Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2016/09/11
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]These are photographs taken of jaguars in and around the Cuiaba River, taken from motorboats, the core objective of our photo safari. We saw quite a few, but surprisingly all males, except for one female who was there as part of a mating pair. The Pantanal sub species is the largest of the jaguar, mainly due to abundant large prey, mainly Capybara, Marsh Deer, Caiman and Cattle - the last because most of the Pantanal has very poor soil, only fit only for grazing, so the place is full of cattle ranches, and has been for close to 200 years, so cattle has become entrenched as a core part of the Pantanal Jaguar's diet. Overall, the jaguar, like the leopard in Africa/Asia, is an opportunist and will eat practically anything edible that comes its way. We will start with a jaguar locally called Mick Jaguar, because of a rakish look due to something wrong with one of his eyes. He is the jaguar who stalked, attacked and killed a caiman in front of many boats, and the video footage of which went viral a couple of years ago. His eye problem does not hinder his hunting apparently, as can be seen from his full belly in the second shot: Resting: http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/jayanand/Brazil/Pantanal/Pantanal-20160818-12318.jpg.html Full Belly: http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/jayanand/Brazil/Pantanal/untitled-20160818-12166.jpg.html This is the only female I saw, as one half of a mating pair: http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/jayanand/Brazil/Pantanal/untitled-20160816-9994.jpg.html A male on purposeful walkabout, who then descended down to water's edge to have a drink, but seemed slightly put off by commotion caused by the boats around him: Walkabout: http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/jayanand/Brazil/Pantanal/untitled-20160816-9192.jpg.html Rest 1: http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/jayanand/Brazil/Pantanal/untitled-20160816-8917.jpg.html Rest 2: http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/jayanand/Brazil/Pantanal/untitled-20160816-9000.jpg.html Another male on walkabout on the river's edge, in altogether better light. He was part of another mating pair, but we only got glimpses of the female, as she stayed hidden in the tall grass in the background Movement: http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/jayanand/Brazil/Pantanal/untitled-20160816-9346.jpg.html Eye Contact: http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/jayanand/Brazil/Pantanal/untitled-20160816-9365.jpg.html Late in the evening one day, we saw this big boy totally at ease with himself - and the commotion caused by the flotilla of boats in front of him! http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/jayanand/Brazil/Pantanal/Pantanal-20160819-13380.jpg.html Please see LARGE Comments and criticism, as ever, welcome Cheers Jayanand