View allAll Photos Tagged bigfive
As the golden sun bathes the Namibian savanna, a trio of rhinos moves gracefully through the tall grass. These powerful yet gentle giants embody the untamed spirit of Africa, a testament to nature’s resilience and beauty. A breathtaking moment of wildlife captured in its purest form.
Male African buffalo (Cape Buffalo) - South Africa
This dominant bull is there and closely guards the cows that come into heat.
Cape Buffalo is of the most powerful and dangerous animals on the Africa continent. They attack and kill other animal and people.
In the first light of the rising sun, this beautiful lioness showed herself in her best light. Her hot breath also created a special lighting atmosphere.
Maasai Mara Kenya
All rights reserved. © Uli Assmann
Female leopard (Panthera pardus) chilling in the shade. Taken in the dry Timbavati river bed adjacent to the Kruger National Park
Completely alone without any connection to his pride, this handsome lion was out and about in the Masai Mara.
Kenya-Masai Mara
All rights reserved. © Uli Assmann
Rumble in the bushes.
3 male lion were chasing an intruder in their territory.
The bush was vibrating with the sound of their calls.
All rights reserved. © Thomas Retterath 2014
In the shallow waters of the Olare Orok River in the central Maasai Mara, it can get quite crowded for the hippos.
Especially when it comes to defending their territory.
The stronger ones sometimes make room for themselves.
One of the Big Five animals that are always neglected during a visit to Africa.
Maasai Mara - Kenya - November 2023
Mein Revier
Im flachen Wasser des Olare Orok Flusses in der zentralen Maasai Mara kann es für die Hippos schon mal eng werden.
Besonders, wenn es um Verteidigung des eigenen Reviers geht.
Da verschafft sich der Stärkere schon mal Platz.
Eine der Big Five-Tiere, die bei einem Besuch in Afrika immer bei der Beobachtung vernachlässigt werden.
Maasai Mara - Kenia - November 2023
All rights reserved. © Uli Assmann
A young elephant joyfully walks among its protective herd in the wilds of Namibia. This touching moment captures the strong familial bonds and natural beauty of African elephants in their habitat.
Heute vor 12 Jahren wurde von der WWF der Welt- Nashorn-Tag ins Leben gerufen und sollte regelmäßig auf die nach wie vor starke Wilderei der Nashörner im südlichen Afrika aufmerksam machen.
Nach wie vor hat sich die Lage der Nashörner nicht wesentlich verbessert. Zwar ging während der Corona-Pandemie die Wilderei geringfügig zurück - auch diverse Ansiedlungsprojekte in einigen afrikanischen Staaten zeigen kleine Erfolge - aber die Sorge um diese wunderschönen Tiere ist nach wie vor hoch.
Insbesondere in Südafrika sind die Nashörner besonders gefährdet. Zum Schutz wurden die Tiere sogar bis vor kurzem von Tierschützern verstümmelt. Sie sägten ihnen das Horn ab, um sie so vor Wilderern zu schützen....
In Kenia gibt es seit Jahren einige Schutzgebiete, in denen die sanften Riesen gut bewacht sicher leben können.
Ich habe sie bisher in freier Wildbahn nur als sehr sanfte und friedfertige Tiere kennengelernt. In der Riege der "Big Five" kommen sie meines Erachtens immer zu kurz weg - völlig zu unrecht!
Today, 12 years ago, the WWF launched the World Rhino Day and should regularly draw attention to the still strong poaching of rhinos in southern Africa.
As before, the situation of the rhinos has not improved significantly. Although poaching decreased slightly during the Corona pandemic - also various settlement projects in some African states show small successes - the concern for these beautiful animals is still high.
Especially in South Africa, the rhinos are particularly endangered. For protection, the animals were even mutilated by animal rights activists until recently. They sawed off their horns to protect them from poachers....
In Kenya, there have been some protected areas for years, where the gentle giants can live safely, well guarded.
So far, I have only met them in the wild as very gentle and peaceful animals. In my opinion, they are always neglected in the "Big Five" - completely unjustly!
Solio - Kenya
All rights reserved. © Uli Assmann
World Elephant Day has been celebrated every August 12th since 2012, when Patricia Sims and the Thailand-based nonprofit Elephant Reintroduction Foundation partnered to found the holiday. Over the past eight years, World Elephant Day has partnered with more than 100 elephant conservation organizations from around the world, and helped to raise awareness for the need to protect and preserve elephants.
Elephants are an endangered species, and the majestic animal’s population has shrunk significantly over the past few decades. For example, in Africa, there are only about 415,000 elephants remaining; in 1989, there were 600,000, and in 1979, there were 1.3 million, according to data sent to Green Matters by Space For Giants. Many factors have contributed to elephant populations decreasing, but one of the most significant is poaching. Poachers in Africa have illegally killed an estimated 110,000 elephants over the past decade - about one quarter of what Africa’s elephant population was 10 years ago.
Only Elephants should wear Ivory!
This beautiful scene of African elephants (Loxodonta africana) grazing in the early morning light was captured during a photography safari on an early morning game drive in Amboseli National Park, Kenya.
This little 3-month-old leopard cub had already learned so much from his mother that he knew what to do when a lioness entered the leopard hide.
While the mother lured the lioness away, this cute little fellow hid in the top of a tree and didn't move for hours before the mother returned.
A scene that will stay with me forever.
Mara Triangle - Kenya
All rights reserved. © Uli Assmann
The African buffalo or Cape buffalo (Syncerus caffer) is a large African bovine. ISyncerus caffer caffer, the Cape buffalo, is the typical subspecies, and the largest one, found in South and East Africa.
They are widely regarded as very dangerous animals, as they gore and kill over 200 people every year. Owing to its unpredictable nature, which makes it highly dangerous to humans, the African buffalo has never been domesticated, unlike its Asian counterpart, the water buffalo. Other than humans, African Cape buffaloes have few predators aside from lions and are capable of defending themselves.
Being a member of the big five game, the Cape buffalo is a sought-after trophy in hunting.
This handsome Buffalo with Red-billed Oxpecker (Buphagus erythrorhynchus) was captured on a photography safari during and an early morning game drive in Nairobi National Park, Nairobi, Kenya.
Yellow-billed Oxpeckers doing some maintenance and snacking on bugs and parasites. Masai Mara, Kenya
A close-up, eye-level portrait of a young lion with its head tilted back and mouth wide open in a playful or tired yawn. The warm, soft light of the setting sun bathes the lions´ face in a golden glow, highlighting its youthful features and capturing a rare, intimate moment of a future king in its natural African habitat.
African Buffalo - wasn't sure if he was posing, peeing, or preparing to charge. Worry not, I kept my distance...
Die Erziehung des Nachwuchses verteilt sich in einem Löwenrudel immer auf mehrere Mütter. Schließlich fordert die Rasselbande Beschäftigung rund um die Uhr - das ist anstrengend genug!
In diesem Rudel waren ständig 2 Schwestern beschäftigt, ihre 6 Löwenkinder auf Linie zu bringen.
So richtig Ruhe kam da nicht auf.
Aber ich hatte eine Riesenfreude, diesen Trubel zu beobachten.
The upbringing of the offspring is always divided among several mothers in a pride of lions. After all, the rascals demand employment around the clock - that is exhausting enough!
In this pride, 2 sisters were constantly busy bringing their 6 lion cubs into line.
So really rest did not come up there.
But I had a huge pleasure to observe this hustle and bustle.
Masai Mara - Kenya
All rights reserved. © Uli Assmann
The boss of the lion pack has everything under control
Masai Mara - Kenya
All rights reserved. © Uli Assmann
During the 20th century, poaching has significantly reduced the population of Elephants all over. The World Wide Fund for Nature believes there were between 3 and 5 million African elephants as recently as the 1930s and 1940s. Between 1980 and 1990 the population of African elephants was more than halved, from 1.3 million to around 600,000. Between 1973 and 1989, the African elephant population of Kenya declined by 85%. In Chad, the population declined from 400,000 in 1970 to about 10,000 in 2006. The population in the Tanzanian Selous Game Reserve, once the largest of any reserve in the world, dropped from 109,000 in 1976 to 13,000 in 2013. 85,000 elephants were lost to poaching in Tanzania between 2009 and 2014 (Source: Wikipedia).
Only Elephants should wear Ivory!
This beautiful scene of Elephants grazing in the early morning light with Mt. Kilimanjaro as the backdrop was photographed on a game drive in Amboseli National Park, Kenya.
Ausgezeichnetes Gehör und exzellentes Sehvermögen zeichnen diese wunderschönen Katzen aus.
Kenia - Samburu
Powerful expression
Excellent hearing and excellent eyesight characterize these beautiful cats.
Kenya - Samburu
All rights reserved. © Uli Assmann
So erlebte man normalerweise den Park - ein großer Reichtum an Säugetieren, die sich hier tummeln.
Besonders die Elefanten sind hier einzigartig.
Nach einer sehr schwierigen Dürrezeit in den letzten Monaten in der viele Tiere verendet sind, scheint sich die Situation in Amboseli wieder zu verbessern.
Es hat geregnet und der Pflanzenwuchs kehrt zurück - die Lebensgrundlage für die dort lebenden Massai und die vielen Säugetiere.
Amboseli's elephants
This is how you would normally experience the park - a great wealth of mammals that congregate here.
Especially the elephants are unique here.
After a very difficult drought period in the last months in which many animals died, the situation in Amboseli seems to be improving again.
It has rained and the plant growth is returning - the basis of life for the Maasai living there and the many mammals.
All rights reserved. © Uli Assmann
This lionesse is very alive and enjoying the shade!
© Cosmopolitan Photography | All rights reserved.
Do not use, copy or edit any of my images without my written permission.
The brothers Titus and Brutus share a copacetic moment of synchrony.
At Brookfield Zoo - mid morning at the start of a hot day. They are normally sweet together, but usually just sleeping/lounging. I was walking by and saw this unusual dual pose, and quickly snapped off a few captures. The harmonic lines of their profiles really grabbed my attention!
Selten lässt die sich Blicken -und plötzlich kommt sie unverhofft aus dem Gebüsch auf dich zu - das ist Bahati!
Masai Mara - Kenia
The mysterious leopardess
Rarely does she show her face - and suddenly she comes out of the bushes towards you - that's Bahati!
Massai Mara - Kenya
All rights reserved. © Uli Assmann
Die Sonne war noch nicht ganz aufgegangen - feine Wassertröpfchen bilden sich noch auf dem Gras - da machte sich dieser wunderschöne junge Löwe auf zum Jagen.
Masai Mara - Kenia
In the morning dew
The sun had not yet fully risen - fine water droplets still forming on the grass - as this beautiful young lion set out to hunt.
Massai Mara - Kenia
All rights reserved. © Uli Assmann
In the lush wetlands of Chobe National Park, Botswana, an African elephant cools off in the shallows, showering itself in water and light. The close-up captures both the raw power and the tender precision of this iconic animal as it grazes and bathes—an intimate moment in one of Africa’s most wildlife-rich landscapes.