Dangerous but necessary

[stuny]

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Predators generally avoid adult giraffe except when they are drinking. With such long front legs giraffe must splay them as shown here in order to drink. Once in this position giraffe cannot quickly rise to full height to regain their balance, and make it possible to kick. Consequently, they approach water holes a few steps at a time, look around for a minute or two, take a few more steps, etc. Once at the water they look around for another couple of minutes before splaying. It took over 20 minutes to get this shot in Ongava, Namibia. You can see other Ongava photos on the 4th page of Namibia photos on our site – I still have to add a 5th page of Namibia photos before starting on Botswana photos.

[azzo]

Stuart,

 

Exquisite light, colours, detail and capture. Lovely.

 

Azzo

[albert]

Wow, what a process. Nice photo and primer.

[carylwithay]

Really interesting shot and story. I like the flying bird you captured too on the right side of his neck

Caryl

[albert]

I like the flying bird you captured too on the right side of his neck

Caryl

 

Not to mention the other nineteen birds.....Al

[stuny]

Ivan & Al - Thank you.

 

Caryl - Thank you. I was so focussed for the 20 minutes it took to get to this moment I never noticed the omnipresent birds. Also, my arms were aching from holding the R8/DMR/80-200/2X extender.

[farnz]

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An interesting and well-captured shot, Stuart.

 

It's surpising that we immediately think of giraffes as yellow in colour - look at any children's stuffed toy giraffe - yet this one is predominantly black.

 

Is this colouring typical of the giraffes you saw, and is the 'yellow giraffe' therefore a misconception? (I don't see many giraffes on the streets of London - due, obviously, to their excellent camouflage. )

 

Pete.

[stuny]

Pete -

 

Thank you. GENERALLY the lighter the spots, the younger the giraffe. Also generally, the lighter the spots, the more likely it is female. This one though, is female (horns angled towards one another), and if I recall a bit small, so perhpas not fully grown. As I said, "generally".

 

BTW: You can see giraffe easier in London if you wear those red and green 3D glasses from the 1950s.

[fotografr]

Interesting description and photograph. Your perserverance paid off. Pity the poor giraffe that slips and falls down. I imagine it takes a very long time to get back up.

[stuny]

Brent -

 

Thank you. Sometimes you'll can see a giraffe that has elected to settle down. Their caution for that is similar to their caution for drinking -- they are very vulnerable.