s blog features discussions about classic books, book reviews, poetry, and photography. https://roberta-writes.com/.

Find Roberta Eaton Cheadle

Blog: https://wordpress.com/view/robertawrites235681907.wordpress.com

Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/robbiecheadle.bsky.social

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/robertawrites

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Roberta-Eaton-Cheadle/e/B08RSNJQZ5

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Like this post? Are you a fan of this blog series? Did you know you can sponsor your favorite blog series or even a single post with an advertisement for your book? Stop by the WtbR Sponsor Page and let me advertise your book, or you can make a donation to Writing to be Read for as little as a cup of coffee, If you’d like to show your support for this author and WordCrafter Press.

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This segment of “In Touch with Nature” is sponsored by the Midnight Anthology Series and WordCrafter Press.

Midnight Roost: Weird and Creepy Stories: 20 authors bring your nightmares to life in 23 stories of ghosts, paranormal phenomenon and the horror from the dark crevasses of their minds. Stories of stalkers, both human and supernatural, possession and occult rituals, alien visitations of the strange kind, and ghostly tales that will give you goosebumps. These are the tales that will make you fear the dark. Read them at the Midnight Roost… if you dare. https://www.amazon.com/Midnight-Roost-Kaye-Lynne-Booth-ebook/dp/B0CL6FPLVJ

Midnight Garden: Where Dark Tales Grow: 17 authors bring you 21 magnificent dark tales. Stories of magic, monsters and mayhem. Tales of murder and madness which will make your skin crawl. These are the tales that explore your darkest fears. Read them in the Midnight Garden… if you dare. https://www.amazon.com/Midnight-Garden-Where-Tales-Anthology-ebook/dp/B0DJNDQJD3

Midnight Oil: Stories to Fuel Your Nightmares: 14 authors bring you 16 dark tales that explore your deepest fears. These are the stories which nightmares are made of. Tales of monsters, mayhem, and madness which will make you shiver in the dark. Read them while you burn the Midnight Oil… if you dare. https://books2read.com/Midnight-Oil

In Touch with Nature – Tailor Ants, Fire Ants, and Army Ants

Posted: June 24, 2026 | Author: robertawrites235681907 | Filed under: Animals, In Touch With Nature, Nature, Photography, Poetry, Wildlife | Tags: #armyants, #InTouchWithNature, #RobbieCheadle, #tailorants, In Touch With Nature, Robbie Cheadle, South Africa, Wildlife, Writing to be Read | 78 Comments

Blogging friend, Barbara Harris Leonhard and editor of MasticadoresUSA, recently published a few of my micro poems that focused on tailor ants.

This is the first poem of three:

angry ants

fiercely protect nest

painful bite

You can read the other two poems here: https://masticadoresusa.wordpress.com/2026/06/08/a-trio-of-haiku-by-robbie-cheadle/

Several of the comments referred to fire ants that are found in the USA and, while tailor ants also inflict a nasty bite and are aggressive, they are not the same creatures. I decided to write this post and set out the differences between tailor ants and fire ants.

I’ve always been interested in army ants so I decided to include them in this post as well.

Primary differences between tailor ants, fire ants, and army ants

Nesting habits

Tailor ants live in trees. They ‘tailor’ or weave living leaves together to create nests. Worker ants form long chains to pull the leaf edges together while others carry ant larvae in their jaws and use the silk the grubs secret as a natural ‘glue’ to bind the leaves together.

Fire ants build nests that appear as irregular mounds of loose soil or flat patches ranging from flat piles to domes up to 45 cm high. The nests have no obvious entry or exit holes. Ants emerge from underground foragers or swarm out of the sides when disturbed. Fire ants nests are usually found in warm, open, and sunny areas such as lawns, garden beds, near water sources, and on newly disturbed ground.

Army ants do not construct permanent nests out of soil, wood, or leaves. Instead, they assemble temporary, living nests called bivouacs. Bivouacs are const-shaped structures that house the queen and larvae and are built from the living bodies of the worker ants by interlocking their legs and mandibles. Bivouacs have internal chambers and tunnels to control temperature and humidity. As army ants colonies are constantly on the move, a new bivouac is assembled nearly every night. The colony stays in a fixed location for several weeks while the queen is laying eggs and the larvae are developing.

Foraging and hunting

Tailor ants are aggressive and defend their canopy territories by biting and spraying formic acid. Tailor ants are omnivores and hunt and eat a wide variety of crop-destroying insects and other small arthropods. They ‘farm’ sap-sucking insects like scale buys and mealybugs, protecting them from predators in exchange for their sweet, carbohydrate-rich liquid excretions. Tailor ants also consume floral and extrafloral nectar, fruit juices and plant wound secretions.

Fire ants are highly aggressive, opportunistic omnivores that hunt and scavenge using complex underground tunnel networks that extend up to 10 metres from the central mound. Individual scouts explore the surface and when a large prey is found, the scout lays a chemical pheromone trail as it returns to the nest. The pheromone acts as a biochemical alarm and recruitment trigger. The resting ants (about two thirds of the nest) awaken and follow the trail forming a dense trail of thousands of ants that overwhelm and subdue the prey. Fire ants consume live and dead insects as well as immobile, sick, or helpless animals including baby birds and reptiles. Like tailor ants, fire ants ‘farm’ sap-sucking insects like aphids to harvest their sugar-rich secretions. Fire ants also collect and eat seeds.

Army ants are ground-dwelling, mass-raiding predators. During their massive daily foraging raids, the colony can overwhelm hundreds of thousands of prey to feed their queen and growing larvae. Army ants eat insects and arachnids including spiders, scorpions, crickets, beetles, caterpillars and termites. Army ants also raid the nests of other ant species and consume their eggs, larvae and pupae. Sometimes, army ants will overwhelm slow-moving or trapped smaller animals such as baby birds, lizards, and frogs. Army ants use their powerful, scissor-like jaws to slice their prey into transportable fragments which they carry back to their bivouacs.

Physical traits and defense

Tailor ants workers are uniformly sized and have excellent eyesight for navigating tree branches. The aggressively defend their canopy with painful bites combined with spraying formic acid directly into the wound.

Fire ants workers range in size from 2 mm to 6 mm. If a fire ants mound is disturbed or vibrated, workers immediately rush out and release alarm pheromones into the air to alert the entire colony to defend the nest. Fire ants immediately swarm vertical surfaces and will rapidly climb up legs, tools or structures in vast numbers. Fire ants sting in a highly synchronized, two-stage maneuver whereby the ant latches onto skin or clothing using its strong mandibles. The ant then tucks its abdomen under its body and inserts its stinger, injecting a toxic venom called solenopsin. The ant pivots its head in a circular pattern repeatedly stinging the victim multiple times from a single anchored bite site.

Many species of army ants are completely blind and they rely heavily on complex pheromone trails. The have highly developed mandibles for tearing prey apart. There is an extreme size difference between the workers and the much larger, scissor-jawed soldier ants used for defense.

The gallery below features my photographs of tailor ants taken at Cape Vidal in Kwa-Zulu Natal in January this year.

This is my YouTube video fo angry tailor ants. They shake when they are disturbed.

About Robbie Cheadle

Roberta’s blog features discussions about classic books, book reviews, poetry, and photography. https://roberta-writes.com/.

Find Roberta Eaton Cheadle

Blog: https://wordpress.com/view/robertawrites235681907.wordpress.com

Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/robbiecheadle.bsky.social

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/robertawrites

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Roberta-Eaton-Cheadle/e/B08RSNJQZ5

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This segment of “In Touch with Nature” is sponsored by the Midnight Anthology Series and WordCrafter Press.

LINDSEY’S WRITING PRACTICE: Interview with Author & Poet Robbie Cheadle & A Review

Posted: June 3, 2026 | Author: Lindsey Martin-Bowen | Filed under: Books, Collection, Interview, Lindsey's Writing Practice, Poetry, Review | Tags: Book Reveiw, Interview, Lindsey Martin-Bowen, Lindsey's Writing Practice, Lion Scream, Nature, Poetrty Collection, Robbie Cheadle, South Africa, Wildlife, Writing to be Read | 50 Comments

Lindsey's Writing Practice Banner: Woman with giant pencil standing next to stack of giant papers. Bookshelves in the background. Text: Lindsey's Writing Practice with Lindsey Martin-Bowen

How do I define Robbie (a/k/a Roberta) Cheadle?

In essence: Amazing. This multi-talented, empathetic, creative woman displays talents in many areas.

Further, she pens words that she hopes will move others to help protect our world.

Along with writing poetry books, novels, short stories, and children’s literature, Robbie Cheadle not only decorates some of her pages with exquisite, professional photos that she shot—and even more amazing, she fashions cakes with sculptures of lions and other African wildlife, and flowers that accompany her writings.

Here’s a chance to peer into the mind of this remarkable woman. Enjoy!

About Roberta Eaton (Robbie) Cheadle

Roberta’s blog features discussions about classic books, book reviews, poetry, and photography. https://roberta-writes.com/.

My Interview with Robbie Cheadle

How did you come to write poetry?

From a young age (4 years old), I read a great deal. Television was very limited in South Africa when I was a child and my first sister was only born when I was 4 years old. Catherine was born prematurely and my parents moved to a cottage on a farm in the country to try to protect her from germs. I didn’t attend school during this time, and I had to entertain myself. I did that by reading. I grew to love the L.M. Montgomery books, especially her lesser-known series, Emily of New Moon. In the books, Emily’s late father was a poet and writer. Emily tries her hand at poetry as a way of keeping his memory alive. I was inspired by Emily to
write short poems and descriptive pieces and did this throughout my senior primary school and high school years. English and History were my favourite subjects at school, and I excelled at both of them. I have been writing poetry ever since. It has evolved into a diary of my life.

What is your favourite poem by another poet?

When I was in primary school, about ten years old, we had to learn several poems by heart. Ever since then I have loved The Listeners by Walter de la Mare. The poem is full of mystery and delight.

The Listeners

By Walter de La Mare

‘Is there anybody there?’ said the Traveller,
   Knocking on the moonlit door;
And his horse in the silence champed the grasses
   Of the forest’s ferny floor:
And a bird flew up out of the turret,
   Above the Traveller’s head:
And he smote upon the door again a second time;
   ‘Is there anybody there?’ he said.
But no one descended to the Traveller;
   No head from the leaf-fringed sill
Leaned over and looked into his grey eyes,
   Where he stood perplexed and still.
But only a host of phantom listeners
   That dwelt in the lone house then
Stood listening in the quiet of the moonlight
   To that voice from the world of men:

Stood thronging the faint moonbeams on the dark stair,
   That goes down to the empty hall,
Hearkening in an air stirred and shaken
   By the lonely Traveller’s call.
And he felt in his heart their strangeness,
   Their stillness answering his cry,
While his horse moved, cropping the dark turf,
   ’Neath the starred and leafy sky;
For he suddenly smote on the door, even
   Louder, and lifted his head:—
‘Tell them I came, and no one answered,
   That I kept my word,’ he said.
Never the least stir made the listeners,
   Though every word he spake
Fell echoing through the shadowiness of the still house
   From the one man left awake:
Ay, they heard his foot upon the stirrup,
   And the sound of iron on stone,
And how the silence surged softly backward,
   When the plunging hoofs were gone.

I like this poem so much I did a recording of it for my YouTube channel: https://youtu.be/gy_7mM2RcuI?si=Gmf2kfXkwrCoBnjp

What is your favourite of your own poems?

Currently, this is my favourite of my own poems:

Life on the Water (Tanka story)
medley of cool shades
cerulean and turquoise
lightened or darkened
depending on water’s mood
and artist’s vision

***

painstaking brush strokes
capturing shadows and light
frothy, foaming crests
enhanced with metallic white
dancing across blue

***

water shifts and sighs
subtle movements captured in
careful ripple lines
swiftly flowing currents caught
in muted aquamarine

***

sand laden wavelets
curl sluggishly around rocks
smothered by sweet caress
of ocean’s heaving bosom
with its rhythmic rise and fall

***

houseboat moves onwards
temple to unconstrained thoughts
colours meld as one
in swirls, rises, and deep troughs
impermanent no longer

***

dreams, soft and wispy
condensation trails through sky
subtle as sunlight
transferred to stark, white canvas
soft splashes ricocheting

Painting of a lighthouse at the base of a cliff.

Picture caption: My acrylic painting called Fyrtorr which means beacon in Old English.

Tell us a bit about the inspiration for Lion Scream

Here’s an extract from Lion Scream:

The initial idea for a book of poetry that taught people about the numerous amazing creatures of southern Africa and highlighted their plight in the face of the Sixth Mass Extinction, came to me during a visit to Ukutula Lodge & Game Reserve (“Ukutula”).
Ukutula is also a conservation facility specializing in genetic mammal research and predator conservation.

On my return home, my brother-in-law gifted me a print of Edvard Munch’s famous painting, The Scream.

According to a diary entry by Munch, the inspiration for this painting was as follows:

“One evening I was walking along a path, the city was on one side and the fjord below. I felt
tired and ill. I stopped and looked out over the fjord – the sun was setting, and the clouds
turning blood red. I sensed a scream passing through nature; it seemed to me that I heard
the scream. I painted this picture, painted the clouds as actual blood. The color shrieked.
This became The Scream.”

Based on The Scream, I created a cake I titled Lion Scream – Nature’s Response to the Sixth Mass Extinction and Global Warming, which depicted a lion, made from fondant, clasping its face and screaming, while standing on a bridge above a river of blood. Behind the lion, is an erupting volcano.

This cake was intended to be an artistic depiction of the natural world’s reaction to
continuous land development by humans, resulting in the loss of habitat for the creatures
which share this earth with us, and the increasing impact of global warming on humanity
and the greater planet.

Lion Scream: Nature’s Response to the Sixth Mass

Cake decorated with fondant art: Mountain with a distressed lion on top

Picture Caption: Extinction and Global Warming Cake Art by Robbie Cheadle

Have you witnessed the killing of an African animal which acted as a trigger for your interest in animal conservation?

When I was 21, I met a man who hunted animals for sport. Prior to this, I had never had much interaction with wild animals other than in zoos. My mother grew up on a cattle farm and had little interest in engaging with animals in the wild. Interestingly, I’ve noticed she shares this disinterest with other people I know who also grew up on farms. Anyhow, this man invited me to go to Kimberley with him and his friends. They were going hunting, but they were also going to visit the ‘big hole’ in Kimberley which is an interesting feature of South African history. I agreed to go because I wanted to see Kimberley. The hunting trip was a complete horror show for me. I hadn’t really thought about what a hunting trip meant, and the men attempted to kill an antelope. It was a common antelope, what I call “lion snacks” as they keep the stock of impalas high in game reserves because they are food for the
big cats. The shooter’s shot went wide, and he ended up wounding a baby impala. Aside from any other aspect, it was not the right season for hunting as the mother antelopes had small calves. The baby ran making the most terrible high-pitched sound, and the men had to go after the poor little thing. Eventually, they did put it out of its misery. I was completely horrified. After this trip, I ended the relationship and became involved in wildlife conservation. This has developed into my poetry books and paintings featuring southern African wildlife.

What’s next?

Currently, I am busy with the final edits to a collection so South African inspired short stories and poems. The book is called The Last Man, South African History, Legends, & Poetry. This book will be published through TSL Publication in the United Kingdom. I am also working on several new poetry collections and the second book in the Something Fancy book collection. This second book, Chocolate & Treats, should be ready for publication in early November this year. I always have a lot of projects on the go. I am also painting. My latest painting is of a Vervet Monkey and is part of my Into the Light series of painting. I am planning to paint an African Painted Dog next. It will be a much bigger project. I do a small one in between the larger ones so that I can practice drawing more often. The big paintings take me three to four months to complete.

Thank you for this lovely interview opportunity, Lindsey. I appreciate your interest in my work.

Lindsey’s Review of LION SCREAM Syllabic Poetry about Southern African Wildlife
by Robbie Cheadle

Not only is Robbie Cheadle (a/k/a Roberta Cheadle) an excellent, engaging poet and fiction writer, she’s a woman with a mission—a crucial mission for not only the future of our planet and the wildlife on it, but for humanity itself. Plus, in this 163-page collection, her method of persuasion includes not only facts and figures about the demise of many of our planet’s creatures in Africa, it delights the reader with superb—and righteous, at times biting, poetry and fiction.

Most delightful is Cheadle’s use of the constraints of syllabic structure in unrhymed forms that recreate the tension between wild beasts and the fragment of society pushing them off their native environments. For example, the book’s opening poem, “Lion Scream” is a perfectly structured tanka (one of my favorite forms). I perceive the tanka as a haiku with more depth. As opposed to the 17-line poem, tankas are structured in five lines with the syllabic form: five, seven, five, seven, seven, which Cheadle does in “Lion Scream”:

There is no jungle
Only acres of smooth stumps
There is no jungle
No habitat, no food source
Hopeless lion screams tonight
(Cheadle credits “The Lion Sleeps Tonight” in Disney’s The Lion King with inspiring this
tanka.)

Although the collection contains other tankas, most of the poems are set in the Double Enneal format, far more complex. A Double Ennead comprises three stanzas of five lines each. Thus, the syllabic count for each stanza is 6/5/11/6/5, (33 syllables per stanza) i.e., each stanza is set as:

six syllables
five syllables
eleven syllables
six syllable
five syllables

Again, each of those syllabic counts are repeated in the second and third stanzas, totaling ninety-nine syllables for each poem.

In the collection’s introduction, Cheadle explains why she uses this format most frequently throughout the book:

“I selected this form of syllabic poem for LION SCREAM for two reasons . . . because I love syllabic poetry and the short dramatic statements it enables me to make through a few carefully chosen words.”

Her second reason concerns her mission: “. . . due to the importance of nature conservation to me, and my desire to share insights about the impact of habitat loss, hunting, and poaching on the wild animals of southern Africa, I decided that 99 syllables gave me more, a little more scope to make my specific points.”

Further, Cheadle photographed all but three of the photos in the book. After perusing the collection she shot —on par with those in National Geographic, depicting several species of wildlife, I felt as if I’d viewed a video of Africa, particularly in those sections about lions, elephants, and zebra, creatures especially close to my heart.

I admit my first encounter with elephants and camels was in the Kansas City Zoo, where we children rode those captive creatures. This book brought back those memories from an era wherein most persons believed such wildlife would continue to stroll the earth indefinitely.But Cheadle reveals that is no longer a future many experts anticipate.

Along with her own photos, the collection offers links to many of Africa’s animals. For instance, in the section, “My Experiences with Rhinos,” she includes four links to videos she took of rhinos, after noting, “My most recent sightings have largely been of dehorned animals, which I always find jarring. It is strange to see a rhino without its famous horn.”

Having grown up in South Africa, she first saw horned rhinos, and she questions, “I wonder if my grandchildren will know rhinos have horns. If the fight against poaching is unsuccessful, my grandchildren will only experience rhinos through pictures in history books.”

From the number of Double Enneads she included for elephants and lions, it appears they may be her favorite beasts. Along with those long poems and marvelous photographs, she includes sections, “About African Elephants, “My Experiences with Elephants,” “My Experiences with Lions,” and “More Experiences with Lions.”

Then, she wraps up the poetry section with photos of the African landscapes. A Double Ennead, “The Romance of the Sunflowers” and an explanation about how sunflowers feed the environment in “Sunflowers and the Environment” precede photos of African landscapes of mountains, plains, and striking sunsets, interlaced, of course, with more poetry.

Cheadle wraps up this collection with a short story, “The Nutcracker,” which deals primarily with how the changing environment causing the loss of wildlife can impact the human species, too. She follows that piece with her inspiration and explanation of the story. I rate this collection with FIVE STARS. Thank you, Robbie, for sharing it.
—Lindsey Martin-Bowen

About Lion Scream

Do you rely on Earth for your survival?

Lion Scream is a graphic collection of poetry and prose. The book portrays the author’s experiences with South African wildlife and the growing impact of the Sixth Mass Extinction and Climate Change on the natural environment.

Lion Scream
There is no jungle
Only acres of smooth stumps
There is no jungle
No habitat, no food source
Hopeless lion screams tonight

Purchase Link: https://www.amazon.com/Lion-Scream-Syllabic-Southern-Wildlife-ebook/dp/B0BXP5N766

About Lindsey Martin-Bowen

On Halloween 2023, redbat books released Lindsey Martin-Bowen’s 7th poetry collection, CASHING CHECKS with Jim Morrison. Her 4th collection, Where Water Meets the Rock, was nominated for a Pulitzer; her 3rd, CROSSING KANSAS with Jim Morrison was a finalist in the QuillsEdge Press 2015-2016 Contest. In 2017, it won the Kansas Writers Assn award, “Looks Like a Million.” Writer’s Digest gave her “Vegetable Linguistics” an Honorable Mention in its 85th Annual (2017) Contest. Her Inside Virgil’s Garage (Chatter House Press 2013) was a runner-up in the 2015 Nelson Poetry Book Award. McClatchy Newspapers named her Standing on the Edge of the World (Woodley Press/Washburn University) was one of the Ten Top Poetry Books of 2008. It was nominated for a Pen Award.

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Did you know you can sponsor your favorite blog series or even a single post with an advertisement for your book? Stop by the WtbR Sponsor Page and let me advertise your book, or you can make a donation to Writing to be Read for as little as a cup of coffee, If you’d like to show your support for this author and WordCrafter Press.

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This Segment of “Lindsey’s Writing Practice” is sponsored by WordCrafter Press and The Dark Horse Waits in Boulder, by Lindsey Martin-Bowen.

Recently divorced Charli Erickson arrives in Boulder, Colorado during the 1970s—a wild time for that city—where she hopes to develop her “rock poet” talent and find the perfect mate. Instead, she links up with the imperfect Ched Lyons, a Boulder native who leads her in a multitude of adventures, including scaling a mountain and a 1,200-mile motorcycle ride to southeastern Utah. While she intermittently envisions a black stallion with blue eyes, who puzzles and enchants her, she also strives to make sense of its appearance.

Through Charli’s snarky humor recounting her tales, readers will enjoy this Rom-Com doubling as a woman’s adventure story and may relate to scenes from the wild, zany era that followed the serious, revolutionary 1960s.

Get your copy today: https://books2read.com/The-Dark-Horse-Waits-in-Boulder

In Touch with Nature – The Animal Performance (Cabaret)

Posted: May 27, 2026 | Author: robertawrites235681907 | Filed under: Animals, In Touch With Nature, Nature, Photography, Poetry, Wildlife | Tags: #InTouchWithNature, #RobbieCheadle, In Touch With Nature, Leopards, Robbie Cheadle, South Africa, Writing to be Read | 80 Comments

This month’s In Touch With Nature post is a little different. It is a re-write of Willkommen to Cabaret and is also an entry into Dan Antion’s Thursday Doors Writing Challenge 2026. To this end, some of the photographs set out below are from Dan’s challenge. I’ve attributed those photographs in the picture captions.

You can join in Dan’s challenge here: https://nofacilities.com/thursday-doors-writing-challenge-2026/

The song incorporates a few phrases in Afrikaans and Zulu. The order in these instances, is Afrikaans, Zulu and then English.

Welcome to the Kit Kat Klub!

Picture caption: Animal Performance at the KitKat Club. Photograph contributed to Dan’s TDWC26 by Robbie Cheadle.

Welkom, wamukelekile, welcome

Oppasser, Umlondolozi wezilwane, animal carer

Bly om jou te sien, ngijabule ukukubona, happy to see you

Bly hier, hlala lapha, stay

***

Welkom, wamukelekile, welcome

Aan die diere-opvoering, ekusebenzeni kweSilwane, to the animal performance

***

Dames en here, manene namanenekazi, ladies and gentlemen

Goeie aand, sawubona, good evening

Voel jy goed? uzwa kahle? do you feel good?

I’m sure you’re excited

Ek is jou gasheer, mina ngingowakho, I am your host

Picture caption: **I AM YOUR HOST!** Photograph of a squirrel peeping through a doorway. Contributed to Dan’s TDWC26 by Maureen.

Just saying

Welkom, wamukelekile, welcome

Aan die diere-opvoering, ekusebenzeni kweSilwane, to the animal performance

***

Leave your preconceptions outside

You’re in for the time of your life

Everything is interesting here

Here nature is at its best

The animals are beautiful

Even the predators are beautiful

Picture caption: Lion eating an impala. Photograph by Robbie Cheadle.

You see? I told you the predators were beautiful

***

And now presenting the Performing Herbivores

Speedy (Speedy’s name is due to her speed coming down a tree)

Picture caption: Speedy the tree squirrel. Picture by Robbie Cheadle at the Pilanesberg National Game Reserve in April 2025.

Paws (Paws is always ready to shake you by the hand. He’s such a friendly tree squirrel)

Picture caption: Paws the tree squirrel. Picture by Robbie Cheadle at the Pilanesberg National Game Reserve in April 2025.

Shadow! (Shadow likes to hide behind trees

It makes her really difficult to spot in the bush)

Picture caption: Shadow the Cape buffalo. Picture by Robbie Cheadle at the Pilanesberg National Game Reserve in April 2025

Patches! (Patches is a young male tsessebe.

One of the fastest antelope in Africa, he can run at speeds up to 90 km/h)

Picture caption: Patches the young male Tsessebe. Picture by Robbie Cheadle at the Pilanesberg National Game Reserve in April 2025.

Alice! (Alice is the most beautiful girl in the show

She has the longest eye lashes you’ve ever seen

She’s great to look at but she isn’t much of a conversationalist)

Picture caption: Alice the giraffe. Picture by Robbie Cheadle at the Pilanesberg National Game Reserve in April 2025.

And Jemimah! (Jemimah is the baby of the show. She is very shy and doesn’t like being photographed.

She runs away and I only get her backside

It’s a pity as she’s really such an adorable little thing)

***

Speedy, Paws, Shadow, Patches, Alice and Jemimah

Each and every one important to the eco system. You don’t believe me? Hmmm?

Well don’t take my word for it. Do your own research!

***

Outside its autumn and the trees are decked in auburn finery

The veld is a rich orange interspersed with yellow

Inside its lovely too. We are showing off some amazing creatures

Today you are gaining more appreciation

***

Just saying

Welkom, wamukelekile, welcome

Aan die diere-opvoering, ekusebenzeni kweSilwane, to the animal performance

***

We are here to educate you!

And now presenting the Performing Carnivores!

Here they are!

Koning, Mufasa, and Leo

They are a trio

Male pride

Koning or King is the dominant male of the pride

He is the alpha male

Biff (Don’t be fooled by his innocent look!

Biff is the most efficient killer in the Bush with a 90% kill rate)

Picture caption: Biff the African Painted Wild Dog photographed by Robbie Cheadle.

Peter (Peter is extremely dangerous with bone crushing jaws

His bite force exceeds 1,000 PSI

Picture caption: Peter the spotted hyena photographed by Robbie Cheadle.

And, finally, the toast of the Bush, Esmerelda the Cheetah

Fastest animal in the world!

Picture caption: Esmerelda the female cheetah photographed by Robbie Cheadle.

Bly hier, hlala lapha, stay

Welkom, wamukelekile, welcome

That’s Koning

Aan die diere-opvoering, ekusebenzeni kweSilwane, to the animal performance

Welkom, wamukelekile, welcome

Oppasser, Umlondolozi wezilwane, animal carer

Hello Animal Carer!

It’s a great pleasure to see you here

Enchanted Madame

Happy to see …

You!

Bly hier, hlala lapha, stay!

We say

Welkom, wamukelekile, welcome

Oppasser, Umlondolozi wezilwane, animal carer

Bly om jou te sien, ngijabule ukukubona, happy to see you

Bly hier, hlala lapha, stay!

We say

Welkom, wamukelekile, welcome

Aan die diere-opvoering, ekusebenzeni kweSilwane, to the animal performance

***

Thank you!

Koning, Mufasa, Leo, Biff, Peter, Speedy, Paws,

Shadow, Patches, Alice and Jemimah, Esmerelda, and Me!

Welcome to the Kit Kat Klub!

If you would like to watch the original song from the movie featuring Joel Grey and Liza Minnelli.

About Roberta Eaton Cheadle

Roberta’s blog features discussions about classic books, book reviews, poetry, and photography. https://roberta-writes.com/.

Find Roberta Eaton Cheadle

Blog: https://wordpress.com/view/robertawrites235681907.wordpress.com

Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/robbiecheadle.bsky.social

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/robertawrites

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Roberta-Eaton-Cheadle/e/B08RSNJQZ5

___________________________________________

__________________________________________

This segment of “In Touch with Nature” is sponsored by the Midnight Anthology Series and WordCrafter Press.

In Touch with Nature – The magnificent male leopard

Posted: April 22, 2026 | Author: robertawrites235681907 | Filed under: Animals, In Touch With Nature, Nature, Photography, Poetry, Wildlife | Tags: #InTouchWithNature, #RobbieCheadle, In Touch With Nature, Leopards, Robbie Cheadle, South Africa, Writing to be Read | 47 Comments

Characteristics of male leopards

Leopards are powerful big cats and are closely related to lions, tigers, and jaguars.

The easiest way to tell the difference between a male and a female leopard is its size. Adult males typically weigh between sixty and seventy-five kilograms and are significantly larger and broader than females.

Male leopards establish large territories covering between thirty and one hundred kilometres and have a distinctive dewlap (loose skin under the neck). The heads of male leopards are broader and larger than the heads of females. The footprints of the males are also typically larger with a more rounded outer edge to the rear pad.

Males are solitary, coming together with females for only six or seven days to mate. The territory of a single males may overlap with those of several females.

Young male leopards leave their mothers to become independent at around eighteen to twenty four months of age. Males stay with their mothers longer than females in order to fully master hunting and territorial skills before leaving to live on their own. Male leopards become dominant at between four to six years of age and usually have to fight other males for control of territory.

In South Africa, leopards generally inhabit the same areas as lions and hyenas and compete with them for food.

Male leopards live for between ten and fifteen years, provided they survive their early, vulnerable years.

Slide the bar below to see the male (first picture) and the female (second picture) leopards.

Gallery

The gallery below sets out some of the photographs I took of a male leopard.

Picture captions: The pictures in the gallery above are of a female leopard. Her kill had fallen from the tree and she was picking at the remains. She then went up the tree and was resting on a branch and cleaning herself just like a house cat. The last picture is a dead baby zebra in a tree. It was dragged up there by a leopard which then left it to go and get a drink of water. It was a very tiny zebra so a little sad but leopards have to eat.

Into the Light: Leopard – artwork

Picture caption: Into the Light: Leopard in watercolours. An original artwork by Robbie Cheadle.

Exotic Pets (Double Ennead)

The poem below is extracted from my book ‘Lion Scream‘.

Bought as exotic pets
We are rescue cubs
Our owner didn’t know we could never be tamed
Our play is boisterous
We chew everything
***
Just over three months old
We have all our spots
And our denim-blue eyes have turned bright yellow
Play fighting each other
Teaches hunting skills
***
Everything is brand new
Exciting to us
A spider in its web, an experience
For our sister, who snaps,
And tries to eat it

Picture caption: Cover of Lion Scream available from Amazon here: https://www.amazon.com/Lion-Scream-Syllabic-Southern-Wildlife-ebook/dp/B0BXP5N766

About Roberta Eaton Cheadle

Roberta’s blog features discussions about classic books, book reviews, poetry, and photography. https://roberta-writes.com/.

Find Roberta Eaton Cheadle

Blog: https://wordpress.com/view/robertawrites235681907.wordpress.com

Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/robbiecheadle.bsky.social

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/robertawrites

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Roberta-Eaton-Cheadle/e/B08RSNJQZ5

___________________________________________

__________________________________________

This segment of “In Touch with Nature” is sponsored by the Midnight Anthology Series and WordCrafter Press.

In Touch with Nature – Leopards

Posted: March 25, 2026 | Author: robertawrites235681907 | Filed under: Animals, In Touch With Nature, Nature, Photography, Poetry, Wildlife | Tags: #InTouchWithNature, #RobbieCheadle, In Touch With Nature, Leopards, Robbie Cheadle, South Africa, Writing to be Read | 78 Comments

Introduction and fun facts

Leopards are my husband’s favourite animal. They are very difficult to see in the wild because they are nocturnal, they are rare, and they are solitary. The best game reserve in South Africa to see leopards is Sabi Sands and this is where we went for our wedding anniversary last year to finally get good sightings of leopards.

We were at the reserve for 48 hours and went on 4 game drives during that time. We had two wonderful sightings of leopards. The first was of a mother and her juvenile youngster. The second was of the father.

Here are a few initial facts about leopards:

Most leopards are light coloured and have dark spots called rosettes on their fur. There are also black leopards which also have spots, but the spots are hard to see against their dark fur. Black leopards are called melanistic leopards;
Leopards are found in Sub-Saharan Africa, Northeast Africa, Central Asia, India, and China;
Unlike lions, leopards are extremely solitary animals and they mark their territory with scratches, urine, and feces to warn other leopards to stay away;
The only time you’ll see two adult leopards together in a single territory is if they are a male and female looking to mate;
Leopards can achieve a running speed to nearly 60 kilometers per hour and can leap up to 6 meters forward;
Leopards make a wide variety of sounds from coughing to growling. Leopards also purr when they are happy;
Leopards carry their prey into trees to eat. Leopards eat a wide variety of animals from monkeys to rodents to birds to antelopes. Leopards also eat cheetah cubs;
Leopards have very long tails to help them balance when climbing, running or changing direction;
Leopards have specially adapted retinas that enable them to hunt in the pitch black of the jungle; and
The English name ‘leopard’ emans ‘spotted lion’ in Latin.

Gallery and You tube videos

The gallery below sets out some of the photographs I took of a female leopard.

This is my You tube video of the leopard nibbling on its kill:

This is my You tube video of the female leopard grooming herself in the tree:

Leopard in a Tree – artwork

Picture caption: Leopard in a Tree – original charcoal artwork by Robbie Cheadle.

The Watcher (freestyle)

Dear Ranger

I am sorry

I didn’t oblige you

And make an appearance

For your paying guests.

You can’t blame me

For being wary

Of people.

After all

The guest farm

Right next door

Allows canned hunting

By wealthy tourists.

The lions are bred

And raised by hand

In captivity

Then,

Their caregivers

Release them

Into a caged enclosure

To be hunted down

As trophies.

BANG! BANG! BANG!

Leopards are not spared

This barbaric treatment

Although fewer of us

Are murdered this way

Our dead heads removed

To grace the walls

Mouths gaping open

In a humiliated grimace

Called a fierce pose

By the false hunters.

Run off our traditional land

By grasping humans

Who have the right

To life and liberty,

Freedom from slavery

And torture,

Freedom of opinion

And expression,

The right to work

And to education.

What about me?

Here in the reserve

I’m relatively safe

Provided I don’t follow

My natural instincts

To travel and

Stay within the fences

Built by you

I know you’re a good one

But frankly,

It still grates me.

Then you bring

Truckloads of visitors

Who chatter

Point

And gawk

While rattling chip packets

And taking photographs.

SNAP! RATTLE! SNAP!

Nothing is sacrosanct,

You invade

Every part

Of my life

… Eating

… Sleeping

… Mating

My babies

Fodder

For prattling spectators

Hooing and cooing

Making fools of themselves.

And so, I hide

Deep within

The long grass

Or up high

In a tree,

Dreaming away

The long, quiet days.

Sometimes

I shake a whisker

Or twitch an ear

Sending the viewers

Into a frenzy

Hopefully anticipating

A leopard sighting

I lie

And grin

Thinking

And now

Who’s watching

Who?

From

The Leopard in the tree

The artwork and poem above are extracted from my poetry collection, Square Peg in a Round Hole available from Amazon here: https://www.amazon.com/Square-Peg-Round-Hole-Creativity-ebook/dp/B0CW1H3SQV

Picture caption: Cover of Square Peg in a Round Hole by Robbie Cheadle

About Roberta Eaton Cheadle

Roberta’s blog features discussions about classic books, book reviews, poetry, and photography. https://roberta-writes.com/.

Find Roberta Eaton Cheadle

Blog: https://wordpress.com/view/robertawrites235681907.wordpress.com

Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/robbiecheadle.bsky.social

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/robertawrites

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Roberta-Eaton-Cheadle/e/B08RSNJQZ5

___________________________________________

__________________________________________

This segment of “In Touch with Nature” is sponsored by the Midnight Anthology Series and WordCrafter Press.

In Touch With Nature – Marbled Reed Frog

Posted: January 28, 2026 | Author: robertawrites235681907 | Filed under: Animals, In Touch With Nature, Nature, Wildlife | Tags: #InTouchWithNature, #RobbieCheadle, Nature, South Africa, Wildlife | 55 Comments

Picture caption: Isimangaliso Wetlands in St Lucia, South Africa. Home to the marbled reed frog.

This frog is important!

Tiny little creatures

only 2.5 to 3.5 centimetres long

but so very pretty

their skins marbled

in gorgeous patterns

of green, brown, and white

that change as day

shifts into dark night

slender, with large eyes

on either side of its head

females are bigger than males

but males have a yellow throat patch

used for vocalisation

to advertise their presence

and reproductive readiness

the distinctive evening call

of the marble reed frog

signals approaching rainfall

and seasonal change

they are sensitive

to environmental change

so declines in their numbers

indicate deteriorating habitat conditions

they are also important

in controlling insect population

especially the annoying mosquito

These frogs must be protected

from habitat encroachment

and the global chytrid fungus

a pathogen affecting amphibian populations

This frog is important!

The gallery below shows three different marbled reed frogs we saw in the Isimangaliso Wetlands during our January 2026 trip to St Lucia, South Africa.

You see these frogs in unusual places:

About Roberta Eaton Cheadle

Roberta’s blog features discussions about classic books, book reviews, poetry, and photography. https://roberta-writes.com/.

Find Roberta Eaton Cheadle

Blog: https://wordpress.com/view/robertawrites235681907.wordpress.com

Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/robbiecheadle.bsky.social

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/robertawrites

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Roberta-Eaton-Cheadle/e/B08RSNJQZ5

___________________________________________

__________________________________________

This segment of “In Touch with Nature” is sponsored by the Midnight Anthology Series and WordCrafter Press.

In Touch With Nature – 12 Days of Christmas in Southern Africa

Posted: December 24, 2025 | Author: robertawrites235681907 | Filed under: Holidays, In Touch With Nature, Photography, Poetry, Wildlife | Tags: #InTouchWithNature, #RobbieCheadle, In Touch With Nature, Nature Photography, Robbie Cheadle, South Africa, Wildlife, Writing to be Read | 50 Comments

I am ending my “In Touch With Nature” year with a Southern Africanised version of 12 Days of Christmas.

12 Days of Christmas in Southern Africa

On the first day of Christmas

My true love sent to me:

A leopard in a great tree

On the second day of Christmas

My true love sent to me:

Two lion cubs and

A leopard in a great tree

Picture caption: Two lion cubs by Robbie Cheadle

On the third day of Christmas

My true love sent to me:

Three hartebeest

Two lion cubs and

A leopard in a great tree

Picture caption: Three hartebeest by Robbie Cheadle

On the fourth day of Christmas

My true love sent to me:

Four playing wild dogs

Three hartebeest

Two lion cubs and

A leopard in a great tree

Picture caption: Four playing wild dogs by Robbie Cheadle

On the fifth day of Christmas

My true love sent to me:

Five feeding cheetahs

Four playing wild dogs

Three hartebeest

Two lion cubs and

A leopard in a great tree

Picture caption: Five feeding cheetahs by Robbie Cheadle

On the sixth day of Christmas

My true love sent to me:

Six grazing zebras

Five feeding cheetahs

Four playing wild dogs

Three hartebeest

Two lion cubs and

A leopard in a great tree

Picture caption: Six grazing zebras by Robbie Cheadle

On the seventh day of Christmas

My true love sent to me:

Seven marching elephants

Six grazing zebras

Five feeding cheetahs

Four playing wild dogs

Three hartebeest

Two lion cubs and

A leopard in a great tree

Picture caption: Seven marching elephants by Robbie Cheadle

On the eighth day of Christmas

My true love sent to me:

Eight gemsbok a-resting

Seven marching elephants

Six grazing zebras

Five feeding cheetahs

Four playing wild dogs

Three hartebeest

Two lion cubs and

A leopard in a great tree

Picture caption: Eight gemsbok a-resting from Unsplash

On the ninth day of Christmas

My true love sent to me:

Nine wildebeest prancing

Eight gemsbok a-resting

Seven marching elephants

Six grazing zebras

Five feeding cheetahs

Four playing wild dogs

Three hartebeest

Two lion cubs and

A leopard in a great tree

Picture caption: Nine wildebeest prancing from Unsplash

On the tenth day of Christmas

My true love sent to me:

Ten impala a-watering

Nine wildebeest prancing

Eight gemsbok a-resting

Seven marching elephants

Six grazing zebras

Five feeding cheetahs

Four playing wild dogs

Three hartebeest

Two lion cubs and

A leopard in a great tree

Picture caption: Ten impala a-watering by Robbie Cheadle

On the eleventh day of Christmas

My true love sent to me:

Eleven buffalos drinking

Ten impala a-watering

Nine wildebeest prancing

Eight gemsbok a-resting

Seven marching elephants

Six grazing zebras

Five feeding cheetahs

Four playing wild dogs

Three hartebeest

Two lion cubs and

A leopard in a great tree

Picture caption: eleven buffalos drinking by Robbie Cheadle

On the twelfth day of Christmas

My true love sent to me:

Twelve guinea fowl running

Eleven buffalos drinking

Ten impala a-watering

Nine wildebeest prancing

Eight gemsbok a-resting

Seven marching elephants

Six grazing zebras

Five feeding cheetahs

Four playing wild dogs

Three hartebeest

Two lion cubs and

A leopard in a great tree

Picture caption: Twelve guinea fowl running by Robbie Cheadle

Happy Holidays!

In Touch With Nature – Wildebeeste, the Clown of the Veld

Posted: November 26, 2025 | Author: robertawrites235681907 | Filed under: Africa, In Touch With Nature, Nature, Wildlife | Tags: #InTouchWithNature, #poetry, #RobbieCheadle, #Wildebeest, #wildlife, Nature, South Africa, Wildlife | 47 Comments

Last month I wrote about warthogs, one of the Ugly Five animals of Southern Africa. This month I have written about another Ugly Five animal, the wildebeest. I have written a poem using the format and rhyming scheme of another very famous poem. Can you guess which poem it is?

Wildebeest, Clown of the Veld

In the game park we’d just arrived, after a long and difficult drive

Despite being fatigued, my eyes were quick and eager to see

The animals I love, anything and everything from lion to dove

I happened to see a mom and calf, running along wild and free

“Look,” I cried, “a baby wildebeest, running along wild and free”

The calf sighting filled me with glee

***

It was early summer, and the temperatures couldn’t be hotter

When we had this chance encounter with the “clown of the veld”

Also known as gnu, these ones were black not East African blue

Such a funny looking creature, not sophisticated and svelte

Even its erratic and playful behaviour was far from svelte

The joker of the veld

***

A joy to watch, they looked like they’d had a go at the scotch

As the vehicle approached, they pranced, leaping up and down

Kicking their heels into the air, an entertaining dancing pair

Running in circles for no reason, the world was their playground

Suddenly stopping, looking back, over their world and playground

Amusing and fun veld clowns

***

Wildebeest, the name, means wild beast, although on grass they feast

Unlike their blue Eastern relatives, black wildebeest don’t migrate

They have a long, horse-like tail, and the darker ones are always male

These creatures must drink water daily or they’ll quickly dehydrate

As a result you’ll find them near waterways so they don’t dehydrate

During droughts, death their fate

***

Driving further down the road, several more gnu became exposed

Many more adults and calves grazing with zebra in a mixed herd

My camera was quickly snapping, so fast my pictures overlapping

On their backs and heavy forequarters feasted the ox-pecker bird

Wildebeest have a symbiotic relationship with the ox-pecker bird

Although this pairing looks absurd

***

Often a gnu’s life depends, on hanging around with its zebra friends

This relationship heightens their awareness of any potential carnivores

In the bush the cats must also eat, the only escape being quick and fleet

This is the way of life in the wild and animals comply with the bush laws

One creature must die to give another life in terms of the bush laws

Part of experiencing the great outdoors

Picture caption: Two adult wildebeest and three calves

Picture caption: Mom wildebeest and two calves on the move

Picture caption: Close up of a mom wildebeest and her calf

You can see my Youtube videos of wildebeest here:

About Roberta Eaton Cheadle

Roberta’s blog features discussions about classic books, book reviews, poetry, and photography. https://roberta-writes.com/.

Find Roberta Eaton Cheadle

Blog: https://wordpress.com/view/robertawrites235681907.wordpress.com

Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/robbiecheadle.bsky.social

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/robertawrites

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Roberta-Eaton-Cheadle/e/B08RSNJQZ5

___________________________________________

__________________________________________

This segment of “In Touch with Nature” is sponsored by the Midnight Anthology Series and WordCrafter Press.

In Touch With Nature – Meet Pumbaa the Warthog and a treat #southernafricanwildlife #intouchwithnature

Posted: October 22, 2025 | Author: robertawrites235681907 | Filed under: Africa, Animals, In Touch With Nature, Nature, Nature writing, Poetry, Wildlife | Tags: In Touch With Nature, Photography, Poetry, Robbie Cheadle, South Africa, Warthogs, White Giraffe, Wildlife, Writing to be Read | 40 Comments

Disney was as kind to warthog’s as it was unkind to hyenas in its movie, The Lion King. Pumbaa the Warthog is a well-known Southern African cartoon figure among many people, young and old. This is intriguing to me as warthogs, together with poor unloved hyenas, are both part of the Southern African ‘Ugly Five’ group of animals.

I always laugh when I see warthogs running about in the veld. I immediately think of ‘pigs in blankets’ and they are definitely ‘bush snacks’ for many carnivores. So, let’s learn a bit more about these funny looking creatures.

Warthogs are day animals and spend most of their time foraging for food. Socially, they are found in three groups: solitary boars, bachelor groups, and matriarchal groups which consist of adult sows with their young and yearlings. Outside of mating, the boars seldom associate with the sows and play no role in rearing the piglets. Did I mention that warthogs are a member of the pig family? Warthogs are the only pigs that have adapted to living and grazing in savannah like habitats.

A few interesting features of warthogs are that they kneel on their front knees while feeding and foraging and they shelter in (frequently borrowed) burrows at night which they enter tails first. Although they like more dry surroundings, warthogs enjoy wallowing in muddy water every day. This wallowing process is how they stay cool on hot days in the same manner as elephants and buffalo.

Picture caption: a solitary male warthog

Warthogs tend to breed and give birth at the beginning of the rainy season in regions where the seasons are defined. In other environments, warthogs can breed all year around. Warthogs generally have two to three piglets in a litter.

Although I said these creatures are bush snacks for lions, leopards, cheetahs, hyenas and painted dogs, they have longer legs than most pigs and can run very quickly. They are difficult to catch and also difficult to photograph.

Interesting warthog facts

Warthogs have two pairs of tusks
Warthogs trot with their tails in the air
Warthogs can run up to 55 kilometres per hour (35 miles per hour)
Warthogs fight in a ritualistic way and use their heads and tusks to try to push their opponent over.
Warthogs have warts on their faces which act as a cushion for blows from their adversaries. Large warts also help protect their eyes during fights.
A group of female warthogs with young is called a sounder
Mama warthogs like orderly behaviour and the piglets always run in a fixed order in a line and not in a disorderly group.
Warthogs are attentive mothers; they leave the sounder when about to give birth and find their own burrow or hole. Mama remains in this hole with her young for the first six to seven weeks after birth, only leaving for short periods to graze.
Warthogs are hunted for their tusks which are carved for the tourist trade in eastern and southern Africa (don’t buy these!)
Warthogs communicate using a variety of different noises including loud grunts, growling and squeals. Clacking noises are used by males to entice females.

Picture caption: warthog foraging and grazing.

Picture caption: Close up of a male warthog

My Youtube video of a sounder having breakfast:

Poem about warthogs

This poem is extracted from my favourite of my own books, Lion Scream.

Home Thief

I am not beautiful
My head is too big
My face is covered in wartlike protrusions
To protect it during fights
I have four large tusks
***
I prefer to trespass
On ready-built homes
It’s easier if aardvark does the digging
Creating a safe hole
And I just move in
***
My babies enter first
I have up to four
Backing in leaves me prepared to protect them
From many predators
Who view us as snacks

Lion Scream is available from Amazon here: https://www.amazon.com/Lion-Scream-Syllabic-Southern-Wildlife-ebook/dp/B0BXP5N766

White headed giraffe – a special sighting

During a trip to Babanango Private Game Reserve we had the good fortune to come across this giraffe with large white patches on its face. Very unusual. The guide was very patient and waited for me to get my shots.