Wildlife – Page 21 – Earthwatcher

Hippopatamus – The Battle for Dominance

September 15, 2016 by Earthwatcher, posted in Fujifilm Cameras, Hippopotamus, images, Photography, South Africa, Wildlife

A Pensive Hippo — The Pensive Hippo, Elephant Plains Game Lodge, Sabi Sands, South Africa

I was very surprised by the number of hippopotamus we saw on our visit to South Africa. I expected to see some but their numbers really surprised me. As we travelled and spoke with guides/rangers we learned that despite what we saw this year has been devastating for the hippo population. Drought has dried up rivers and significantly impacted the amount of grass available for foraging. Typical hippo behavior is to spend the daytime hours in the water and forage at night. They also spend time on the shore sunbathing in the warm sun. Drought has forced them to travel further distances to find food and, in some cases, they just aren’t finding enough.

With water in short supply, maintaining a place to drink and soak during the day is important. In the game lodges, as well as in Kruger, we saw many man made water holes filled by pumping groundwater. Many were filled with pumps driven by windmills. These water holes are a win-win. They provide water for animals and a place for tourists to visit and watch them. Part of me rails against such an unnatural arrangement, but in the end, I am alright with it. It’s part of the vicious cycle: tourists come to see animals in the wild, animals need habitat and protection, habitat and protection costs money, tourists bring money.

There is an older hippo who claims the water hole at Elephant Plains Game Lodge as his own. While were there, the hippo returned from foraging to find another male had moved in. A fight ensued. Hippo fights are noisy affairs accompanied by wide stretched jaws and attacks with sharp teeth. They fight until one backs down or is killed.

One of the iconic pictures of hippos and rhinos shows them with the oxpecker bird on their backs. The relationship is symbiotic but benefits the bird more than the hippo or rhino. The oxpecker eats ticks on the beast but also eats fly larvae that grow in the wounds incurred by these animals.

I hope you enjoy these hippo images. Please look closely at the battle pictures. These beasts can be very scary and aggressive.

Regards,

Larry

Note: The images can be seen in larger size by clicking on the image or by visiting the Hippos Gallery on my website: https://larryklink.smugmug.com/South-African-Adventure-2016/Hippos/

Don't Mess WIth Me — Don’t Mess With Me, Elephant Plains Game Lodge, Sabi Sands, South Africa

Your in MY watering hole — He returned from foraging and found another male inhabitng his water hole. He gave his warning. Elephant Plains Game Lodge, Sabi Sands, South Africa

The Face Off, Elephant Plains Game Lodge, Sabi Sands, South Africa

The Challenge, Elephant Plains Game Lodge, Sabi Sands, South Africa

This Round is Underway — The Round is Underway, Elephant Plains Game Lodge, Sabi Sands, South Africa

The Round Continues, Elephant Plains Game Lodge, Sabi Sands, South Africa

Attack and Defense, Elephant Plains Game Lodge, Sabi Sands, South Africa

Battle Over — The Battle is Over, After many rounds, the battle is over, the challenger is vanquished. Elephant Plains Game Lodge, Sabi Sands, South Africa

Time to Relax, Hippo and Oxpecker, Elephant Plains Game Lodge, Sabi Sands, South Africa

Sunbathing, Kruger National Park, South Africa, AUG 2016

Foraging Hippo, Kruger National Park, South Africa, AUG 2016

Hippo in Reflection, Kruger National Park, South Africa, AUG 2016

The Kudu

September 12, 2016 by Earthwatcher, posted in Fujifilm Cameras, Photography, South Africa, Wildlife

The Kudu

The Male Kudu -P1 — Kruger National Park, South Africa, AUG 2016

When I left for South Africa, I knew that I would see a lot of magnificent wildlife; it did not disappoint. I knew also that I would see antelope though I really didn’t think much of it, my thoughts were on lions, leopards, rhinos and the like. Then I saw the Kudu. To my surprise, I was really smitten by its beauty. It is an antelope, about the size of an elk, with long, twisted horns. Its face is lama like. It has a small hump and a mane. Like the moose, it seems to be constructed from parts of different animals. I hope you find it as beautiful as I do.

Regards

Larry

Kudu — Kruger National Park, South Africa, AUG 2016

The Male Kudu -P2 — Kruger National Park, South Africa, AUG 2016

Kudu and Impala — Kruger National Park, South Africa, AUG 2016

Kudu Locking Horns — Addo Elephant Park, South Africa, AUG 2016

These images can be viewed in a larger size at: https://larryklink.smugmug.com/South-Africa-2016/i-d2Pk2vR

These and other images are available for sale on my website, http://www.earthwatcher.us. or by contacting me at: larry@earthwatcher.us.

A Visit to San Diego Zoo Safari Park

March 10, 2016 by Earthwatcher, posted in Bird Photography, Birds, Earthwatcher, Fujifilm Cameras, Photography, Wildlife

With an impending trip to Kruger National Park in South Africa, this year is shaping up to be a year where I concentrate on wildlife. My love has always been more intimate landscapes, so I truly enjoy the opportunities to shoot wildlife in the context of a landscape. Last weekend, I had the opportunity to visit the San Diego Zoo Safari Park, an 1,800 acre wildlife sanctuary that displays animals in large open enclosures where they can roam and exercise. Though the animals are the highlight, it is landscaped beautifully and is well worth a visit. I hope to get back sometime and spend more time photographing both the landscapes and the wildlife.

On this visit, it was overcast and rainy. Even so, the wildlife was out and active. I hope you enjoy these images from my visit.

Larger images of these and other wildlife can be seen at my Birds, Wildlife and Insects gallery on my website: http://www.earthwatcher.us.