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Post by nycgirl on Aug 4, 2020 13:03:57 GMT
I'm going to backtrack a bit because I just realized I neglected to post my favorite pictures of the mother hyena and her cubs. We had two cameras on this trip, here are some pics my husband took. Isn't it so cute the way the cubs tuck their little paws under their bottoms while they nurse? After they drank their fill, they finally showed their little faces. They peered at us curiously, and seemed pretty unbothered by our presence.
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Post by kerouac2 on Aug 4, 2020 13:19:46 GMT
So cute and yet so ferocious!
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Post by htmb on Aug 4, 2020 15:25:36 GMT
Thanks for coming back and adding photos, nycgirl. These are fabulous! It must be very gratifying to be able to get so close to these animals in their natural habitat.
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Post by tod2 on Aug 4, 2020 16:01:08 GMT
Brilliant - totally brilliant photos. Animal photography is very difficult. You have aced it big time.! Not only that, but the viewer must remember ALL photos are taken from the confines of a motor vehicle. It's not so easy to manoeuvre ones "egg shell" to get a good shot before the animal gets twitchy and moves off. Well done Mr.Nyc!
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Post by bixaorellana on Aug 4, 2020 20:42:43 GMT
An NYCGirl sighting! Just teasing, dear lady, and it's wonderful to see you here. I trust all is well with you and your family in these bizarre times.
Thanks for all the new pictures -- they're outstanding. The two leopard pictures really illustrate how well the spots work as camouflage. Of course I love the lion pictures but was amazed by the black-backed jackal. On one hand he/she is cute like a dog, on the other disconcerting with that fawn-like cape on its back. Speaking of cute ~ the baby zebra and the baby elephant. Ooooo!
Looking at the pictures of mother hyena and her babies made me think about the power of publicity spin. Really, what is funnier looking than a bull terrier? But they have their fans, whereas hyenas have none.
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Post by nycgirl on Aug 5, 2020 0:06:01 GMT
Hey, it's good to be back! It's been a long time, don't think I'll ever catch up on all the great stuff you guys have been up to. I agree, hyenas have an unfair reputation. Yes, they are fearsome predators, but so are a lot of animals that are beloved by the public. When my daughter recently saw The Lion King for the first time, I felt the need to explain to her that it was innacurate and that lions are way more vicious in real life. I really care about these things, for some reason.
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Post by nycgirl on Aug 5, 2020 0:12:18 GMT
Thanks, Tod! Yes, my husband's always the MVP on these kind of trips- driver, spotter, AND photographer. Although I recently got lasik surgery, so I think I'm a much better spotter now.
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Post by nycgirl on Aug 5, 2020 1:47:41 GMT
On the road, we took care to drive slowly and watch out for animals, like this leopard tortoise taking for a drink. Incidentally, someone in the park once told me you should never try to help a tortoise by picking it up; the act might cause it to pee, which would be a waste of precious resources, especially in a drought. (Of course, on a safari you're not supposed to get out of the car, anyway.) The dainty little steenbok can be tricky to spot. Not only is it tiny, but it tends to stand stock-still to escape notice. He's a beauty, isn't he? On our first trip to Africa, we didn't see a cheetah the whole time. On this trip, we saw several. This guy shocked us by walking directly in front of our car. I was so thrilled. Before I could snap a pic, he sauntered off. Fortunately, we were able to follow him for awhile and watch him from a distance. I wish I got a close-up, though. We were fortunate to spot another leopard lounging in the shade. This one was pretty big with a wide head, so I think it was a boy. Speaking of leopards, here is one of their favorite species to prey on. Warthogs are such ungainly-looking creatures. Even the way they eat is awkward.
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Post by nycgirl on Aug 5, 2020 2:44:33 GMT
That's about all I have to show. My hands were kinda full this time around, so I took fewer photos than I did on my first trip. Another reason there are holes in my documentation is I've never been able to take usable night photos. I went on a night drive once (leaving behind my husband and baby because little ones aren't allowed) and saw so many animals. I saw all sort of nocturnal creatures like civets and spotted genets. Most unusually, I also spotted a couple of the critically endangered black rhino, strutting and swaggering like they owned the place. Unfortunately, I couldn't capture all the marvelous sights I saw. I'll end with these two last two photos. Here we are at a bird hide, where I left behind a note for our resident Kruger expert to find. And here we are saying a last goodbye to the elephants. I think they were my daughter's favorite, as well as mine. I'd love to take her back one day.
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Post by bixaorellana on Aug 5, 2020 3:47:58 GMT
Just magnificent! So much to see and learn here -- thank you!
That steenbok couldn't be any lovelier, with its big Bambi eyes and wary yet graceful stance.
The warthogs may be ungainly, but they look like solid muscle power. Is it the musculature that keeps them from lowering their heads to eat like other pigs?
What could be better than that family portrait at the end? Oh, maybe dear baby girl taking in the elephants!
I have to say, never mind about not getting a closeup of the cheetah. That second picture you got is world class, not just as a cheetah portrait, but in composition, colors, lighting and just plain natural elegance. Kudos!
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Post by kerouac2 on Aug 5, 2020 5:02:13 GMT
This is all a great addition to your report, nycgirln especially when we thought that you had finished it.
And we always learn something -- who would have thought that it might be bad for a tortoise to pee?
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Post by lugg on Aug 5, 2020 11:16:29 GMT
Superb photos thank you. How lucky were you to see so many leopards and cheetah too. Your little girl is so cute , but I am not surprised of course.
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Post by nycgirl on Aug 5, 2020 12:32:11 GMT
Thank you all for your kind words.
Bixa, I had no idea the answer to your question, so I had to look it up. Warthogs have short necks and relatively long legs, so they have to kneel to look for food. They have adapted by developing special knee pads.
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Post by bixaorellana on Aug 5, 2020 15:08:49 GMT
So unfair! Why don't Catholics and gardeners develop knee pads?
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Post by fumobici on Aug 6, 2020 15:00:35 GMT
Nice addition! Thanks for the update.
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