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Featured on Flickr Explore #50 on 2022-03-31
The leopard is the most elusive of all the big predators. They are well camouflaged making the sight of them even more rewarding.
Females give birth in a cave, crevice among boulders, hollow tree, or thicket to make a den. Cubs are born with closed eyes, which open four to nine days after birth. The fur of the young tends to be longer and thicker than that of adults. Their pelage is also more gray in colour with less defined spots. Around three months of age, the young begin to follow the mother on hunts. At one year of age, leopard young can probably fend for themselves, but remain with the mother for 18 - 24 months.
The beautiful Luluka, female Leopard, gave birth to Baby Jilime in August, 2020. They normally move their dens every 2-3 weeks, so as to keep other predators away from the cub. Luluka was seen holding her cub in her jaws and moving dens nearly 3 kms away. Photo captured during a photography safari on an early morning game drive in the Maasai Mara Game Reserve, Kenya.
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.
Featured on Flickr EXPLORE #38 2021/06/03
Some lions are "nomads" that range widely and move around sporadically, either in pairs or alone. Pairs are more frequent among related males who have been excluded from their birth pride. A lion may switch lifestyles; nomads can become residents and vice versa. Interactions between prides and nomads tend to be hostile, although pride females in estrus allow nomadic males to approach them. Males spend years in a nomadic phase before gaining residence in a pride. A study undertaken in the Serengeti National Park revealed that nomadic coalitions gain residency at between 3.5 and 7.3 years of age.
Half Tail, a well known nomad from Maasai Mara, has quite the reputation with the females of the region as he was seen mating with all three lionesses of the Rhino Ridge Pride whose resident males were away patrolling their territory.
Captured during a Photography Safari on a late evening game drive in the Maasai Mara Game Reserve, Kenya.
2 lions of the "Hollywood Pride" in the South Luangwa NP, Zambia
All rights reserved. © Thomas Retterath 2015
Welcoming among neighbors
Die Begrüßung zwischen einzelnen Elefantenfamilien verläuft immer wieder wahnsinnig herzlich und innig. Treffpunkt solcher Begegnungen sind meistens die wenigen Wasserlöcher.
Eng umschlungen mit ihren Rüsseln begrüßen sich diese zwei jungen Elefantendamen - der Jüngste der Truppe möchte schon mitmachen.
Kenia - Amboseli
The greeting between individual elephant families is always insanely warm and intimate. Meeting point of such encounters are mostly the few water holes.
Closely embraced with their trunks, these two young elephant ladies greet each other - the youngest of the troop already wants to join in.
Kenya - Amboseli
All rights reserved. © Uli Assmann
A powerful close-up of an African elephant in Botswana’s Chobe National Park. The texture of its wrinkled skin, the curve of its ivory tusk, and the delicate movement of its trunk reflect both the strength and vulnerability of Africa’s giants.
Pride lionesses (Panthera leo) often synchronise their reproductive cycles and communal rearing and suckling of the young, which suckle indiscriminately from any or all of the nursing females in the pride. The synchronisation of births is advantageous because the cubs grow to being roughly the same size and have an equal chance of survival, and sucklings are not dominated by older cubs. Weaning occurs after six or seven months. Male lions reach maturity at about three years of age and at four to five years are capable of challenging and displacing adult males associated with another pride.
The Queen of Rekero was resting in the grass nearby as her three very cute cubs were busy playing with each other. Photographed on a late evening game drive in the Rekero area of Maasai Mara Game Reserve, Kenya.
Den Tag zuvor hatten wir eine Löwin beobachtet, die sich relativ früh am Nachmittag von ihrer Gruppe entfernt hatte und allein Richtung Berge verzog. An ihren ausgeprägten Zitzen konnten wir vermuten, dass sie im dichten Gestrüpp ihren Nachwuchs versteckt hält und nun versorgen wollte.
In der folgenden Nacht regnete es unentwegt, und so erlebten wir am nächsten Morgen für kurze Zeit dichten Nebel über der Savanne - eine unglaublich tolle Licht-Stimmung, die sich hierbei für kurze Zeit ergab.
Dort wo sich am Vortag die Löwin von ihrer Gruppe entfernt hatte, tauchte sie im dichten Frühnebel plötzlich mit ihrem Nachwuchs auf.
Ein Einblick in diese schöne Familienidylle gewährte sie uns nur für einen kurzen Moment, bevor sie mit ihrem Nachwuchs wieder im dichten Gestrüpp verschwand.
Early morning fog in the Masai Mara
The day before we had observed a lioness who had left her group relatively early in the afternoon and moved off alone towards the mountains. From her pronounced teats we could assume that she was hiding her offspring in the dense undergrowth and now wanted to take care of them.
In the following night it rained incessantly, and so we experienced dense fog over the savannah for a short time the next morning - an unbelievably great light atmosphere, which resulted from this for a short time.
Where the lioness had moved away from her group the day before, the lioness suddenly appeared in the dense early morning fog with her offspring.
A glimpse into this beautiful family idyll she granted us only for a short moment, before she disappeared again with her offspring in the dense undergrowth.
Masai Mara - Kenya - September 2021
All rights reserved. © Uli Assmann
Featured on Flickr Explore #103 on 2022-12-03
The lion (Panthera leo) is a species in the family Felidae.
Lions live in large groups called prides. A pride consists of multiple related females and their dependent offspring along with two or three unrelated males. A typical pride has about 15 members, although some prides as large as 40 members have been observed.
Lions spend much of their time resting; they are inactive for about 20 hours per day. Although lions can be active at any time, their activity generally peaks after dusk with a period of socialising, grooming and defecating. Intermittent bursts of activity continue until dawn, when hunting most often takes place.
Female lions, sisters, live together for life. Their female cubs also stay with the pride, even after they’re grown, but male cubs must venture out on their own once they reach maturity.
This beautiful Lionesses of the Enkoyanai Pride were on hunting mission and was captured during a photography safari on an early morning game drive in the Maasai Mara Game Reserve, Kenya.
Featured on Flickr Explore #45 on 17/12/2021
The lion (Panthera leo) is a species in the family Felidae.
Lions live in large groups called prides. A pride consists of multiple related females and their dependent offspring along with two or three unrelated males. A typical pride has about 15 members, although some prides as large as 40 members have been observed.
Lions spend much of their time resting; they are inactive for about 20 hours per day. Although lions can be active at any time, their activity generally peaks after dusk with a period of socialising, grooming and defecating. Intermittent bursts of activity continue until dawn, when hunting most often takes place.
Female lions, sisters, live together for life. Their female cubs also stay with the pride, even after they’re grown, but male cubs must venture out on their own once they reach maturity.
This beautiful Lionesses of the Enkoyanai Pride were on hunting mission and was captured during a photography safari on an early morning game drive in the Maasai Mara Game Reserve, Kenya.
Featured on Flickr EXPLORE #36 2021-12-01
African leopards (Panthera pardus pardus) are one of the two big cats, along with the lion and included in the big five of Africa, that inhabit the continent of Africa.
Queen Lorian, a very famous and senior female leopard, was found dead yesterday morning, mauled to death by either Lions or another Leopard. She has left behind a 14 month old son, Roho who shall to fend for himself in the wild.
This was my latest sighting of her during a photography Safari on an early morning game drive in the Maasai Mara Game Reserve, Kenya.
I have been remiss in posting wildlife photos of late. I have been dedicating more time to my pottery passion and less availability to travel has also been a hindrance. I have also been going through my archives and noticing shots that I hadn't taken note of in the past. This group of lion cubs presented wonderful opportunities that I will always remember.
Female Leopard resting up a tree after feeding on an Impala.
Kwando concession, Botswana
All rights reserved.
© Thomas Retterath 2012
Although the annoying flies accompany the lioness every time she moves, she looks with a very clear gaze in search of food for herself and her offspring.
Kenya - Maasai Mara
Klarer Blick!
Obwohl immer wieder die lästigen Fliegen die Löwin bei jeder ihrer Bewegung begleiten, schaut sie mit sehr klarem Blick auf der Suche nach Fressbarem für sich und ihrem Nachwuchs.
Kenia - Maasai Mara
All rights reserved. © Uli Assmann
During my recent trip to the Maasai Mara, we sighted Jilime, daughter of Luluka, late in the evening. Jilime is just over 2 years old and is turning out to be a successful Leopard in the wild having gained her independence from her mother recently.
Here is a photo of the her when she was just 3 months old and Luluka her mother was moving dens holding her in her mouth
We saw her late in the evening resting up a tree with a Black-backed Jackal barking at her from a distance. The next day she was resting in the grass below a tree with the Jackal hanging between the branches, having been hunted during the night.
Photographed during a photography safari on an early morning game drive in the Maasai Mara Game Reserve, Kenya.
Ihaha | Botsuana
A lion moving towards the river after feeding on a Giraffe, the pride hunted down the day before.
This photograph is not in the public domain and may not be embedded or used on websites, blogs, or in other media without advance permission from Bruce Finocchio.
This close-up photograph captures the incredible detail and character of a wild African elephant in Namibia. From the deep wrinkles of its skin to the powerful curve of its tusk, this image showcases the raw beauty and majesty of Africa's wildlife. Taken during a journey through Namibia's vast landscapes, this shot is a powerful tribute to nature, travel, and conservation.
Leopardess in the Okavango Delta,Botswana
All rights reserved. Copyright Thomas Retterath 2018
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Featured on Flickr Explore #57 on 2021-04-10
The lion (Panthera leo) is a species in the family Felidae.
Lions live in large groups called prides. A pride consists of multiple related females and their dependent offspring along with two or three unrelated males. A typical pride has about 15 members, although some prides as large as 40 members have been observed.
Lions spend much of their time resting; they are inactive for about 20 hours per day. Although lions can be active at any time, their activity generally peaks after dusk with a period of socialising, grooming and defecating. Intermittent bursts of activity continue until dawn, when hunting most often takes place.
Female lions, sisters, live together for life. Their female cubs also stay with the pride, even after they’re grown, but male cubs must venture out on their own once they reach maturity.
This beautiful Lionesses of the Enkoyanai Pride were on hunting mission and was photographed during a photography safari on an early morning game drive in the Maasai Mara Game Reserve, Kenya.
Mütter Tanten, Schwestern und der Nachwuchs geben sich ein Stelldichein.
Kenia - Amboseli
Amboseli's elephants
Mothers, aunts, sisters and the offspring get together.
Kenya - Amboseli
All rights reserved. © Uli Assmann
During my recent trip to the Maasai Mara, we sighted King Olobor of the Black Rock Pride early in the morning. He had had a very successful night as he was still busy feeding on the Wildebeest he had brought down under the cover of darkness.
King Olobor was captured before sunrise, during a photography safari on an early morning game drive in the Maasai Mara Game Reserve, Kenya.
Leopards (Panthera pardus pardus) are the most beautiful of all the wild cats and the most elusive. Sighting one in the wild is a treat in itself let alone getting to photograph it in it's natural habitat.
The beautiful Queen Bahati was elusive as usual but we did manage to sight her finally, coming out of the bushes going towards her cubs who were hidden a den.
Photographed during a Photography safari on an early morning game drive in the Maasai Mara Game Reserve, Kenya.
Pride lionesses (Panthera leo) often synchronise their reproductive cycles and communal rearing and suckling of the young, which suckle indiscriminately from any or all of the nursing females in the pride. The synchronisation of births is advantageous because the cubs grow to being roughly the same size and have an equal chance of survival, and sucklings are not dominated by older cubs. Weaning occurs after six or seven months. Male lions reach maturity at about three years of age and at four to five years are capable of challenging and displacing adult males associated with another pride.
The Queen of Rekero was resting in the grass nearby as her three very cute cubs were busy playing with each other. Photographed on a late evening game drive in the Rekero area of Maasai Mara Game Reserve, Kenya.