What a surprise when I arrived at Pakamisa Private Game Reserve this afternoon!
These little Ostrich chicks were on a walk-about with their parents when I got to take these pictures.
The Ostrich mom and dad were very alert to ensure that nothing would harm there young ones. I used a long lens and kept my distance 🙂
Well, they are of different age and the pictures were taken in different light (therefore the colour difference). But here is the major difference:
The little Lion on the left lives with his family (The North Pride) at Thanda Private Game Reserve in South Africa. The small one on the right lives with his family at the Zoo in Basel, Switzerland. The one lives in the wild with all its dangerous and its beauty, the other one lives in captivity, at full board and with a health care plan 🙂
Congratulations to Peter Mettler, who got the correct answer!
… and now the bonus question, what is so special about this one?
What is the difference between these two Lion cubs?
A hint: it is not their looks alone!
I will blog the answer tomorrow afternoon 🙂
Have a good week.
I have created this image to remind everyone of all the Rhinos poached this year in Southern Africa. This must stop!
All over South Africa, game reserves battle with poaching. One traditional method poachers use to catch their prey is the setting of snares, which are crudely constructed out of cable or fencing wire. They are set on game paths or near waterholes and are often left there for days. Any unsuspecting animal passing through may get caught and suffer injuries and/or death.
The method is very cruel and wasteful. Not only do the intended prey, like antelopes, get caught, but Lions, Leopards, Cheetah, Elephant, Rhinos and Buffalo too prolong suffering injuries and often even die in the snares. Thanda’s Anti-Poaching Units regularly patrol the reserve and carry out snare sweeps. Unfortunately, some of our wildlife still stumble into snares from time to time, despite our determination to prevent this.
Just recently, one of Thanda’s Lionesses had her foot caught in a snare. She was powerful enough…
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Just before I went off work for seven days I was able to participate in a Hyena capture operation (five Hyenas were to be transferred to another game reserve).
Then I spent a few days at Pakamisa enjoying a bit of riding, excellent company and superb food! It was great that Magdel and Warren from Thanda were able to join me at Pakamisa for a one night stay. This picture shows all of us leaving the stables for a morning ride.
Isabella took this group picture of me, Badger and the warthogs 🙂
I also did a “romantic drinks at sundown” photo shoot. I like the results.
Thanda is promoting my book today 🙂
We aren’t suggesting you bundle one into your suitcase but we did think you might like to enjoy viewing them from the comfort of your home. We have produced a wonderful photographic book of our majestic lions, agile cheetahs and elusive leopards that is now available to buy. Individually printed, they are available from Amazon or an e-version can be downloaded from store.blurb.com – just search for ‘Thanda Cats’.
Well, I usually try not to publish pictures of me making silly faces. But this one I have to post. While I was at a Cheetah interaction this week I tried to demonstrate to my guests how close you can get to these beautiful cats. But this Cheetah male decided I needed to be smacked for my daring. No harm done, but it was a great laugh for all the people watching.
A memorable moment with a silly face 🙂
PS: Thanks Grasie for taking this great picture – even with my silly face in it!
…
Imagine a conversation between a large male Lion and his son ….
Cub: Wake up dad, mum and grandma are moving on …
Cub: Come oooon, they will leave us behind …
Dad: You are a little pest, let me sleep…
Cub: Get up dad, you are sleeping too much…
Dad: And where are you now…
Cub: Just follow me, I know where they are …
Story and pictures by Christian Sperka – Specialist Photography Guide and Resident Wildlife Photographer – Thanda Private Game Reserve
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I promised a few more images from my recent trip to the USA. I am still working on sorting out all the images, but I had to put these four together to a collage. Thanks to Chris M. for taking me around the zoo during my visit to see all my old friends.
As much as I love my cats at home (Lion, Leopard and Cheetah) I miss the Eurasian Lynx, the Bengal Tigers, the Clouded Leopards and the Cougars/Mountain Lions at the Nashville Zoo. Jackson, the old gentlemen in this picture (mountain lion) is one of my favourite (and one of Heather’s favourite, too :-).
Christian Sperka Photography | Custom Luxury Tours 