Author: Christian Sperka

Christian Sperka is a wildlife photographer based at Thanda Private Game Reserve, Kwazulu Natal, South Africa. Over the last 11 years, Christian has traveled the world photographing animals in wild game reserves of South Africa and Namibia, the jungles of Costa Rica, in Yellowstone National Park in the USA, as well as zoos in Europe and the United States. His work has been featured in wildlife magazines, in books and in many zoo publications. He actively supports wild cat conservation, working as a partner photographer for Panthera, the world's leading organization devoted to the conservation of all wild cat species (panthera.org). From 2009 to 2012 he has worked as the official photographer and photography teacher at Nashville Zoo at Grassmere, Tennessee, USA (nashvillezoo.org). Christian is also a qualified South African field guide. He now works as specialist photography guide on Thanda Private Game Reserve in Kwazulu Natal, South Africa (thanda.com).
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Heavy Breathing!

Heavy breathers 😊 Thanda Safari’s male Lions (coalition) were strolling past the Green Mamba this afternoon, breathing rather heavily. The ultra-wide-angle lens of my new iPhone Pro Max captures the scene very nicely 🦁

#Christiansperkaphotography @christiansperkaphotography #thandasafari @thandasafari

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THANDA SAFARI WILDLIFE AND PHOTOGRAPHY WEEKEND

I thought some of you might be interested in the upcoming wildlife and photography weekend on Thanda Safari.

I will be around all weekend to help with camera setups, answer questions and – if requested – critique pictures.

Lorraine Doyle (Wildlife Manager) and I will give short talks about the supporting role of photography in wildlife conservation.

We will also have a ‘best photo of the weekend’ competition.

And Vincent Hindson, Thanda Safari field guide and expert photographer, will join me to support our photographer-guests.

For more info or bookings please contact reservations@thanda.co.za or call +27325860149.

#Thandasafari @thandasafari #christiansperkaphotography @christiansperkaphotography

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Night View

A beautiful night view of one of Thanda Safari’s water holes.

With the incredible rains in this season all our dams and pans are full and currently there is water in puddles all over the reserve. Together with the lush vegetation this provides ideal conditions for all fauna to flourish.

This picture was taken last night after the sun had set with my new iPhone 12 Pro Max!

#Christiansperkaphotography @christiansperkaphotography #thandasafari @thandasafari

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HAPPY EASTER

… to all my friends around the world 🐰 🥚 🐣 My easter bunny picture is a of a South African Baby Scrub Hare at Thanda Safari.

#Christiansperkaphotography @christiansperkaphotography #thandasafari @thandasafari

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QUIZ: Small cats …

… (_Felinae_ Subfamily) – I only have pictures of four of the 31 ‘small wild cat species’. Can you identify these four? Just leave a comment if you think you know all of them 🐈 This was the last of ten days of cats posts 😊

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Wild Cats …

… are my favorite photographic targets in all their varieties.

This charts gives an overview over the 39 species of cats (38 in the wild) in the Felidae family and their scientific classification into two subfamilies and 14 genera.

Later today I will finish this ‘cats posts’ series with a little quiz 😊

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Let’s talk about big cats – the honorary members!

Beside the five official members of the genus Panthera (Tiger, Lion, Jaguar, Leopard and Snow Leopard) there are five more cat species which do not quite fit into the ‘small cat definition’ as they are rather large and/or have very special features.

Today I present the last of the ‘large cat club’:

The Eurasian Lynx (Lynx.lynx) – After Pumas and Cheetahs they are the largest of the small cats and the largest cats living in the wild in Europe.

So here they are again: The members of the ’10 largest wild cat species club’: Tiger, Lion, Jaguar, Leopard, Puma, Cheetah, Snow Leopard, Eurasian Lynx, Sunda Clouded Leopard and Mainland Clouded Leopard.

I only have pictures for a few of the remaining 28 wild cat species, which I will post over the next few days.

But for tomorrow I have created an overview of the cat (Felidae) family tree, which I hope will be helpful to some of you.

That’s it about big and large cats!

#Christiansperkaphotography @christiansperkaphotography

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🐦 NEW FOR BIRD LOVERS 🐦

@ChristianSperkaBirding

Many of my birder friends have ‘complained’ that most of my photography posts at @christiansperkaphotography are about mammals and only a very few about birds.

I have therefore decided to start a new Instagram account @christiansperkabirding and a new Facebook page http://www.fb.me/christiansperkabirding where 100% of all posts will be about birds.

Please follow either of them and feel free to share this information with anyone else who might enjoy my wildlife and bird photography. Thanks!

I will also create a ‘Birding Read-Only WhatsApp Group’ with the same posts in case any of you are not using social media but still would like to receive the picture posts. Just send me a message and I will add you to the group 😊

PS: The on-going bird quiz posts are separate and have nothing to do with this page.

#Christiansperkaphotography @christiansperkaphotography #thandasafari @thandasafari #pakamisagamereserve @pakamisagamereserve #krugernationalpark #mkuze #mkuzegamereserve #kruger @nashvillezoo #nashvillezoo

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