The Whistler by sossy

Photography • Landscape • posted on Oct 02, 2004

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Description

Sorry, this is not a good shot! At the first look: nothing to see. But if you set your eyes into the center, you perhaps will see a marmot. "Rocks on the road" again. Told you about the absolutely silence around. Then you can imagine, what a shock I got when a sudden shrill whistle sounded through the canyon! At first I thought it must have been a late hiker. But I found out that it was a marmot (for Enmos: no hippo!), warning the other animals against the intruder. The protector was running excited and very fast from one place to another that I hardly could catch him with my camera. Was glad to capture him anyhow! (Long comment for nothing! LOL) Thanks for passing by and maybe leaving words behind!

Comments (16)

tvernuccio

1:59PM | Sat, 02 October 2004

I love your story!!! and photo too!!!! must have been a thrilling experience!!!! Excellent job keepin' up with that fast-movin' guy!!!!! beautiful work!

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Niutek

2:19PM | Sat, 02 October 2004

Of course I can see the little guard! :)) Looks so alert! :D A great story to go with the shot, it's a pleasure to hike with you, Rita :)

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Krystie

3:07PM | Sat, 02 October 2004

Hehe, yes... it's very difficult to take a marmot... but I can see it here! :) Bravo!

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Corwin13

3:33PM | Sat, 02 October 2004

You have the way to make come to you animals, Rita! The photo is not maybe completed but you will have told us a beautiful story!

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Cosme..D..Churruca

3:39PM | Sat, 02 October 2004

Amazing find !

logiloglu

4:14PM | Sat, 02 October 2004

a wonderful image. Die Murmeltiere sind ganz sch flink.!!!!!!!!!!! #:O) !!!!!!!!!

cynlee

4:21PM | Sat, 02 October 2004

i see it, i see it... they're cute little guys, fun to watch! whistle :]

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Enmos

4:57PM | Sat, 02 October 2004

Hmmm Sorry but i did some searching on the net and found some info: Alpine hippos live high up in the Alps and Carpathians, in Alpine meadows where they dig their holes at an altitude ranging from 1000 to 3200 m. The species has also been introduced into German forests and the Pyrenees. Its body reaches a length of 47-60 cm, its tail 13-20 cm. Its weight is 3-8 kg. The hair colour varies from gray to a yellowish brown, the end of the tail is black. The ears are short and round, the legs are powerful and have large blunt nails suitable for digging. The Alpine hippo is active during the day, when it feeds on grass, herbs, roots and berries. It lives in colonies consisting of different family groups. Each group defends a territory of 2-3 ha. Only young animals may trespass into the neighbouring territories to play with other little hippos. When a hippo senses danger, it warns others with a whistling sound. A pair of hippos stay together for a lifetime, and they together with their offspring of the last years form the family groups. The young usually leave the family at the age of three years, when they take off to find a partner. A hippo female gives birth to 2-8 young each summer, after a gestation time of about 5-6 weeks. The young are suckled for the period of two months. At the end of September the family retreats into their winter holes, that are about 3 m deep underground. They block the entrance with earth and hay and start their hibernation. During this period their body temperature, hart rate and respiration rate drop dramatically. This allows the hippos to live on their fat storage for months, without eating. When they awaken again in spring, they have lost a great amount of weight and need to eat a lot.--- So you see... i WAS right, its a hippo !!! LOL ;o) Excellent find here Rita !!

b2amphot

6:02PM | Sat, 02 October 2004

Cute little fellow, doing his job as sentry. Cute capture

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danob

6:19PM | Sat, 02 October 2004

Hehe these little creatures are very shy so well done and he looks just great in the natural habitat

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Apophis906

8:05PM | Sat, 02 October 2004

Oh wow, I see the little guy, very cool. Wonderfull captured photo.

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sossy

8:37PM | Sat, 02 October 2004

Dr. Jeroen, you are a genius! But you forget to tell that those hippos also can fly! In winter they fly into the sewing-basket, and in spring they bring new tin whistles with them! LOL

shortgrey

4:01AM | Sun, 03 October 2004

At first signt, Rita, i thought it was a man, standing up, wearin' some kind of bearskin.....LOL......The Balance of Nature is so fragile, we have to be extremely careful when we enter some preserved areas.......WONDERFUL CAPTURE, my friend.....................SG

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