The Serval

Gallery: WildlifePosted March 6, 2015298 views7 comments

Just returned from a fantastic 3 week trip leading photo safaris to Ndutu, Serengeti and Chobe. here is my first post of this trip. Not for the image quality because the light conditions were extremely low but for the sighting itself. This nocturnal creature gave us over 20 minutes of viewing pleasure . . . A Serval Cat captured on our way back to camp in Ndutu in the southern region of the Serengeti in Tanzania.. This is a very elusive cat that can normally be seen after sunset when they become active.

EOS 1Dx - EF70-200mm f2.8L IS USM - 200mm - 1/200sec @ f2.8 - ISO 5000

Comments

7 comments

Comment posted by John Tobias on March 6, 2015 at 2:28 PM

You may have had poor light conditions but, IMHO you have a great photo of a serval!. I do like the colors and the pose of this smaller wild cat. If anything a slight reduction of the OOF FG. Thanks very much for sharing this photo.

Registered on September 12, 2009, 2120 Posts, 6455 Comments

Comment posted by Max Waugh on March 6, 2015 at 5:51 PM

A nice sighting, indeed. I think the dark green and blue surroundings really helped in this case. The cat stands out nicely against that background.

Max

Registered on September 26, 2008, 428 Posts, 2329 Comments

Comment posted by Thomas Haney on March 6, 2015 at 6:51 PM

Really beautiful Mario, I don't think I've seen another photo that allowed me to study this interesting cat so closely.

Registered on April 7, 2013, 138 Posts, 537 Comments

Comment posted by Jagdeep Rajput on March 7, 2015 at 7:30 AM

Love the warm colours of cat and the dash of blue in the BG. A rare subject with beautiful gait! You may crop out some of the foreground and add some more canvas at the top.
Jagdeep Rajput

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

Comment posted by Jerry Austin on March 7, 2015 at 9:44 AM

The image quality is very good. This is so unusual and so great. Fabulous look at this rare predator. Those long legs are amazing.

Registered on January 6, 2012, 651 Posts, 3448 Comments

Comment posted by Brad Hill on March 8, 2015 at 4:04 PM

Hi Mario,

Very nice (and appealing) documentation of a rarely seen or photographed predator. The subject stands out very nicely from the background. I was instantly struck by how small the head is relative to the body - just like the North (and South) American cougar (mountain lion), but even to a greater extent. The out-stretched front paw and lifted rear leg add to the dynamism of the capture...

Nicely done...

Brad

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

Comment posted by Morkel Erasmus on March 8, 2015 at 5:41 PM

Great sighting indeed. The serval is offset nicely by the deep blues and greens!

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