Blog – Page 181 – Christian Sperka Photography

2013-10-23

Thandarized!

What a welcome! When the boma gates were opened yesterday morning it was not the new dominant male coming out to look at his new home. No, it was the oldest female of the North Pride walking into the boma and immediately initiating mating behavior.

They walked out together and started mating procedures. As Lions mate over several days (in short frequencies between 20 minutes and an hour) we found them this evening still engaged in the process.

What a welcome for the new “man on the block”!

See also yesterday’s blog message https://christiansperka.wordpress.com/2013/10/22/thanda-lion-news/

2013-10-22

Thanda Lion News!

To maintain a healthy Lions gene pool and to control the number of Lions on Thanda, five of these magnificent cats have been moved to a new section of the reserve (called the Mduna Royal Reserve). The two adult females, two cubs and the dominant male will form a new pride in an area which had no Lions until now.

A film crew from the UK (www.thebigsky.co.uk) recorded the capture and transfer of these Lions to the Mduna. In this image the Lions were still sedated as the Thanda Wildlife Team and the attending Veterinarian performed a “physical check” on each Lion.

One day after this re-location procedure Thanda’s new dominant male was release onto Thanda. Only a few hours after his release he started mating with one of the females, who was waiting for him outside the boma 🙂 see previous blog from 16 October: https://christiansperka.wordpress.com/2013/10/16/my-new-man/

If you are interested to actively participate and contribute in Thanda conservation activities please contact research@thanda.co.za for more information.

2013-10-19

Family Bath!

This small Elephant enjoyed his bath with the family – while climbing on the back of one of his cousins. At the end of a hot day there is nothing better than splashing around in a waterhole.

The Thanda guests enjoyed this very entertaining sighting!

2013-10-18

BIRDS – Crowned Lapwing – Watch the Eggs!

At the afternoon drink stop we spotted this Crowned Lapwing watching over its nest. We kept quite a distance not to disturb the bird further and a few seconds after this shot was taken the parent went back to sit on the eggs while the Thanda guest had their drinks at sundown.

For the photographers among you: This images is a “collage” of two shots. One was focused on the eggs and one on the bird. The “dual planes of focus” are accomplished by merging the two images.

2013-10-17

Game Drive Impressions (2)

It seems that the link did not appear in yesterday’s email message. Sorry 😦

Here it is: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x-afLEn12s8

Yesterday’s Post:

I have commissioned a new interpretation of South Africa’s National Anthem arranged by Don Johnson and played by the Happy Turkey Farm Band. Don has previously arranged a version of Shosholoza for me. Thanks Don!

This is a link to a YouTube video slide show with 48 Thanda images to celebrate both musical pieces. Enjoy them!

https://christiansperka.wordpress.com/2013/10/16/game-drive-impressions/

2013-10-16

Game Drive Impressions

This is a link to a YouTube video slide show with 48 Thanda images to celebrate both musical pieces. Enjoy them!

… and just in case you are interested here is the image list:

01 – Lion cub at the quarry

02 – Southern Giraffe on the savanna
03 – North pride Lioness at sunrise
04 – African Elephant calf on the move
05 – Cheetah brothers morning routine
06 – Elephant mud bath at Mgankla dam
07 – Lion Cub playing with its older brother’s tail
08 – Two African Elephant bulls on a mission
09 – White Rhino road block
10 – A shy Leopard
11 – Marula tree at sunrise
12 – Burchell’s Zebra staring
13 – Cape Buffalo at sunset on Mgankla Dam
14 – Young Lions in a Marula tree at sunset
15 – Two Burchell’s Zebra fighting
16 – Young Elephant bull’s display in a Fever tree area
17 – Mist at sunrise over Thanda’s South
18 – White Rhino mother and daugther
19 – Black Rhino mother and daugther
20 – Impala ram on a hill
21 – Young Lion after a feast
22 – Excited White Rhino male calf
23 – Spotted Hyena an the savanna
24 – White Rhino and Lion encounter at Zulela dam
25 – Cheetah mum and her cubs in the early morning
26 – Thanda’s north pride of Lions walking into the sunset
27 – The Cheetah brothers on a burned area
28 – Burchell’s Zebra running on the savanna
29 – Cape Buffalo moving towards a waterhole
30 – Lioness at a Wildebeest kill
31 – Thanda’s Elephant herd on the move
32 – Cheetah – A bloody portrait
33 – Cape Turtle Dove landing
34 – Fork-tailed Drongo bathing
35 – Tawby Eagle in flight
36 – African Hoopoe
37 – Southern Yellow-billed Hornbill
38 – Brownhooded Kingfisher
39 – Red-billed Oxpeckers with chick
40 – Green-winged Pytilia
41 – Village Weavers mating
42 – Little Jumbo crossing the road
43 – Dominant male on the move
44 – Sparring for the cameras
45 – Enjoying the north pride Lions
46 – “Shooting” Cape Buffalo
47 – Finished the bath!
48 – Mgankla dam at sunset

2013-10-16

My new man!

One of the young Thanda Lionesses is really looking forward to the release of the new dominant male onto the reserve. She checks regularly if her “new man” is still in the boma.

Soon after the current dominant male will be moved to a new section of Thanda the new guy will be released onto the reserve. Changing dominant males on game reserves is very important to keep a healthy gene pool.

The young lady is ready for him 🙂

The new Thanda dominant male Lion!

2013-10-15

Pole Position

From time to time Bheki gives up his tracker seat on the front of our game viewer to one of the Thanda guests.

It is a very special experience seeing the animals from a tracker’s perspective and trying to find tracks along the road.

In this picture a guest from France enjoyed observing a Giraffe male from his “pole position” 🙂

2013-10-13

Disappearing into the Sunset

One of Thanda’s oldest Elephant bulls walked quietly towards the sunset. Before he disappeared in the bush he provided the Thanda guests a very close encounter with a gentle giant.

2013-10-10

Nature at Work

Observing “nature at work” can be difficult at times. Last nights Lion sighting showed that human sentiments do not apply to animals.

We observed a Lioness, which had killed a Blue Wildebeest, first eating the unborn calf fetus before returning to the adult kill.

Shortly afterwards the Lioness was chased off the kill by Thanda’s dominant male Lion who took over the feast.

The first image above shows the Lioness when feeding. The second image shows the male after the take over.

I got some amazing footage from this very unusual sighting. The links below lead to four more images.

WARNING: Please do not click on the links below if you are disturbed by images of animals feeding on other animals.

http://wp.me/a1rzfb-MB

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