26/06/2021
"The Wild Encounter" (May 2019)
The sequence of photos tells the story of an encounter in the wild that was a rare sight to behold:
• Lorain, the famed leopardess from the Mara was seen resting under a thicket seemingly warming up the ground where she lies to start feeding its 1-month-old cubby that was hiding in the bush after some incessant rains that swept through the Mara on that overcast day.
• Lorain then makes a soft call to her cubby and after a few moments it emerged from its hideout and joins her. It was indeed a sight that soothes one’s mind and soul, watching the mother’s love for her little one, both rubbing their chins against each other, sharing intimate moments apparently making up for what was from a long night’s separation in search of food.
• While we were enjoying the emotional moments and heartening gestures on that cold day, suddenly from nowhere a magnificent lion enters the scene after picking up the mother's call or its scent.
• The lion stealthily approaches the duo from behind the tree where Lorain was busy caressing her cubby having no clue whatsoever of the looming danger and on the other side game watchers started crowding at the scene trying to get a glimpse of the elusive cat perched under the thick bush. The jarring sound from the 4x4 engines vying for a clear viewing position for its guests had further complicated the scene.
• I think we skipped a few heartbeats watching breathlessly the scene unfolding before our eyes with the lion closing in on them that would spell doom for the little cutie that mom is so busy caressing with all her heart.
• Next, "bang" everything happened in a blink of an eye! Through the bush we saw Lorain springing up and fiercely charging at the Lion with her powerful front claws that pulled a complete surprise, and it sent the Lion into jittery for a moment, which was enough time for the cubby to disappear back into the bush. The tensed encounter lasted for about a couple of minutes after which the Lion graciously retreated to our sigh of relief. The power of a mother defending her cub from a nearly four-times heavier and powerful rival in no strange story in the animal kingdom with scores of heroic mothers losing their lives in the ordeal while protecting their very own. But, this time it was a happy ending.
Copyright ©️ 2021 by Godwin Manuel. All rights reserved.
Nikon D5, Nikkor 400mm f2.8G
