Peru: Machu Picchu

Inca citadel Machu Picchu, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is situated in the cloud forest, in the upper reaches of the Amazon basin, 80 km northwest of Cusco.

Peru: Cusco: Saqsaywaman

This temple-fortress was first built by the Killke culture in 1100 CE and later expanded by the Inca. The huge hand-carved stones were precisely cut and fitted to form massive walls without the use of mortar. Located on the northern outskirts of Cusco.

Rapa Nui (Easter Island, Isla de Pascua)

Rapa Nui, one of the islands of Polynesia, is politically a part of Chile. It is one of the most remote places on Earth and home to the Rapa Nui people and culture. Pictured are three Moai on the slopes of Rano Raraku. Moai are ancient monolithic hand carved statues made by the ancestors of the Rapa Nui people. These iconic statues attract tourists from around the world. UNESCO named Rapa Nui a world heritage site in 1995.

Rapa Nui: Ahu Tongariki

Ahu Tongariki is the largest ahu on the island. Through the early 1830's Moai were toppled during internal conflicts among islanders, then in 1960 they were swept inland during a tsunami. The ahu was restored in the 1990's. It is located on the southern coast, and the Moai face the sunset during the winter solstice.

Rapa Nui: The Coast

Ahu Tongariki against the magnificent southern coastline.

Queensland: A Captive Macropod

Australia is famous for unique biodiversity including a diverse fauna of marsupial mammals. Most of us outsiders have heard of kangaroos and probably wallabies too. But did you know that kangaroos and wallabies are closely related members of the family Macropodidae? The family name means "large-footed" and it's members, macropods, have very large hind feet and are quite diverse. There are about 65 extant species of macropods! There are multiple species of kangaroo and wallaby, and also dorcopsis, pademelon, quokka, and more...

Queensland: Southern Cassowary

The Australian population of the Southern Cassowary ("Casuarius casuarius") is endangered, although the species as a whole is not threatened, according to the IUCN. We had the great fortune to observe this enormous stunningly beautiful bird at a conservation and education centre in Queensland, Australia.

Cambodia: Ta Prohm

With mature trees growing among the ruins, not surprisingly Ta Prohm was my favourite of the Angkorian temples in Siem Riep. Construction of this temple began in 1186 AD and the Khmer Empire fell in the 15th century. When restoration of the Angkor temples began in the 21st century, rather than removing the vegetation, Ta Prohm was left as is. What a smart decision that was! The tree is a type of fig (Ficus sp.).

Serengeti: Plains Zebra

It is hard not to love zebras with such gorgeous black and white coloration, and similarity in appearance to horses, their close relatives. The pattern of stripes is unique to each individual!

Serengeti: Lion Cubs

My first (hopefully not last!) photo of lion cubs in the wild. The mama was close by, you can see her ear at the far right edge of the image (Felidae: Panthera leo).

Serengeti: Mama Lion

With cubs. What a beauty.

Serengeti: The Bateleur

The bateleur is a medium-sized, colorful eagle, with a very short tail (Accipitriformes: Accipitridae: "Terathopius ecaudatus").

Serengeti: Male Elephant

Male African bush/savanna elephant (Loxodonta africana) with Acacia tree in the background. The species is listed as Vulnerable (IUCN), with a declining population due to habitat destruction and illegal poaching for ivory and meat.

Serengeti: Ostrich

Male (left) and female ostrich, the largest of the extant secondarily flightless bird species, in the Serengeti in early March (ostrich: "Struthio camelus").

Serengeti: Elephants Depend on Flowering Plants

The African bush/savanna elephant is the largest land mammal species alive today. One can see the variety of flowering plants (angiosperms) that they eat (Serengeti in early March).

Serengeti: Giraffe Eating Acacia

A giraffe (Giraffa sp.) eating its favourite food, Acacia leaves (Acacia sp).

Serengeti: Plains Zebra II

There are three species of zebra in Africa, all at some risk of extinction (IUCN). This is Grant's zebra, the smallest of the seven subspecies of the plains zebra, "Equus quagga".

Serengeti: Warthog

What a cutie pie! Yes, I'm talking about this warthog! (Family Suidae, Phacochoerus africanus).

Serengeti Depends on Seaasonal Rain

This is a giraffe eating Acacia in its natural habitat. The Serengeti depends on a seasonal cycle of rainfall. What will happen to wild giraffes and all the other magnificent creatures of the Serengeti if Climate Change continues and alters the cycle of rain?

Serengeti: Secretary Bird

A secretary bird in the lush Serengeti in early March. Secretary birds are closely related to vultures, hawks and eagles (Accipitriformes: Sagittariidae: "Sagittarius serpentarius")

Serengeti: Hyrax

Hyraxes are closely related to elephants and manatees. I believe this is the southern tree hyrax, and the next time I go to Tanzania I will find out for sure!

Serengeti: Ostrich II

Although the wild common ostrich population has declined drastically in the last several hundred years, the species is not considered at risk of extinction by the IUCN or BirdLife International.

Serengeti: Impala

Impala are antelopes and members of the cow family, the Bovidae. Pictured is a male with his impressive and beautiful horns and a female and offspring in the background (impala: Aepyceros melampus).

Plains Zebra is in Population Decline

Plains zebras may appear common or abundant if one observes them in game reserves where they sometimes form large herds of hundreds of animals containing multiple harems and bachelor groups. But make no mistake, this iconic animal species is in population decline due to overhunting, habitat loss, and climate change (Conservation status: Near Threatened, IUCN Red List).