Hippo for Breakfast

[Ken Watkins]

Young cub with A hippo chop. I wish I had more at LHS but I thought it looked better left in.

Taken in Katavi National Park, Tanzania, 23rd September 2007.

EOS 1D MkIIn

500 mm F4 IS hand-held from game viewing hicle

F7.1, ISO 400, 1/1600

[Randy Stout]

Ken:

Agree about the crop, but what is there does help tell the story. The cub is nicely framed.

Do lions regularly take hippos? I wouldn't want to mess with them! Guess it depends on how hungry you are.

Cheers

Randy

[Robert Amoruso]

I agree Ken with your crop decision. I also have same question as Randy on the hippo lunch. Was it perhaps already the remains of a dead one?

[Ken Watkins]

Randy & Robert,

A lot of lodges/concessions will tell you that this is rare and only their pride does it, and whilst it is not an everyday occurrence, this the second time I have witnessed the aftermath.

I certainly would not like to witness the kill, a friend of mine winessed the start of one it apparentlt took many many hours before the Hippo expired.

[Robert Amoruso]

Thanks for the info Ken; something I did not know.

[Morkel Erasmus]

great sighting this Ken - and thanks for the info...I am sure those lions that are brave enough to take down a hippo do so very carefully...I wonder if some lions have been killed by hippos in this context?

nice story told here - I know it's not possible with the 500, but more space on LHS would have rocked...did you take some with the 28-300?

[Rachel Hollander]

Ken - interesting sighting and I too wonder if there were any special circumstances to the kill (e.g. sick hippo). I agree with your self critique about the lhs.

TFS,
Rachel

[Grace Scalzo]

Super interesting image and story, Ken. Give the tight lhs, I'd try coming in a bit closer on the right and top.

[Steve Canuel]

Don't know what part the cub has but he looks quite pleased with it. Nice 3D look and separation from the BG.

[Harshad Barve]

Ken , what an opportunity and you done great here , love the little cub
TFS

[Ken Watkins]

Thanks for your comments.

Morkel,

Unfortunately I did not have the 28-300mm then, I believe I had a 70-200 F4, but I cannot find anything using it.