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Lazy Yawner (92)
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![Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 5413 W: 593 N: 3645]](http://i1.treknature.com/misc/g-g-g.gif) (10013) | Lion - Panthera leo
One hot afternoon, Saturday 11 October 2008, Anna and I were sitting and watching some zebra and impala at the Transport Dam, between Pretoriuskop camp and Skukuza camp. Suddenly someone said: "Loot & Anna Eksteen". For a moment there I thought the Tartars are upon us, but then I realised it was only Robin Du Bois (robindb). It was a real pleasure meeting Robin under this circumstances and the next week we actually met again, this time with Robin and his charming wife (also a photographer), Carín, when we enjoyed a lovely evening at a cosy restaurant in the picturesque little town called White River, in Mpumalanga. It was great meeting you and your wife and this lion I dedicate to you two.
A couple of postings back my notes explained the phenomenon called the "Flehmen response". It is the curling of the upper lip (looks very similar to a yawn) found in ungulates, felids, and many other mammals. It is done to facilitate the transfer of pheromones and other scents into the vomeronasal organ, also called the Jacobson's Organ. However, what you see here on this posting is just a plain old yawn. Ok, maybe it's not such a plain yawn judging by the size of the yawn and by the teeth sported by the yawner.
Earlier during the morning we were travelling westwards on the S114 route coming in from the Crocodile Bridge area approaching the Berg-en-Dal region in the Kruger National Park. As we moved towards the crossing, where the S114 and the S110 meet up with the H3 main road, we found this "Dozy Lion", doing what lions does best, sleeping most of the day. During the day we actually saw this guy on a number of occasions as he moved about from one shrub to another, from one side of the road to the other side, to find a comfortable and shady spot to continue with his extended siesta. Unfortunately he wasn't much interested in playing along with all the eager photographers piling up to get a better shot.
If you've never been to the Kruger and witnessed the event of a lion sighting (leopards have the same effect) then you haven't experienced the frenzy of "lion fever". This is when some otherwise normal and sane people go rather nuts, cuckoos or crackers, while jostling and frantically pushing and fighting for the best spot to see and photograph the lion/s. Amazing traffic jams ensue within minutes. Suddenly all manners and decency are lost. Road rage in the city is a minor compared to what one sometimes witness at a lion sighting. Crazy is not the word to explain the carnage when 10-30 drivers want to park their cars on the same spot, which is normally almost on top of the lion. People pop out of their sunroofs, hang out of their windows, climb on top of their vehicles or even honk the hooters of their vehicles to try and invoke some reaction or action from the animal. Anything goes, just to get a better vantage point or an action shot showing something else then a sleeping lion. Sometimes safety and good manners are the least considered aspects when it comes to "lion fever".
Frequently I would remain a little distance away from the scene of such a sighting, just to be able to observe the madness going on. The interesting part is that the lion/s normally don't bother much with all this activities and just carry on sleeping until later the afternoon when they might get up, give a couple of calling roars to find their mates and then stroll off to join the pride to see what's on the menu for the night. So, there is really no need to carry on like explained above. The lion/s frequently remain on a specific spot for quite some time (maybe even a whole day as was the case with this one) and then everybody can get a fair chance to see and photograph the animals. If they are just patient and await their turn to approach closer, when other onlookers depart from the scene after having had their fill of the lion/s, then everyone can get a fair chance to look at and shoot some photos of these amazing carnivorous felines. Please see the workshops that show some of the "evidence" of the hustle and bustle one may find at a lion sighting.
During the morning, when we initially saw this lion, we couldn't get any acceptable shots of him, but much later the afternoon we saw this lion again and that was when we managed to captured some better shots of him, including this photo. The late afternoon sun actually enhanced the yellowish colours of the lion and his lovely mane.
Post Processing was done with Adobe Photoshop CS2. |
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