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Bullseye!
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Bullseye!

by Vincent Grafhorst

Gallery: WildlifePosted November 3, 2013546 views5 comments
Ever wondered why waterbucks have a white circle on their bums? It works as a bullseye! :biggrin:

We had been observing the tension between two rival Waterbuck bulls for a few days when one day a chase happened right in front of us. The one that got his ass butted fled into the dangerous crocodile infested river.

All images of the sequence can be seen here.
What these images do not tell is how the story really ended. A few weeks later the dominant bull was drinking from the river when a crocodile caught him and took his lower jaw off. The rival bull seized the opportunity and pushed the seriously wounded bull back into the river; the crocs had a feast! This I heard from my regular boat driver who is on the river every day. Now that could have resulted in much more spectacular pics...:frown:



Waterbuck (Kobus ellipsiprymnus)
Chobe River floodplains, Chone NP, Botswana
Camera Model Canon EOS-1DX
Shutter Speed 1/2500 Sec.
Aperture Value f/8
ISO Speed 800
Lens EF500mm f/4L IS USM


Comments

5 comments
Comment posted by Ralph Kerr on November 3, 2013 at 1:37 PM
Great action photo Vincent. Enjoyed the sequence also. Ideally, I would like just a bit more space on the left side in front of the subordinate bull, but you got what was presented. I'd be proud to have this if it were mine.
Registered on January 30, 2007, 369 Posts, 852 Comments
Comment posted by John Tobias on November 3, 2013 at 2:30 PM
Exciting series of photos :jump: Outstanding photography. Had to have been an exciting time. Thanks for sharing a great series of action images.
Registered on September 12, 2009, 2120 Posts, 6455 Comments
Comment posted by Ken Watkins on November 4, 2013 at 12:25 AM
Vincent,
Nice action captured here, those in the background spoil it a bit, but I have yet to meet a herd of waterbucks who make totally clean shots possivle :toast:
Registered on December 15, 2010, 1537 Posts, 4877 Comments
Comment posted by Morkel Erasmus on November 4, 2013 at 4:11 PM
Nice action and gotta love the angles from the river, Vincent. :toast:
I was intrigued to see the Defassa Waterbuck in the Mara - who of course have no bullseye (they must be more timid then :wink:)

Sounds like you missed out on some cracking river action :frown:
Sometimes I hate being in touch with people who work every day in the regions we only get to see sporadically!
Registered on March 22, 2011, 385 Posts, 2068 Comments
Comment posted by Basri Akcasoy on November 17, 2013 at 6:48 AM
Beautiful action, TFS.
Registered on February 16, 2012, 118 Posts, 767 Comments