Once again I ask readers to consider sending me their good wildlife photos.
Today’s photos are of BIG CATS IN AFRICA, and were taken by reader John. His notes and IDs are indented, and you can click on his photos to enlarge them
Since you asked us to send more wildlife photos, here are some more. African cats this time, from Tanzania — Serengeti National Park and Ngorongoro Crater Conservation Area.
We were lucky to see a mother cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus) and her offspring, I don’t know how old. My wife and I fell in love with cheetahs, so can’t help including several of them. It’s funny how the baby’s head and neck fur look like feathers.
(S)he’s looking at us:
These animals define the word svelte.
This female lion (Panthera leo) is wearing a “wire”, as they say on the police shows.
Two shots of leopards (Panthera pardus). This one was right next to the road.
Ans this one is taking a welcome afternoon siesta in a tree. We saw several of these.
These four lionesses (or is there a male there?) were the first creatures we saw in the Serengeti, so we figured they were a welcoming committee.
Our driver cheated some by going fairly close to this mother lion and her cubs — but not too close. One little one has light spots on its back legs. Is this normal?
I can’t see this one without feeling like reaching out and scratching its belly. It would be the last thing I ever did!
This is a rare one, that we saw only from far away, hence the bad quality of the photo, which is much enlarged. It’s a serval (Leptailurus serval). It’s maybe a good half meter tall and weighs less than 20 kg.
Magnificent – is that the veldt? If so, svelte on the veldt…
This appears to be what zoos attempt to capture – poorly, and at enormous cost.
Come to think of it – there are never ads for … safaris … is that what this is? Save up the zoo fare and do one amazing safari.
Uh, the link to Serengeti leads to a park in Germany — a sort of glorified zoo, so not for us. Try rather this or this.
I really Like these photos.
It is a real treat to see these wonderful photos today! Uplifting.
+1
Wonderful cat photos. IIRC spots on the legs and bellies of lion cubs are common.
Brilliant photos!
These are great pictures! Those were certainly adventures to remember.
Fantastic pix, thank you.
When we look at the average house cat (say that British one which tore most of poor Jerry’s nose off….hehehe) and those proto-cats in your photos, there’s so little difference compared to the original wolf and any Manhattan dog, my own included. https://whyevolutionistrue.com/2020/06/10/photos-of-readers-93/
D
btw – How does Jerry smell now?
Bloody awful.
HAHAHAHAHA (I’ll see myself out.)