There is a world somewhere between reality and fiction. Although ignored by many, it is very real and so are those living in it. This forum is about the natural world. Here, wild animals will be heard and respected. The forum offers a glimpse into an unknown world as well as a room with a view on the present and the future. Anyone able to speak on behalf of those living in the emerald forest and the deep blue sea is invited to join.
Jens Cullmann:" Besides sleeping/resting for 20 hours per day, lions can be quite playful too. Mostly this happens early mornings when it is not yet to hot ... "
Zhayynn James:" The eye of a lion. We were so close to this lion lying under a tree and the dappled light didn’t make for a nice wide-angle, so I decided to make a detail shot of its eye. You can see the tree canopy and our vehicle reflected in its eye. "
Dereck Joubert:" In the predator-prey arms race, lions often have an edge on their quarry – their superior muscles deliver more power, higher speeds, more brute athleticism. But prey animals have important advantages too, including their unpredictability. Speed up, slow down, turn abruptly – this is often their best bet for winning the race. For the young feline hunter, the predatory life lessons are clear: power must be coupled with the manoeuvrability needed to react to prey decisions in the split seconds in which the outcomes of the race are decided... "
Beverly Joubert:" When photographing wild species, it can be difficult to predict when a peaceful scene might erupt into a frenzy of activity. It's best to always be prepared. These big cats ventured tentatively into rival territory and were surprised by a territorial male who unexpectedly burst from the palm islands. His arrival triggered a rapid retreat from the pride and allowed me to snap a powerful image of the lions charging across a spillway."
The following 1 user Likes Spalea's post:1 user Likes Spalea's post • BA0701
Mark Dumbleton:" Staring into the eyes of a Male Lion, he instills fear, he fears nothing!
Back in 2010 I took a trip to the Okavango Delta in Botswana, more specifically Chiefs Island, and I was absolutely blown away by the incredible diversity of wildlife in the Delta. It was my first photography trip to the Delta but unfortunately I havn’t been back since. I really cant wait until I can visit this wildlife haven again! "
The following 1 user Likes Spalea's post:1 user Likes Spalea's post • BA0701
Beverly Joubert:" Peek-a-boo! A lion cub in Kenya's Maasai Mara takes a brief break from feeding to investigate the source of an unfamiliar sound. While the rest of the pride sleeps – something that lions may do for up to 20 hours of the day – the youngsters remain vigilant and eager to explore. "
Jens Cullmann:" The lions at Nxai Pan gave me some quality time ... early morning when it is not yet hot they were quite playful around the waterhole "
Dereck Joubert: " The ‘biophilia hypothesis’ suggests that humans have an innate tendency to seek out connections with nature – a built-in affinity for the natural world. For our ancient ancestors, the hypothesis goes, being emotionally attuned to other living things carried an evolutionary advantage, allowing the more attentive among them to survive and pass on their genes to the next generation. And though there may not be agreement in the scientific community on whether biophilia does in fact exist, there are certainly moments we have all experienced when that connection seems impossible to deny. "
Beverly Joubert:"There are so few places left in the world where lions do reign supreme like this male whose shear power is irrepressible. The male lion in this photograph swam onto the island and challenged the two old male lions we called ‘Duba Males’, they were around 14 years old and he was around 6 and in his prime. He took over a pride of 9 lionesses called the Tsaro Pride (named after the Taaro palms as they would use them for shade or to hide in the palm fronds to be more effective during the hunt). He is the father of all the cubs on the island today. We named him ‘Wild Supreme’ as he appeared so majestic and confident, the ultimate lion in his prime."
Dereck Joubert:" Apex predator in training. For now, the pouncing and pawing are just clumsy play, but before long, the adversary will be real – and the fledgling skills being practised here will be the difference between a full belly and an empty one. "
The following 1 user Likes Spalea's post:1 user Likes Spalea's post • BA0701
Lions are usually active at night and the early hours of the morning, hunting or patrolling their territories, before the African temperatures begin to soar. Though through necessity or opportunity, certain lion prides will quite happily keep moving during the heat of the day seeking to take advantage of unsuspecting prey. "
The following 1 user Likes Spalea's post:1 user Likes Spalea's post • BA0701
