Burchell’s Zebra and Spotted Hyena – The Fighter 

Burchell's Zebra and Spotted Hyewna

The Fighter It was a titanic battle with Death, and Life fiercely fought back … but it was only a matter of time.  Intensively the Burchell’s Zebra struggled to keep up with its herd. It had just survived a lion attack, and that encounter had left the zebra disemboweled. As its strength wearily waned a Spotted Hyena clan’s relentless bedevilments became bolder and bolder.  What ensued was a battle of will that reached tsunami proportions. Repeatedly the hyenas charged. Again and again the zebra met each assault with its sharp hooves flying. The fracas continued for what seemed an eternity.  In the final moments of its life, the zebra stood stalwart and defiantly faced its assailants. Then the opportunists closed in and down went the equid. There was rending of flesh, fast whoop calls and a confusing obfuscation of view as mortality was consummated. In the end the fighter was vanquished yet one aspect of the striped horse could not be diminished. Its dauntless spirit lives and still wanders the vast expanses of the enigmatic Mara.  ~ Anecdote and Burchell’s Zebra and Spotted Hyena capture, The Fighter © Jerry L. Ferrara, Kenya.

Olive Baboon – For Now I’ll Just Peek

Olive Baboon

For Now I’ll Just Peek Though I may be weeI’m quite safe, you see.When I hitch a rideI don’t need to hide.As time moves alongthis youngster gets strong.Soon I will exploreand walk lowland floor.But until the dayI make my own way,it’s safety I seek.For now I’ll just peek.A mighty baboonI will be quite soon. ~ Poem and Olive Baboon capture, For Now I’ll Just Peek © Jerry L. Ferrara, Northern Serengeti, Tanzania

Cape Gannet – A Cacophony on Steroids

Cape Gannet

A Cacophony on Steroids The din was disquieting in the Cape Gannet rookery as thousands of these strikingly handsome sea birds quarreled for real estate from which to breed and rear their young — a cacophony on steroids.  ~ Anecdote and Cape Gannet capture, A Cacophony on Steroids © Jerry L. Ferrara. Lambert’s Bay, South Africa  

African Lions – A Typical Feline Gesture

African Lions

A Typical Feline Gesture On a crisp morning in Kenya’s East Masai Mara, a pride of African Lions idly basked in the warming rays of a radiant sun. When finished playing with its mother’s wiggling tail tip, a rambunctious youngster proceeded toward the fore-end of the patient parent cat and gently rubbed its chin and malar glands on the lioness’ face … in a typical feline gesture. ~ Anecdote and African Lions capture, A Typical Feline Gesture © Jerry L. Ferrara