MATING LIONS

Passion in the yellow savannah gras !

D5, 600 4,0 + 1,4 converter = 850 mm, f/6,3,1/320, ISO 2800

Big Cat Sex is passionate stuff !
For lions as it is for leopards, jaguars etc : They go on for days doing nothing but having sex ......   and can have a frequency every 15 minutes. Pretty impressive in my opinion ! 

All pictures shot Maasai Mara, Kenya, nov/des 2017, Aug 2018, Sept 2018 and Oct 2018.
Hope you like them !!

Thanks to Big John Siololo and Oltepesi Camp. 

In early morning light

D5, 400 2,0, f/2,8, 1/1000, ISO 320

D5, 600 4,0 + 1,4 converter = 850 mm, f/6,3, 1/800, ISO 250

A private moment in the high gras

D5, 400 2,8, f/5,6,1/1000, ISO 1250

With low angle !

D5, 400 2,8, f/3,5,1/500, ISO 1000

D5, 400 2,8, f/6,,31/1600, ISO 900

Probably a magic moment !

D5, 400 2,8, f/6,3,1/1600, ISO 900

D5, 600 4,0 + 1,4 converter = 850 mm, f/6,3, 1/400, ISO 2000

D5, 600 4,0 + 1,4 converter = 850 mm, f/6,3, 1/320, ISO 2800

D5, 600 4,0 + 1,4 converter = 850 mm, f/6,3, 1/800, ISO 1800

D5, 600 4,0 + 1,4 converter = 850 mm, f/7,1, 1/800, ISO 1250

Meetoo ??

D5, 600 4,0, f/5,6, 1/640, ISO 1800

D5, 600 4,0 + 1,4 converter = 850 mm, f/6,3,1/320, ISO 2800

D5, 600 4,0 + 1,4 converter = 850 mm, f/6,3, 1/800, ISO 1600

D5, 600 4,0 + 1,4 converter = 850 mm, f/6,3, 1/400, ISO 2000

The king wants more .... 

D5, 600 4,0 + 1,4 converter = 850 mm, f/6,3, 1/400, ISO 2000

.... but the queen has lost the feeling .... and is telling the old man to get lost

D5, 600 4,0 + 1,4 converter = 850 mm, f/6,3, 1/1250, ISO 560

The lady is trying to get rid of her suitor ... and he doesn't`t like the it !

D5, 600 4,0 + 1,4 converter = 850 mm, f/6,3, 1/1250, ISO 560

... and in the end they make cute little cubs ! 

However, if a new male has fought his way to take over the pride he will often kill all the cubs in the pride to have his own offspring.

D5, 400 2,8, f/6,3, 1/800, ISO 2000

Hugging mom !!
D5, 600 4,0, f/5,6, 1/1000, ISO 2200

CAN HYENA TAKE DOWN A FULL GROWN WILDEBEEST ?

First minute after arrival : hyena has grabbed the wildebeest`s back leg and hangs on to it.

Nikon D5, 400 2,8, f/3,2, 1/1000, ISO 36 000

"Can a single hyena take down big prey like a wildebeest ?"
The question was asked from my photographer friend to our host and guide Big John Siololo just minutes before the drama exposed itself before our eyes : A medium or rather small sized spotted hyena had, of some reason, managed to grab a hold in one of the back legs of a full grown wildebeest ... and was hanging on to it. The answer to the question was given live to be watched from first row !

Not a very nice experience and my empathy with the wildebeest was strong ! However "empathy" is no winner in evolution, so it was a harsh reminder of simple rules of nature.

Note : The pictures were shot in the evening in almost "complete darkness". Check ISO figures !!

Maasai Mara Kenya, oct 2018. Thanks to John Siololo and Oltepesi Camp.

First minute after arrival: hyena fiercely holding on to the wildebeest`s back leg and tries to turn it over  

Nikon D5, 400 2,8, f/3,2, 1/640, ISO 32000

First minute after arrival: hyena battling with the wildebeest to turn it over

Nikon D5, 400 2,8, f/3,2, 1/1000, ISO 32 000

1 minute after arrival : For the first time the wildebeest is down and hyena immediately goes for the soft part (stomach). The hyena seemed to know what to do, I think it had done it before !!

Nikon D5, 400 2,8, f/3,2, 1/640, ISO 25 600

1 minute after arrival : Wildebeest desperately tries to get back on feet

Nikon D5, 400 2,8, f/3,2, 1/1000, ISO 32 000

1 minute after arrival : Wildebeest is still down and hyena determined tries to chew a hole in stomach skin on the wildebeest`s left side

Nikon D5, 400 2,8, f/3,2, 1/640, ISO 28 800

3 minutes after arrival : Hyena continuously working to chew a hole in left side stomach
Nikon D5, 400 2,8, f/ 3,2, 1/640, ISO 25 600

4 minutes after arrival : Wildebeest is back on feet, but hyena has now managed to open the stomach skin on the left side and the access to the softer parts is open.

Nikon D5, 400 2,8, f/3,2, 1/640, ISO 51 200

4 minutes after arrival : Hyena tearing out soft parts
Nikon D5, 400 2,8, f/2,8, 1/640, ISO 40 000

5 minutes after arrival : Wildebeest tries to get away, but hyena hangs on to the open wound

Nikon D5, 400 2,8, f/3,2, 1/1000, ISO 51 200

5 minutes after arrival : wildebeest is loose and attacks hyena for defence

Nikon D5, 400 2,8, f/3,2, 1/640, ISO 36 000

5 minutes after arrival : Hyena goes for a wild attack to turn wildebeest back to the ground

Nikon D5, 400 2,8, f/3,2, 1/640, ISO 40 000

6 minutes after arrival : Wildebeest is once again down and hyena now tries to chew a hole in stomach`s right side

Nikon D5, 400 2,8, f/3,2, 1/1640, ISO 36000

7 minutes after arrival : Wildebeest tries to get back on feet, but is once again forced to the ground. Wildebeest screaming !

Nikon D5, 400 2,8, f/2,8, 1/800, ISO 72 000

7 minutes after arrival : Hyena forces the wildebeest to the ground. Right side of stomach is now open.

Nikon D5, 400 2,8, f/2,8, 1/800, ISO 72 000

7 minutes after arrival : Battle still going on, but hyena seems to have gained control

Nikon D5, 400 2,8, f/2,8, 1/800, ISO 64 000

13 minutes after arrival : Complete darkness and the drama is shot in the light of a flashlight. Wildebeest still alive, but intestines are hanging out.

Nikon D5, 400 2,8, f/2,8, 1/160, ISO 36 000

15 minutes after arrival : The suffering of the wildebeest seems to have come to an end

Nikon D5, 400 2,8, f/2,8, 1/160, ISO 25 600