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Africa: warthog befriends hornbill for grooming favour
bbc ^ | 26 February 2010

Posted on 02/26/2010 9:05:33 AM PST by JoeProBono

A warthog has been pictured being groomed by a huge bird known as a ground hornbill.

The warthog approached the southern ground hornbill seeking the favour, and the bird obliged by removing parasites from the warthog's body.

Similar interactions occur between warthogs and other animals such as banded mongooses.

But hornbills are not known to groom in this way, say scientists who photographed the incident.

Warthogs even tolerated the ground hornbills probing their ears and more delicate areas under their tails

Dr Hendri Coetzee North West University, Potchefstroom, South Africa Details of the behaviour are reported in the African Journal of Ecology.

"The warthogs approached the hornbills and then lay down on their sides to be cleaned," explains Dr Hendri Coetzee of North West University, Potchefstroom, South Africa.

"The warthogs were very nervous, because this behaviour most probably makes them more vulnerable to predation."

(Excerpt) Read more at news.bbc.co.uk ...


TOPICS: Outdoors; Pets/Animals; Weird Stuff
KEYWORDS: hornbill; jpb; warthog

You scratch my back I'll scratch yours?


1 posted on 02/26/2010 9:05:34 AM PST by JoeProBono
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To: JoeProBono

“WHEN I WAS A YOUNG WART HOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOG!”


2 posted on 02/26/2010 9:06:47 AM PST by massgopguy (I owe everything to George Bailey)
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To: JoeProBono

sounds like pelosi and rangel


3 posted on 02/26/2010 9:06:57 AM PST by kingattax (99 % of liberals give the rest a bad name)
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To: JoeProBono

Good pickings off those hogs. Lots of lice.


4 posted on 02/26/2010 9:07:18 AM PST by Battle Axe (Repent, for the coming of the Lord is nigh.)
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To: Battle Axe
"Good pickings off those hogs. Lots of lice. "

You're not an Entomologist are you? ;-{)


5 posted on 02/26/2010 9:11:10 AM PST by JoeProBono (A closed mouth gathers no feet)
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To: JoeProBono

Is this what the RINOS are trying to do with Obama when they sniff around under his tail?


6 posted on 02/26/2010 9:16:24 AM PST by SWAMPSNIPER (THE SECOND AMENDMENT, A MATTER OF FACT, NOT A MATTER OF OPINION)
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To: JoeProBono



7 posted on 02/26/2010 9:01:55 PM PST by Jeff Chandler (:: The government will do for health care what it did for real estate. ::)
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