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NaturebyFossy Let’s talk about nature in its natural and humorous form.

10/24/2026

Imagine getting evicted from your own seat by a tortoise.🐢

Meet the Aldabra giant tortoise, one of the largest tortoise species in the world, native to the Seychelles.

These gentle giants can weigh over 500 pounds (227 kg) and live for more than 100 years. Despite their slow movements, their powerful legs support an incredibly heavy shell.

And here’s something fascinating. Giant tortoises are important ecosystem engineers, helping spread seeds and shape vegetation as they move through their habitats.

This one apparently had another job today. Making sure I understood who owned the seat. 😂

10/17/2026

I was minding my business when this little guy decided my shoulder was his new home.

Meet the ring tailed lemur, a fascinating primate found naturally in the wild only in Madagascar.

Their famous black and white striped tails help with balance and communication, and unlike many other primates, they spend a surprising amount of time on the ground.

Fun fact: Ring tailed lemurs live in female dominated groups, where the ladies are usually in charge.

I guess I should've asked for permission before joining the family.
😂

With Nat Geo Wild UK – I just got recognized as one of their top fans! 🎉
10/10/2026

With Nat Geo Wild UK – I just got recognized as one of their top fans! 🎉

10/10/2026

Some encounters remind you just how extraordinary nature really is.

Imagine sitting on the edge of the Andes Mountains when one of the largest flying birds in the world decides to show you its full wingspan.

Meet the Andean condor, a magnificent bird with a wingspan that can exceed 10 feet (3 meters). Despite its enormous size, this giant is a master of effortless flight, using rising currents of warm air to soar for hours with barely a flap of its wings.

Andean condors are also among the longest living birds in the world, sometimes surviving for more than 70 years in captivity. As scavengers, they play an important role in keeping ecosystems healthy by feeding on animal carcasses.

But here’s what fascinated me most. A bird this massive doesn’t need to flap constantly to dominate the skies. Sometimes, all it takes is spreading those wings and letting nature do the rest.

And when those wings opened right beside me, I suddenly understood just how enormous 10 feet really is.

10/03/2026

One whistle, and here he comes. 🦅

This is a Harris’s hawk, one of the most fascinating birds used in falconry. Unlike many birds of prey that are highly solitary, Harris’s hawks are unusually social and can hunt cooperatively in family groups.

That social nature, combined with their intelligence and ability to learn, is one reason they are so well suited to falconry. A trained hawk can learn to return to a falconer’s glove using familiar cues, including whistles.

And that thick leather glove is definitely not just for the look. Those powerful feet and sharp talons are built for gripping prey, so the gauntlet protects the handler while giving the bird a secure place to land.

Watching those wings open as it flew straight toward me was impressive. Feeling it actually land on my arm was a completely different experience.

I bring the facts, nature brings the audacity.

09/26/2026

Seeing a polar bear with her cubs this close really puts into perspective how incredible these animals are. Polar bears are the largest bear species in the world and are superbly adapted to life in the Arctic, with thick fur, a heavy layer of body fat and large paws that help them travel across snow, ice and water. Cubs are born tiny and vulnerable inside maternity dens and typically remain with their mother for more than two years, learning the skills they need to survive. Polar bears are also powerful swimmers and rely heavily on sea ice as a platform for hunting seals, their primary prey. A mother with a cub deserves even more space, because protecting and raising that cub is critical to its survival. Seeing the little one following closely behind her was a reminder that even one of the Arctic’s most powerful predators starts life completely dependent on its mother.

09/19/2026

I knew leopards could climb, but seeing one casually get this comfortable on the same safari vehicle really puts that ability into perspective. Leopards are solitary, incredibly powerful cats and excellent climbers. Those beautiful markings are called rosettes, and they help break up the outline of their body so they can disappear surprisingly well into grass, trees and shadows. Their climbing ability also allows them to carry prey into trees and keep it away from other predators. Calm or not, they’re still wild animals that deserve plenty of space and respect. I think I gave this one enough space.

09/05/2026

Did you know the white rhino isn’t actually white?

White rhinos are the largest living rhino species, with some males weighing well over 2,000 kg (4,400 lb).

One of their most recognizable features is that broad, square-shaped mouth. Unlike black rhinos, which have a more pointed upper lip for browsing leaves and shrubs, white rhinos are primarily grazers, using their wide lips to crop grass close to the ground.

And despite all that size, they can move surprisingly fast when they need to.

Seeing one this close really puts the size and power of these incredible animals into perspective.

08/29/2026

I knew Komodo dragons were big. Seeing one suddenly emerge from the bushes behind me was a completely different experience.

But did you know the Komodo dragon is the largest living species of lizard?

Native to a small group of Indonesian islands, these reptiles can grow to around 10 feet long, with exceptionally large individuals weighing well over 150 pounds.

And that tongue flicking you see? It isn’t random. Komodo dragons use their forked tongues to collect chemical information from the environment and deliver it to a specialized sensory organ in the roof of the mouth. It helps them investigate what’s around them and locate food.

They’re also formidable predators. Their teeth are serrated, and research has shown that Komodo dragons possess venom glands that contribute to the effects of their bite.

Despite looking like something left over from the age of dinosaurs, they are modern monitor lizards and currently exist naturally in only a very small part of Indonesia.

So when one comes out of the bushes and decides to investigate your side of the trail, you respect the distance.

08/22/2026

An orangutan casually putting his arm around me was definitely not on today’s itinerary.

Did you know orangutans share roughly 97% of their DNA with humans?

They are highly intelligent great apes that have been observed using tools and learning complex behaviors. They spend much of their lives in trees, and young orangutans can remain with their mothers for around 7 to 8 years while learning the skills they need to survive.

Their name comes from words meaning “person of the forest.”

Sadly, all three orangutan species are critically endangered.

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