Leopards hold a very special place in our hearts. Decades spent documenting these big cats in the wild has offered us a glimpse into their ultra-secretive worlds, a tiny window into the mystery and wonder of these elusive animals.
From the relative safety of a broken tree trunk, this leopardess carefully scanned her surroundings, her stare unwavering as she searched for potential prey in the dusk. We feel an enormous sense of privilege for every moment we get to share with these cats. This International Leopard Day, we’re reminded of their majesty and the urgent need to protect them.
#leopard #wildlife #nature #InternationalLeopardDay #ForTheLoveOfLeopards
Cheetahs are dedicated mothers. Young cubs are particularity susceptible to attacks from rival predators and it’s mom’s job to keep them safe. She must be both provider and protector, a role that she takes on wholeheartedly. Happy #MothersDay to all the incredible moms out there.
Beneath clouds swollen with the promise of rain, a herd of elephants trek across an open plain in Kenya. In our years documenting Africa’s remarkable wild species, we’ve always been inspired by the intelligence, sentience and unity of elephants. Sadly, despite their iconic status as the world’s largest land mammals, elephant numbers (like so many others) are dwindling. This Endangered Species Day we face grim statistics: wildlife populations have declined by an average of 69% between 1970 and 2018 and more than 41,000 of the species on the IUCN Red List are threatened with extinction. Although these figures make for dire reading, we have not lost hope. Much like elephants that show resilience and strength in the face of difficult challenges, we too must unite and find effective solutions to live alongside wild species and give them the space they need to thrive.
#endangeredspecies #endangeredspeciesday #elephants
An African sunset is more than just a moment; it’s a visceral experience of colours and shapes. As the sun lingers on the horizon, the sky and everything under it is engulfed in a symphony of colour. Animals on the edge of the landscape are identifiable only by their shape and size as they drift like shadows across a painterly plain. It’s a dazzling display and one that I’ll never tire of photographing.
#sunset #Africa #Africansunset #wildlife
An African sunset is more than just a moment; it’s a visceral experience of colours and shapes. As the sun lingers on the horizon, the sky and everything under it is engulfed in a symphony of colour. Animals on the edge of the landscape are identifiable only by their shape and size as they drift like shadows across a painterly plain. It’s a dazzling display and one that I’ll never tire of photographing.
#sunset #Africa #Africansunset #wildlife
An African sunset is more than just a moment; it’s a visceral experience of colours and shapes. As the sun lingers on the horizon, the sky and everything under it is engulfed in a symphony of colour. Animals on the edge of the landscape are identifiable only by their shape and size as they drift like shadows across a painterly plain. It’s a dazzling display and one that I’ll never tire of photographing.
#sunset #Africa #Africansunset #wildlife
All aboard! It’s not uncommon to see giraffes accompanied by a sizeable entourage of oxpeckers. These resourceful birds pluck off parasites embedded in the giraffe’s skin, so the hitchhikers are usually tolerated in exchange for this vital cleaning service. The relationship is not entirely symbiotic though. Oxpeckers have also been recorded pecking at open wounds to feast on blood, which can slow the healing process putting large mammals at risk of infection. If the birds become too much of an irritation, a flick of the neck should send them fluttering away … temporarily, at least.
#giraffe #wildlife #nature
When zebra herds run as one, they become a dazzling canvas of black and white brushstrokes, a solid moving mass of monochrome. For predators in pursuit, it can be almost impossible to single out an individual in the melee and this “safety in numbers” strategy is often successful for the zebras. Sadly, migratory herds are getting smaller as habitat loss impacts wildlife migrations across the world. Recent research indicates that one in five migrating species is threatened with extinction, and 44% have a declining population. Fences, agricultural expansion and sprawling cities make it increasingly difficult for species to follow their natural migratory routes. Despite all the challenges, wild species are remarkably resilient and we know that nature can and does recover if given a chance. It’s not too late to undo the damage and rewild landscapes and reopen ancient migratory pathways.
#zebra #migration #wildlife #nature
When zebra herds run as one, they become a dazzling canvas of black and white brushstrokes, a solid moving mass of monochrome. For predators in pursuit, it can be almost impossible to single out an individual in the melee and this “safety in numbers” strategy is often successful for the zebras. Sadly, migratory herds are getting smaller as habitat loss impacts wildlife migrations across the world. Recent research indicates that one in five migrating species is threatened with extinction, and 44% have a declining population. Fences, agricultural expansion and sprawling cities make it increasingly difficult for species to follow their natural migratory routes. Despite all the challenges, wild species are remarkably resilient and we know that nature can and does recover if given a chance. It’s not too late to undo the damage and rewild landscapes and reopen ancient migratory pathways.
#zebra #migration #wildlife #nature
When zebra herds run as one, they become a dazzling canvas of black and white brushstrokes, a solid moving mass of monochrome. For predators in pursuit, it can be almost impossible to single out an individual in the melee and this “safety in numbers” strategy is often successful for the zebras. Sadly, migratory herds are getting smaller as habitat loss impacts wildlife migrations across the world. Recent research indicates that one in five migrating species is threatened with extinction, and 44% have a declining population. Fences, agricultural expansion and sprawling cities make it increasingly difficult for species to follow their natural migratory routes. Despite all the challenges, wild species are remarkably resilient and we know that nature can and does recover if given a chance. It’s not too late to undo the damage and rewild landscapes and reopen ancient migratory pathways.
#zebra #migration #wildlife #nature
For male lions, the journey to adulthood can be tumultuous. As cubs, these cats are very vulnerable to attacks from rival predators or adult males that are looking to assert their bloodline in the pride. As they grow up, they must compete with their siblings for access to food and resources and it’s often the bolder, more assertive cubs that rise higher in the social rankings. At around three years of age, males must leave their natal prides to traverse the often-daunting savannah in search of a territory to claim as their own. For this young male, his mane not yet fully developed, the journey has only just begun.
#lions #bigcats #wildlife #nature
Cheetahs are among Africa’s most photogenic cats. They’re the feline embodiment of elegance and grace, often showcasing their poise when they survey their territories from the vantage point of a termite mound or a fallen log. Cheetahs fill an important ecological niche, targeting small and medium-sized prey and often leaving something behind for scavengers. If their numbers dwindle, this intricate balance between predator and prey may be pushed out of balance. And the consequences could be far-reaching.
This Earth Day, it’s important to remind ourselves of the interconnectedness of the natural world and our role in protecting this delicate web of life. From awareness and education campaigns to anti-poaching measures and habitat restoration projects, there are many ways we can all contribute to the conservation of threatened species and the landscapes on which they depend.
#cheetah #wildlife #nature #EarthDay
“We abuse land because we regard it as a commodity belonging to us. When we see land as a community to which we belong, we may begin to use it with love and respect.” – Aldo Leopold
#nature #wildlife #conservation
Elephant herds are governed by complex social dynamics that sometimes play out in dramatic fashion when these giants clash for dominance. Typically docile by nature, elephants occasionally erupt in explosive bouts of head clashing and tusk wrangling to settle disputes, eke out their role in the herd or simply to blow off steam. These scuffles rarely end in significant injury, but serious battles between dominant bulls can be fatal. Thankfully, these two youngsters were just testing their boundaries.
#wildlife #elephant
Elephant herds are governed by complex social dynamics that sometimes play out in dramatic fashion when these giants clash for dominance. Typically docile by nature, elephants occasionally erupt in explosive bouts of head clashing and tusk wrangling to settle disputes, eke out their role in the herd or simply to blow off steam. These scuffles rarely end in significant injury, but serious battles between dominant bulls can be fatal. Thankfully, these two youngsters were just testing their boundaries.
#wildlife #elephant
Elephant herds are governed by complex social dynamics that sometimes play out in dramatic fashion when these giants clash for dominance. Typically docile by nature, elephants occasionally erupt in explosive bouts of head clashing and tusk wrangling to settle disputes, eke out their role in the herd or simply to blow off steam. These scuffles rarely end in significant injury, but serious battles between dominant bulls can be fatal. Thankfully, these two youngsters were just testing their boundaries.
#wildlife #elephant
Of all the feline qualities – strength, stealth, speed, agility – lions were not gifted with arboreal finesse. In the evolutionary marketplace, these big cats traded nimbleness for strength, preferring to spend most of their time on the ground stalking and chasing down prey. That’s not to say that lions cannot climb trees, of course. Like most cats, they are armed with retractable claws that make scrambling up tree trunks possible, but their heavy set bodies are not quite lithe enough for them to be completely comfortable in the treetops. They’re certainly up for the challenge, though.
#wildlife #bigcats #lions
Draped over a termite mound in typical cat-like fashion, tail swishing as if it had a life of its own, we could almost hear her panting in the afternoon heat. Although leopards are notoriously shy creatures, if you’re able to earn their trust, they’ll flaunt their feline elegance – posing as if aware of their photogenic form.
#leopard #wildlife #nature
Frantic splashing in the murky shallows, nervous braying and snorting, the thumping of hooves on the river bank as the herd scrambled to safety … this hunt was a sensory overload. Lions are strategic predators – they’ll use a coordinated attack incorporating natural barriers like rivers or vegetation to channel their prey into an ambush. This lioness had her sights set on a zebra calf and was hoping to nab the youngster in the ensuing chaos of a panicked river crossing.
#lions #wildlife
Face-off. The striking facial patterns of these fringe-eared oryx almost merge into one as the two bulls clash heads in a battle for dominance. These fights usually involve a lot of head butting and shoving, but they rarely end in actual, injury inflicting gouging (despite the antelope sporting some impressive weaponry).
#oryx #wildlife
There’s an undeniable shimmer of curiosity in the eyes of lion cubs, a sharp inquisitiveness that drives their urge to explore and investigate. It’s an important trait that helps the cats make sense of their surroundings and learn the artillery of skills needed to survive. These two cubs will soon graduate from exuberant games with their siblings to joining the pride on a hunt, as their playful curiosity gives way to more determined and deadly instincts.
#lions #bigcats #bigcatsofinstagram
An elephant and her calf wade across a kilometres-wide stretch of the Zambezi River separating Zimbabwe and Zambia. These giants are heavily water-dependent and have been known to trek vast distances to quench their thirst. As human settlements and farms expand further into elephant territory, clashes are inevitable and this creates complex conservation challenges. Massive mammals need lots of space to roam, and if their habitat is systematically cut off it often leads to conflict. If elephants are not provided suitable corridors in which to traverse their historical rangelands these problems are likely to worsen. A situation that’s detrimental to both humans and elephants.
#elephants #wildlife #conservation
#Repost from @natgeo
To win out against the strongest and most dangerous prey in Africa takes patience, cunning, and coordinated effort. The lionesses of the Okavango Delta in Botswana are certainly up to the task. Buffaloes’ sharp horns, immense bulk, and incredible fortitude in the face of danger mean that nothing short of a meticulously executed hunt will secure the pride’s next meal. These epic battles will often unfold over several hours, with the balance of power repeatedly shifting between predator and prey. Despite their brutality, scenes like this one also feel eternal and essential—a back-and-forth interplay between Africa’s giants that speaks to the very essence of the wild.
#Repost from @natgeo
“Everything the light touches is our kingdom.” That famous moment in The Lion King sees young Simba surveying a vast expanse of sun-drenched plains. The trials and tribulations of lion life have inspired generations of storytellers, but the real-life wildernesses where these stories unfold are diminishing at an alarming pace. Kenya is among the few strongholds that still support large populations, yet even here, threats such as conflicts with humans, poaching, development, and climate change-driven droughts are closing in.