“What can I do, when someone makes me angry, I see red!!! This trait of mine is the reason I’m often called heavily aggressive and unpredictable, which keeps away not only enemies but friends as well. I’ve heard there are anger management techniques and plan to start applying them as of January 2018 – promise! Let’s see what that will do for my reputation.”

“What can I say, this funny hysterical laughter is in my nature and I didn’t even think it could be hurting someone else’s feelings.

But I’m not an insensitive creature my savannah neighbours make me out to be, and intend to prove it in 2018: no more laughing at my fellow animals in trouble!”

“I’m watching our guys hang out together and thinking that perhaps it’s not such a bad idea. Ladies of my species may not be the most sociable animals around, but it could be nice to get together occasionally and exchange gossip, take a few fast and clever besties on a hunt for oryxes and the nyalas, and watch each other’s back from praying devils like lions, leopards and spotted hyenas. So let’s make that my New Year’s resolution for 2018: do more things with friends and family members.”

My job is to protect my pride and I can do it better than anybody. However, it has been brought to my attention that my behaviour as a partner and a dad shows some room for improvement, primarily because I’m not around while cubs are blind and pretty much helpless. I can’t lie, their mum is investing all her resources to keep them from harm and could probably use a helping hand from a strong and capable male.  So I’ll surprise her next year by offering babysitting services every once in a while.

People are so impressed with our memory that they even coined the phrase “elephants never forget”. While this is 100% true and comes in very handy more often than not, imagine if you had to remember all the bad things that have happened throughout your life. Let me tell you, I may have made up with my former best friend years ago, if only there was a way to forget she had once occupied my favourite mud bath. Well, I’m not going to be one to hold a grudge for 50 years or more, so in 2018 I’ll work on letting things go.