Early morning in the Sabi Sand Game Reserve, Mpumalanga, a Lion and
three Lionesses were lazing about in the morning sun. Suddenly, and without provocation,
the three Lionesses sprung up and attacked the Lion from three different directions,
much to his surprise and anger.
Lion - Panthera leo
Call of the African Wild, King of African Carnivores. Low but large and powerful, weighing between 190 and 260 kg.
Coat: short except for tail tuft and male's mane; appearing during his third year, maximum development at five years.
While prey is plentiful, Lions spend 20 hours out of 24 conserving energy, becoming active in late afternoon; hunt most actively early and late at night and for a couple hours after daybreak. Lions can become active at any time, day or night, hungry or gorged, so that when easy opportunities to catch prey present themselves, they react immediately and take advantage. Lions kill and often eat all the other carnivores, including Leopards and Cheetahs, but rarely Hyenas.
Nikon D3, 12.1 megapixel resolution, FX format, AF VR-Nikkor 80-400 mm f4.5-5.6 D lens
focal length at 92 mm 1/500th sec @ f16, ISO 5000
Semi-finalist Image : Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2009 - Natural History Museum, London
Photograph by Trevor Woodburn