Plains Zebra geophagia

Gallery: WildlifePosted June 5, 201191 views11 comments

This Plains Zebra (Burchell's Zebra) mare was engaging in behaviour known as "geophagia". She was supplementing the nutrients in her diet by chewing pieces off a termite mound.

Taken in the Savute area of Chobe National Park, Botswana.

Techs:
Canon 7D with 300mm f2.8 L IS USM + 1.4x TC-II (420mm)
f5.6 @ 1/2000 SS @ ISO-800

Comments

11 comments

Comment posted by Mohammad Hosseini on June 5, 2011 at 1:38 PM

Morkel, It is well composed with a fantastic afternoon light. Well done.

Registered on May 16, 2011, 15 Posts, 301 Comments

Comment posted by Steve Canuel on June 5, 2011 at 9:09 PM

Hey Morkel,
Great clarity in this one and it really pops off that BG. The zebra and termite mound balance each other nicely in this composition.

Registered on September 12, 2010, 53 Posts, 660 Comments

Comment posted by Ashley Vincent on June 5, 2011 at 10:29 PM

This colours, textures, and patterns make this a wonderfully visually arresting picture Morkel, a real treat to look at :^)

Thanks also for the interesting explanation of behavior shown here :^)

Registered on March 1, 2011, 154 Posts, 2083 Comments

Comment posted by Stephen Kaluski on June 6, 2011 at 3:09 AM

Prefer this to a previous posting Morkel, as it seems to have a bit more contrast giving a bit more depth.

TFS
Steve

Registered on March 25, 2007, 189 Posts, 1064 Comments

Comment posted by Harshad Barve on June 6, 2011 at 4:54 AM

Well composed image with terrific IQ

Registered on July 25, 2010, 39 Posts, 210 Comments

Comment posted by Brad Hill on June 6, 2011 at 8:06 AM

Hey Morkel,

Interesting behaviour - and well-rendered too! I like the lighting - it really accentuates the texture in the termite mound. This one works for me...

Cheers...

Brad

Registered on May 29, 2007, 431 Posts, 6061 Comments

Comment posted by Wayne Willison on June 6, 2011 at 10:57 AM

I like how the warm light brings out the brown stripes. Good comp as well.
What nutrients does it get from a termite mound?

Registered on April 10, 2009, 292 Posts, 3967 Comments

Comment posted by Vincent Grafhorst on June 6, 2011 at 2:44 PM

Many of the local people here do the same thing, seriously!

This is an excellent behavioral image Morkel.

Registered on February 24, 2006, 504 Posts, 7203 Comments

Comment posted by Morkel Erasmus on June 7, 2011 at 4:51 PM

thanks for your comments, gents!

Wayne - not really sure but my best guess is mostly natural minerals found in the soil? Magnesium, Potassium and the likes?

Registered on March 22, 2011, 385 Posts, 2068 Comments

Comment posted by Darren Colello on June 10, 2011 at 7:52 PM

Wow, what a winner! Your composition is wonderful. Excellent work Morkel.

Registered on July 27, 2009, 175 Posts, 1100 Comments

Comment posted by Jagdeep Rajput on June 12, 2011 at 3:38 AM

It has all been said.
Jagdeep Rajput

Registered on April 29, 2008, 686 Posts, 2857 Comments