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Leopard In Tree


Leopard In Tree
Photo Information
Copyright: Mattias Regnell (MattiasR) Silver Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 25 W: 16 N: 84] (290)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2006-06-17
Categories: Mammals, Trees, Savannah
Camera: Olympus Cameida SP-500 UZ
Exposure: f/3.7, 1/250 seconds
Details: Tripod: Yes
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version, Workshop
Date Submitted: 2006-06-30 5:23
Viewed: 2707
Points: 10
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
This is another photo I took on me and my wifes trip to Kenya and Tanzania. When we were driveng home from a gamedrive our guide pointed towards a tree, first we didnt see what he saw but then we could se something hanging straight down, and it was the leopards tail. He was really hard to see from a distance. I really like the way he blends in with his colors and everything. I like the way he is just hanging on the branch.

The African leopard has an elongated body with relatively short, stocky legs. They have short rounded ears and long sensitive whiskers. Leopards have long tails which helps them to balance in trees. The African leopard varies in base color throughout Africa, depending on the location and habitat. They can vary from reddish brown, cream and dark yellow.
African leopards are covered in black rosettes. There are not normally spots within the rossetes. Each leopard's spots are unique in that their patterns are never the same. Male leopards are larger and heavier than females. Their weight can range anywhere from 55- 200 pounds. The leopard's claws are retractable and hooked for climbing trees and tearing prey.

A leopard's gestation period is usually between 90-112 days and they bear litters typically between 2-4 cubs. Leopard cubs stay with their mother for about 2 years. It is at about this age that they reach their sexual maturity. Male leopards roam a large territory so there is usually one leopard male with several females in his territory. The male marks his territory using feces, urine and facial marking and scrapings.

Leopards have a very varied diet which includes insects, rodents, reptiles, even large mammals. They sometimes take domestic livestock when other food is scarce. Leopards are very strong and they have been known to carry prey 2 to 3 times their own weight (such as Blue Wildebeest) up into trees. They are nocturnal and usually don’t hunt until dusk. However, they are opportunists and will hunt in the daylight when necessary.

Like most cats they stalk close and run a relative short distance after their prey. They kill through suffocation by grabbing their prey by the throat and biting down with their powerful jaws. Leopards rarely fight other predators for their food because the risk of injury could be fatal. Leopards can get water from their prey but need to drink to survive.

African leopards inhabit all of Africa. This ranges from mountainous regions to grasslands and savannas. They also can live in desert and forest areas. They are very adaptable to their surroundings. They are incredibly resilient animals.

(facts from Wikipedia)

PPwork:Cropped, Highlights25%, Contrast+20, Reesized, Framed and named

If you like the Savanna animals I have posed a lion and a cheetha, go ahead and hae a look. More are coming.

Regards
Mattias
horia, soccer, csmnlm, paulbright, vanderschelden has marked this note useful
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ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To paulbright: LeopardMattiasR 1 07-06 11:45
To fragman: LeopardMattiasR 1 07-02 16:06
To soccer: leopardMattiasR 1 07-02 16:05
To csmnlm: LeopardMattiasR 1 07-01 16:03
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Critiques [Translate]

Mattias,

Excellent composition, POV and Lighting on this pic. The interesting pose is great. Not often you get this kind of opportunity. TFS,
Sheriff

Great capture of such an amazing sleepy moment. Thanks, Ori

Hi Mattias!
A great composition shot.

Hej Mattias.
Son, I promised you a WS on this shot, wich is great as many of your other Kenya photos.
I thougt the leopard kind of dissapeared in the tree (which of course is the hole idea with its colour and spots!).
Regards
Per

brilliant shot, its very difficult to spot a leopard in the wild. getting a shot so beautiful is like winning a lottery. TFS!

Nice shot. I once shot a big cat in captivity. She was also hanging like that in
tree:-)

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