The Circle Of Life by wysiwig
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Description
The herd stampedes! One lioness chases a wildebeest while a second runs ahead to cut off its escape. The first lioness pounces. The wildebeest is down. A kill! We roar up to see the entire pride gathered around the fallen animal. As the male lions argue over which one will take the first bite we quickly realize, to our surprise, the poor beast is still alive. While the two dominant males snarl at each other, some of the pride seem content to lie on top of the wildebeest while it cries and struggles. Finally, negotiations ended, a male lion rips into the belly of the animal triggering a feeding frenzy. It is all heartbreaking and thrilling, horrific and fascinating. It is life and death, primordial and unchanging.
Wildebeest and lion are friends only in Disney movies.
As we headed back to our camp in the late afternoon we passed the spot where the attack had occurred. There was an area of grass matted with blood, one small bone and nothing else.
Comments (17)
Faemike55
Mother Nature at her finest - those who would decry the violence and death do not have a grasp of the food chain and how it works Fantastic capture and description of the event
AidanaWillowRaven
Wow ... Now this is all males, right? Don't the females hunt, then the males eat first, even the young ones, then the huntresses ... right? Amazing shot.
durleybeachbum
A superb shot, Mark! What an experience! Your masterly writing makes the immediacy visceral .
whaleman
An awesome shot but in some ways I find your description even more compelling. An epic post if ever I have seen one!
bobrgallegos
Survival of the fittest I guess you could say. Great capture Mark!!
West_coaster07
Awesome capture!
kaward
A powerful account of the events leading upto the shot. An amazing capture of a true wildlife drama. TOP CLASS!
blinkings
Powerful........very powerful image.
morningglory
I find it interesting that it is the females who actually capture the Wildebeast, then the males claim it. Awesome story which ends sadly for the Wildebeast.
Fidelity2
Oh, how nice it is. I thank you for it. 5+!!
sandra46
terrific capture!
auntietk
Holy moly! What a capture! Your photograph and story are worthy of a National Geographic moment. Wow!
0rest4wicked
Outstanding all the way around!
alanwilliams
what a capture, the thick of it and no mistake
JuliSonne
Your series on the big eating the lion's is awesome. I'm glad that they have not found you. They would have torn up in the air. And we had not seen the great photos.
Chipka
What an amazing image and commentary! I suspect that the human fascination with lions and other predatory animals has to do with the fact that they do what they do, just as their prey does what it does...and that's it. No pretense. No "making it pretty" or "safe" or "sterile." No simplification. I suspect that's something far worse than death. When one simplifies things and actually implies a struggle where there isn't one, then things get wonky and life itself suffers. The pile of lions is quite a surreal thing to see and it's raw and honest, but I don't see brutality. There's an organization apparent here, a kind of natural symmetry, right down to the lions's behavior, and the behavior of the wildebeest herd. This is marvelous! I love its absence of sterility.
psyoshida
Wow what a stunning shot!!! I must agree with whaleman, your description makes this superb and highly detailed shot all the more powerful. What a fantastic trip of a lifetime. Thanks for sharing it, as I will never get to see such a place.