Even the pummeling Mediterranean sun couldn't make me confuse my Capra aegagrus creticus with my Antilope cervicapra, but an overheard comment about the Kri-kri did bring to mind the Blackbuck. In all the world, the Kri-kri exist only in Crete's high White Mountains above and down in the Samaria Gorge, so I felt lucky to spot and photograph this mother and kid. Miles later I heard a Homo sapien explain that the Kri-kri adult males live in "bachelor" herds, which is often how people discuss the homosexual flock of male Blackbucks. According to research published in the peer journal Behavior, scientists know that all Blackbuck males over three years leave the male group only "once or twice in each male's lifetime" to attempt mating with females. In other words, they try it, hate it, and say in their traumatized gazelle voices, 'Hell if I'm ever doing THAT again.' Instead, "adult males often perform courtship displays toward adolescent males prior to mounting them." The researchers conclude: "Because of the organization of Blackbuck society into sex-segregated herds and the small number of active breeding males, only a fraction of the male population is ever involved in heterosexual activity.... life in the bachelor herd is preferable for many males." You owe it to yourself to buy Bruce Bagemihl's mindblowing book, Biological Exuberance: Animal Homosexuality and Natural Diversity.
Samaria gorge offers eleven miles of hiking wonders, not least of which is the remarkable signage. Whereas our national park posters advise, "Watch for falling rock" theirs warn, "GREAT DANGER!! WALK QUICKLY" We ended the day taking a water taxi with a woman from Colorado in a little boat piloted by Captain George, who explained to me he was in a new movie called The Kings of Mykonos. Also, he has a pet Kri-kri named Romeo whom he bottle-fed for six months and now follows him everywhere, even in the boat, even in the helicopter to Mykonos to make the movie. And you need a scientist to tell you that animal is gay?
(Note the two hikers for scale. And, yes, the water is that turquoise.)
your posts are always great for conversation
Posted by: http://cafenegritude.blogspot.com | May 25, 2010 at 02:42 PM
whoah this weblog is magnificent i love studying your posts. Keep up the good work! You know, lots of persons are looking round for this information, you could help them greatly.
Posted by: rochii de seara | September 25, 2013 at 05:01 AM