Results 1 to 19 of 19

Thread: Asiatic Lion ( Male )

  1. #1
    Clement Francis
    Guest

    Default Asiatic Lion ( Male )



    There are hardly around 300 of these Asiatic Lions are left in the world. All of them are found in India, Gir Lion Sanctuary in the State of Gujarat. These are critically endangered wildlife. I shot this in the month of May when the Temperature are 45Degree Cel.

    Shot this with Canon 30D & 500mm f4 lens, ISO 100 at f4 1/2000 shutters.

    My first post here.
    Last edited by Clement Francis; 11-05-2009 at 05:13 AM.

  2. #2
    BPN Viewer
    Join Date
    May 2009
    Location
    Auranagabad ( MS ) India
    Posts
    12,833
    Threads
    766
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Holy cow
    What a huge male this is , you gotta love those eyes here,
    amazing colors and great compo
    You know I love tight compo for big cats
    TFS


    ps , If I am not wrong , this must be first Asiatic Lion on BPN

  3. #3
    Ken Watkins
    Guest

    Default

    This is something you do not see everyday, but then how many tourists visit Gir? I have not been since 1973.
    This is a very beautiful shot ideally framed and perfectly sharp colours are as they should be.
    Do you have any news on the proposal to move some to another park?

  4. #4
    BPN Viewer
    Join Date
    May 2009
    Location
    Auranagabad ( MS ) India
    Posts
    12,833
    Threads
    766
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Ken Watkins View Post
    Do you have any news on the proposal to move some to another park?
    Better they do not relocate them in Tiger country

  5. #5
    Clement Francis
    Guest

    Default Relocation of Lions

    There were plans of re-locating these cats to a protected area in the State of Madya Pradesh, but many environmentalists/naturalists protested and also gave proper justifications why it should not be done, so the plans have been dropped for time being. Hope it stays that way. If you visit Gir, you will feel that the place is God made for the lion with good amount of prey species, water holes, grasslands and thorn scrub forests.
    Last edited by Clement Francis; 11-05-2009 at 05:31 AM.

  6. #6
    BPN Member
    Join Date
    Feb 2008
    Location
    Krugersdorp, Gauteng, South Africa
    Posts
    316
    Threads
    18
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Thanks for this post and info, Clement, I have to display ignorance- I did not know about Asiatic lion. Beautiful portrait, golden light, tight crop. If you feel strong for finicky PS work maybe remove the little stalks in the bottom foreground- slightly distracting, but not a biggie. If you have more images of this species, please post.

  7. #7
    Lifetime Member Stu Bowie's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2008
    Location
    Centurion, South Africa
    Posts
    21,360
    Threads
    1,435
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    I like the light quality, with excellent detail. I would love to see more space on the right, and a little on top too. Great capture, and thanks for sharing the info.

  8. #8
    Judy Lynn Malloch
    Guest

    Default

    Awesome portrait and many thanks for the history of these magnificent animals. They are gorgeous and I hope they will be able to increase their numbers Clement. Many thanks for sharing this with us.

  9. #9
    BPN Viewer
    Join Date
    Jan 2008
    Location
    New Delhii, India
    Posts
    3,690
    Threads
    269
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Clement,
    Welcome to BPN!

    Lovely image. I like the low angle and nice sharpness.

    Ken,
    There was a plan to shift a few lions from Gir to Kuno wildlife sanctuary in Madhya Pradesh. However, the Gujrat Government (it is a state in India) is not allowing the lions to be relocated as they say lions are the pride of Gujarat and hence won't share with other states.

    In the early 1900s when the lion numbers had dropped down to between 12 to maximum of 31. From this low numbers it has increased to about 300 odd now. One single event can wipe out the entire population of lions. So it would be better if a second home is created. Unfortunately, due to the refusal of the Gujarat Govt. the plan has been modified to introduce lions from the zoo in the Kuno wildlife sanctuary.

    Cheers,
    Sabyasachi

  10. #10
    BPN Viewer
    Join Date
    Jan 2008
    Location
    East Sussex
    Posts
    1,889
    Threads
    17
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Another welcome to BPN Clement. Beautiful first post and some good suggestions to enhance further: (feel more space would benefit too as some grass trimming if ethics permit on the bottom). Love that intent look. Nicely done.

  11. #11
    Danny J Brown
    Guest

    Default

    Hi Clement -- All I can say is Wow!!!!!! what a shot. Check out that notch in his right ear. And those eyes.....It must be weird photographing animals that can snap your spine in half. Man, you picked the right one to start with in this gallery. Where will you go from here?

  12. #12
    Lifetime Member philperry's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2009
    Location
    Swaziland, Africa
    Posts
    263
    Threads
    25
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Stunning shot Clement. I have visited Gir and know how difficult it is just to get a view of these fantastic cats.

    Given Africa's bad experience with feline TB, Gujarat really should seek to protect this highly endangered sub-species by helping to create another population in a suitable location. Local egos should not outweigh the larger picture.

  13. #13
    Lifetime Member Marc Mol's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2008
    Location
    Somewhere else in the World
    Posts
    4,797
    Threads
    708
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Welcome Clement to BPN and a very nice first posting! Good framing and sharpness.
    Is this particular Asiatic Lion indicitive of a short mane or is it a sub-adult?


  14. #14
    BPN Viewer
    Join Date
    Jan 2008
    Location
    Mountain West
    Posts
    670
    Threads
    122
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Fantastic capture Clement... great detail and full frame portrait overall. I like the gapping mouth - seems to give the image a little dynamic feel.

  15. #15
    BPN Viewer Steve Canuel's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2008
    Posts
    5,444
    Threads
    444
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Beautiful subject, light, color, and clarity. An excellent portrait.

  16. #16
    Lifetime Member philperry's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2009
    Location
    Swaziland, Africa
    Posts
    263
    Threads
    25
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Marc, I think I am correct in saying that the Asiatic lions have small manes. Nothing like the large manes seen on African lions. So I would certainly say that this is a full adult male.

  17. #17
    BPN Viewer
    Join Date
    Jan 2008
    Location
    Orlando
    Posts
    1,376
    Threads
    213
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Love the light, angle, and subject. Is the notch in the ear for I.D. purposes or result of a hard life ?

  18. #18
    BPN Member Morkel Erasmus's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2009
    Location
    South Africa
    Posts
    14,858
    Threads
    1,235
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    very interesting info and discussion about this (to me) unfamiliar species and the conservation issues around them. also a very nice portrait Clement! please post some more...
    Morkel Erasmus

    WEBSITE


  19. #19
    BPN Viewer
    Join Date
    Sep 2008
    Location
    San jose, CA
    Posts
    634
    Threads
    50
    Thank You Posts

    Default

    Its a formidable posture, well captured. Congrats Clement!!

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •  
Web Analytics