How do you separate your emotions? Just weeks after having the privilege to photograph three of the smallest leopard cubs I've ever seen comes the news that it is unlikely they have survived. I now look at the photos in a completely different light(npi)...wondering what their lives might have been and trying to not to think about how their young lives might have ended. In the end, their survival was going to be iffy at best but when, in a few short weeks, jubilation turns to melancholy I can only be thankful for having having witnessed such a joyous sight.
"Time it was, and what a time it was, it was
A time of innocence, A time of confidences
Long ago, it must be, I have a photograph
Preserve your memories; They're all that's left you"
Paul Simon's....Bookends
As a back story....we heard there may be a mom with a cub in a dry river bed as someone got a brief look the week before....we drove the river bed and my wife spotted the leopard and cub on some rocks....as we pulled to a vantage point about 60 to 70 yards away we saw her nursing her cub. And then a second one appeared and we were stoked but then a few seconds later a third appeared and joined its sibs. The whole sighting lasted 41 seconds...we were lucky to be able to spend about 15 minutes in very poor light with them the following day. The rules allow only a single vehicle viewing and for no more than 15 minutes and only while mom is around. So over the next couple of days they were only viewed a couple of times and then they were not seen. It is not uncommon for a mother leopard to have 2 cubs but 3 is very unusual. Survival of leopard cubs in general to independence is only about 25% so the odds were against them to begin with but hope sprung eternal.
This will more than likely end my series...thank you for all your support and interest.
Eric
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Rather than start another thread I will add a few more to this one
Mixed Emotions....My Africa finale finale (another 3 added)
How do you separate your emotions? Just weeks after having the privilege to photograph three of the smallest leopard cubs I've ever seen comes the news that it is unlikely they have survived. I now look at the photos in a completely different light(npi)...wondering what their lives might have been and trying to not to think about how their young lives might have ended. In the end, their survival was going to be iffy at best but when, in a few short weeks, jubilation turns to melancholy I can only be thankful for having having witnessed such a joyous sight.
"Time it was, and what a time it was, it was
A time of innocence, A time of confidences
Long ago, it must be, I have a photograph
Preserve your memories; They're all that's left you"
Paul Simon's....Bookends
As a back story....we heard there may be a mom with a cub in a dry river bed as someone got a brief look the week before....we drove the river bed and my wife spotted the leopard and cub on some rocks....as we pulled to a vantage point about 60 to 70 yards away we saw her nursing her cub. And then a second one appeared and we were stoked but then a few seconds later a third appeared and joined its sibs. The whole sighting lasted 41 seconds...we were lucky to be able to spend about 15 minutes in very poor light with them the following day. The rules allow only a single vehicle viewing and for no more than 15 minutes and only while mom is around. So over the next couple of days they were only viewed a couple of times and then they were not seen. It is not uncommon for a mother leopard to have 2 cubs but 3 is very unusual. Survival of leopard cubs in general to independence is only about 25% so the odds were against them to begin with but hope sprung eternal.
This will more than likely end my series...thank you for all your support and interest.
Eric
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Rather than start another thread I will add a few more to this one
How do you separate your emotions? Just weeks after having the privilege to photograph three of the smallest leopard cubs I've ever seen comes the news that it is unlikely they have survived. I now look at the photos in a completely different light(npi)...wondering what their lives might have been and trying to not to think about how their young lives might have ended. In the end, their survival was going to be iffy at best but when, in a few short weeks, jubilation turns to melancholy I can only be thankful for having having witnessed such a joyous sight.
"Time it was, and what a time it was, it was
A time of innocence, A time of confidences
Long ago, it must be, I have a photograph
Preserve your memories; They're all that's left you"
Paul Simon's....Bookends
As a back story....we heard there may be a mom with a cub in a dry river bed as someone got a brief look the week before....we drove the river bed and my wife spotted the leopard and cub on some rocks....as we pulled to a vantage point about 60 to 70 yards away we saw her nursing her cub. And then a second one appeared and we were stoked but then a few seconds later a third appeared and joined its sibs. The whole sighting lasted 41 seconds...we were lucky to be able to spend about 15 minutes in very poor light with them the following day. The rules allow only a single vehicle viewing and for no more than 15 minutes and only while mom is around. So over the next couple of days they were only viewed a couple of times and then they were not seen. It is not uncommon for a mother leopard to have 2 cubs but 3 is very unusual. Survival of leopard cubs in general to independence is only about 25% so the odds were against them to begin with but hope sprung eternal.
This will more than likely end my series...thank you for all your support and interest.
How do you separate your emotions? Just weeks after having the privilege to photograph three of the smallest leopard cubs I've ever seen comes the news that it is unlikely they have survived. I now look at the photos in a completely different light(npi)...wondering what their lives might have been and trying to not to think about how their young lives might have ended. In the end, their survival was going to be iffy at best but when, in a few short weeks, jubilation turns to melancholy I can only be thankful for having having witnessed such a joyous sight.
"Time it was, and what a time it was, it was
A time of innocence, A time of confidences
Long ago, it must be, I have a photograph
Preserve your memories; They're all that's left you"
Paul Simon's....Bookends
As a back story....we heard there may be a mom with a cub in a dry river bed as someone got a brief look the week before....we drove the river bed and my wife spotted the leopard and cub on some rocks....as we pulled to a vantage point about 60 to 70 yards away we saw her nursing her cub. And then a second one appeared and we were stoked but then a few seconds later a third appeared and joined its sibs. The whole sighting lasted 41 seconds...we were lucky to be able to spend about 15 minutes in very poor light with them the following day. The rules allow only a single vehicle viewing and for no more than 15 minutes and only while mom is around. So over the next couple of days they were only viewed a couple of times and then they were not seen. It is not uncommon for a mother leopard to have 2 cubs but 3 is very unusual. Survival of leopard cubs in general to independence is only about 25% so the odds were against them to begin with but hope sprung eternal.
This will more than likely end my series...thank you for all your support and interest.
Eric
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Oct 27, 2018 at 01:36 PM
Previous versions of eyelaser's message #14644306 « Mixed Emotions....My Africa finale (OMG!!...read my last post) »
