Beliggerent Brawl

Gallery: WildlifePosted March 8, 2017140 views7 comments

This was one of the most intense sightings I had ever witnessed. Late one morning in the Mara Triangle, Kenya.
These two male leopards were involved in a tiff over territory - note the blood-stained grass from their wounds.
I am not going to rehash the whole story here, but you can read the whole account (with more pics) here:
http://bit.ly/bigcatfight

Techs:
Nikon D800
Nikkor 400mm f2.8G VR
1.4x teleconverter
f5.6 | 1/1250 SS | ISO-560

Comments

7 comments

Comment posted by Jim Gavin on March 10, 2017 at 2:25 AM

My previous comment has apparently been lost somewhere out there, so I'll try again. Initially, I thought this was a photo of some roughhousing between youngsters, but after looking more closely and reading the whole account realize it is an epic event that you were so privileged to observe, Morkel. Not only is this photo excellent, but also those photos accompanying the whole account: "Catfight: Two Leopards and a Lioness". Thank you for posting this photo and the whole account.

Registered on August 14, 2008, 293 Posts, 1250 Comments

Comment posted by Ed Williams on March 10, 2017 at 11:04 PM

That is intense Morkel. Looks like the newcomer is taking a licking. The bloody ground is really sobering to think how much damage they can inflict on each other, and on prey. Your blog on this was great. Thank you for posting this and for linking to the full story.

Registered on December 28, 2010, 636 Posts, 3499 Comments

Comment posted by Jagdeep Rajput on March 11, 2017 at 4:54 AM

Great story n wonderful frame!
I loved the frame very much with powerful body language. It seems the rising dust has added the mood here but taken away some of the intensity of the picture.

Jagdeep Rajput

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

Comment posted by Hisham Atallah on March 12, 2017 at 5:41 AM

Hi Morkel,
I love the raised paw with the unsheathed claws. I would have increased contrast a bit even if that made the dust a little less obvious.

Hisham.

Registered on November 5, 2014, 121 Posts, 352 Comments

Comment posted by Brad Hill on March 12, 2017 at 9:38 AM

Hi Morkel,

This must have been an awesome spectacle to witness. For me the near vertical tail and the raised paw add a lot to the shot. I do agree with Jagdeep's comment that "...the rising dust has added the mood here but taken away some of the intensity of the picture". But...that's a scene issue and certainly not a complaint about anything the photographer did! enlightened

Cheers...

Brad

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

Comment posted by Genny K. on March 12, 2017 at 10:13 PM

Wow, that must have been something to witness. Well done on the image, and that story and other images you posted are incredible. Wow, did anyone get a video of it? There are times when a video is so powerful. Bravo on this!

Registered on June 5, 2006, 132 Posts, 2001 Comments

Comment posted by Morkel Erasmus on March 22, 2017 at 3:03 PM

Thanks folks - I think one of our guests in another vehicle did get some video.
We were all trying to just absorb the whole sighting.

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