Wilderbeestes

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Wilderbeestes
Photo Information
Copyright: Liezel Dsouza (ldsouza) Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 105 W: 26 N: 222] (1341)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2006-01-20
Categories: Mammals
Camera: Canon 5D, Canon EF 300 f4L + Canon 1.4 converter
Exposure: f/5.6, 1/100 seconds
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Theme(s): zoologist's other favorites [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2006-03-08 22:59
Viewed: 1372
Points: 22
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Swahili Name: Nyumbu Ya Montu
Scientific Name: Connochaetes taurinus
Size: 50 to 58 inches at the shoulder
Weight: 265 to 600 pounds
Lifespan: 20 years
Habitat: Open woodland and open grassy plains
Gestation: 8 to 81/2 months
Predators: Lions, cheetahs, hunting dogs, hyenas

Behavior
In the Serengeti-Mara ecosystem the animals make a migratory circle each year of 500 to 1,000 miles. The migration starts after the calving season in January and February on the short grass plains in the southeastern Serengeti.

Wildebeest are continually on the move as they seek favorable supplied of grass and water. Active both day and night, they often string out in long single columns when on the move. They also cover long distances at a slow rocking gallop but can run fast when necessary. Zebras and Thomson’s gazelles, and some of their many predators, accompany the migrating wildebeests.

During mating season smaller breeding groups of about 150 animals form within the massive herds. In these small groups, five or six of the most active bulls establish and defend territories that females wander through. The bulls go through all kinds of antics, galloping and bucking around their territories. They paw the ground and rub their heads on it, spreading secretions produced by the preorbital and interdigital glands. They also urinate and defecate in a certain spot and toll in it to signal to other bulls to stay away.

When neighboring bulls meet at the edges of their territories they go through a highly ritualized “challenge” in which they paw the ground, buck, snort and fight. They typical combat position in on their knees, facing one another, with their foreheads flat on the ground – they knock heads and hit at the base of the horns but seldom injure one another. Some scientists believe these challenges may increase hormone levels, as the nonterritorial bulls in the bachelor herds are very placid.

Diet
Strictly grazers, wildebeest prefer short grass. They are unable to go without water for more than a few days.

Caring for the Young
Wildebeest females give birth to a single calf in the middle of the herd, not seeking a secluded place, as do many antelopes. Amazingly, about 80 percent of the females calve within the same 2- to 3- week period, creating a glut for predators and thus enabling more calves to survive the crucial first few weeks. A calf can stand and run within minutes of birth. It immediately begins to follow its mother and stays close to her to avoid getting lost or killed by waiting predators. Within days, it can run fast enough to keep up with the adult herd.

A calf eats its first grass at about 10 days, although it is still suckled for at least 4 months. Even after weaning, it will remain with the mother until the next year’s calf is born. At that time the young males are driven away.
source:http://www.outtoafrica.nl/animals/engwildebeest.html?zenden=2&subsoort_id=1&bestemming_id=1
Luc, TAZ, loot, sandpiper2, aido has marked this note useful
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ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To manyee: Same thing - I thinkldsouza 1 03-09 17:33
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Critiques [Translate]

Wow. Just magnificent! Not a single nit to pick.

Good clean natural shot Like the back to back horns
Geoff

  • Great 
  • loot Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 5633 W: 594 N: 3202] (8699)
  • [2006-03-09 3:05]
  • [2]

Hi Liezel
This (IMO) is one of those photos were a rule is broken successfully. They say you should have one or three or uneven number of animals in a shot and preferably animals should not stand in front of one another. Well, here is two and one is semi-hidden behind its friend, but I think the photo is successful because the focus on both animals are sharp, the hind one is much larger, and the reverse view created by the two sets of horns. Having said that I still believe it probably would have been a much better photo, were there only one gnu in the shot. That back gnu is a big animal judging by the gape difference in the horns.
Apart from that, the composition is great, the colours are super (gnu's tend to radiate bad light), the exposure is spot-on, and the DOF & BG is everything you want.
Great work, TFS.
Regards
Loot

This is probably the best portrait of this animal I have seen in a long time, Liezel. Great POV and sharp details. Excellent light as well.
So is this a wildebeest or a gnu? Is there a difference?
TFS. : )

  • Great 
  • TAZ Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2395 W: 50 N: 3190] (10896)
  • [2006-03-09 4:26]

Wooooow ! What a wonderful and interesting pair that you have very well captured ! I also appreciate the complementary note... Congratulations and thanks for sharing.

I agree with Loot, you've done really well here.
This is a commonly shot mammal but this shot has that little extra something that makes it stand out, despite the wrongness of the hidden gnu.
Exposure is perfect and all the subtle tones are well captured and displayed. And you've got enough grass below where the feet are hidden.
Well composed and present with very good sharpness and contrast. Well done.

  • Great 
  • odin Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 197 W: 1 N: 213] (1143)
  • [2006-03-09 7:35]

Nice shot Liezel, very clear and sharp. The coulors are also very good, well done
Sébastien

  • Great 
  • aido Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1103 W: 173 N: 1227] (4038)
  • [2006-03-09 9:04]

Hi Liezel,
Great shot, a nice composition with excellent detail and colour. DOF is perfect too and a great critique from Loot :)
Regards,
Adrian

  • Great 
  • Zeno Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 489 W: 0 N: 935] (7943)
  • [2006-03-09 11:31]

Great composition of wildebeest. Natural colors and beautiful soft light.

regards,

Zeno.

  • Great 
  • mrcrow Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 458 W: 123 N: 197] (2996)
  • [2006-03-09 15:53]

that is a well composed and interesting shot..good and sharp with a blown to hell background...your converter did the job well...did you have some support for the shot
i love these animals they are so similar yet different...whats gnu?

  • Great 
  • osse Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1033 W: 0 N: 87] (7625)
  • [2006-03-12 19:37]

Hi Liezel.
Wow. Just Excelent shot.Natural clean sharp......just wow.
Well done
osse

Fantastic image of wildebeasts. Great background blur and color.
Dinkar

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