Two Scavengers

[Morkel Erasmus]

Here's a previously unprocessed frame from our Kgalagadi trip in November 2012. Understandably, the lion kill we saw dominated my attention and I forgot that we actually had some cracking other sightings.

Late one afternoon we were sitting with a pride of lions (who didn't bother to get up at all!), to the east was an eland carcass where up to 20 black-backed jackals were feasting. Just as we had to leave to make our camp gate time comfortably, my wife said something was approaching the waterhole (which was just behind us to the west). It was a brown hyena! He was being hounded by several of the jackals who would nip at his heels and follow him right until he'd finished drinking and moved off. This was as he approached, we positioned the vehicle for the light and snapped away.

And yes, the morning and evening light in the Kalahari is amazing. You have to be there to "get it". I didn't touch vibrance or saturation sliders here.

Techs:
Nikon D3s
Nikkor 500mm f4 VR-II
1.4x teleconverter
f8.0 | 1/1000 SS | ISO-1000

[Rachel Hollander]

Hi Morkel - incredible sighting and I love how the 2 are looking at each other. The golden light just adds to the moment. It all works for me on this one.

TFS,
Rachel

[Andrew Merwin]

A great animal interaction shot. Great techs with wonderful light. TFS.

[Steve Canuel]

Cool shot. Interesting how the bigger animal seems more afraid of the smaller one. Are these hyena less aggressive than the other ones more commonly seen on here?

[Morkel Erasmus]

Thanks folks!

Cool shot. Interesting how the bigger animal seems more afraid of the smaller one. Are these hyena less aggressive than the other ones more commonly seen on here?

Steve, they are very shy and quite elusive, mostly nocturnal and mostly scavengers (where Spotted Hyena are also prolific hunters). They do have strong jaws and I have heard of them killing leopard cubs and eating them in the Kalahari. They can appear quite timid but I am sure when pushed into a corner they will be ferocious.

[Andre Pretorius]

Lovely interaction captured! Morkel, I see a white "fluffiness" on back of BBJ- is it fur?

[Roman Kurywczak]

Fantastic interaction and sweeeeet light! This one has it all! Andre....the BBJ has that white/silver fur in Tanzania so guess they have in there as well.

[Bhushan Dalvi]

Morkel, I love this shot showing interaction between the two. The golden light works perfectly.TFS.

[Markus Jais]

Stunning shot with great composition and light.
I love the look on the Hyena's face! As if he was contemplating eating the jackal :-)

Markus

[jack williamson]

Have you seen the WPOTY images? I think that this is as good as any of those, the eye contact between these two is priceless.

Jack

[edwardselfe]

This is a lovely little cameo. The light almost doesn't look real except that I've seen 'unreal' light sometimes so I know it's possible! Love the eye contact and not much to add. I wonder if a slight lift in the whites might just give a little light to the eyes of both creatures.
I'd be happy just to get a pic of a brown hyaena!
Ed