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Kudu Female


Kudu Female
Photo Information
Copyright: Stephane Ra (Watershed) Silver Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 43 W: 2 N: 61] (291)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2006-09-19
Categories: Mammals
Camera: Nikon D70, Nikon AF VR 80-400 ED, Hoya HMC Super UV (0) 77mm
Exposure: f/5.3, 1/800 seconds
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2007-03-04 5:46
Viewed: 4097
Points: 22
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
I took this shot in the Kruger and it is very commun to see this animal. I like her face with her big ears...


Name: Kudu
Tragelaphus strepsiceros

Few could be unimpressed with the regal bearing of these large, lordly abtelopes of the African veld. A fully grown male can weight up to 250kg and the female up to 200kg.

Kudu need scrubby woodland for food and protection, and are not found in open grassland or desert areas. They particulary favour areas with rocky, broken terrain with water nearby. In more arid areas they congregate along water courses. They are diurnal animals, most active in the morning and late afternoons, rsting under shelter in the heat of the day. Their warning cry, a harsh bark, is described as the loudest of any antilope species.

Small family groups are formed of generally not more than twelve animals, consisting generally of females and calves, with the males joining the group only for the purpose of mating. The males form their own bachelor groups or range solitary.

Their principal predators are leopard, wild dog, cheetah and lion. the female gives birth to only a single calf, usually after mid summer when the grass is at its tallest. When birthing is due the female leaves the herd and the single calf is born in the cover of the grass. The mother then eats the afterbirth.

Food: Kudu are almost exclusively browsers, but sometimes eat grass. Food variety is greater than for other antelope species. An over-population of kudu in a restricted habitat, and the consequent pressure on available food , can trigger a defense mechanism in the plants, causing them to drastically increase the production of tannin in the leaves. This is poisonous to the animals and frequently causes mortality in these areas.
Adanac, extramundi, fartash, vanderschelden, JoseMiguel, IndonesiaWild has marked this note useful
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Critiques [Translate]

  • Great 
  • Adanac Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1273 W: 1 N: 6188] (21378)
  • [2007-03-04 7:23]

Hi Stephane,
Great portrait of this Kudu with the huge ears, I guess thats a defence against predators. Nice colors and details captured, thanks for sharing.
Rick

With that parabolic receptacles I think it must have a great listening ratio :)
It is a nice potrait of this beautiful animal. I like the BG too showing the diffuse enviroment.
TFS.

Hello Stephane,
Wow, j'aime beaucoup ces oreilles, les détails et ce contact des yeux :) Les couleurs et la composition sont très bonnes. Cet animal doit se servir de ces grandes oreilles pour échapper à ses prédateurs comme dit Rick :) Cet un animal superbe! Merci,
Claudine

Hello Stephane
Very nice shot of this Kudu,
Perfect sharpness and colors,
Great POV,Welldone.

Regards
Fartash

Hi Stephane,
I already opened this image and thought there was noise in the ears. But I went through your gallery and found no noise anywhere else in your images.
So I went back to verify this specific one;probably the ears are coloured like that inside...
TFS
Annick

  • Great 
  • arfer Gold Star Critiquer [C: 2731 W: 0 N: 0] (0)
  • [2007-03-04 22:32]

Hello Stephane

Wow what big ears you have grandma.excellent photo of this kudu.Lovely detail and colour saturation.Nicely composed in the frame.Good POV ,TFS

Rob

Hi Stephane,
This is a very good portrait of this kudu!
I like so much the pose catched, with the prominent ears stand up and alert.
You did a great job with the DOF and the colorful and blurred background.
It's very good the composition builded here.
Congratulations and thanks for share.
My best regards,
JM

Hi Stephane,
A very nice portrait of the Kudu! Great colours and DOF.

Regards, Peter

bonjour stephane
une belle reussite,l'animal qui regarde dans la direction de l'objectif,la lumier impeccable et j'aime aussi beaucoup les oreilles dressées a l'ecoute du moindre bruit.
laurent

  • Great 
  • Jamesp Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1369 W: 9 N: 6334] (18906)
  • [2007-03-13 2:59]

Hi Steph

Nice shot - especially in difficult light conditions. The pose is simply excellent. I am surprised you managed to get so close - I have always found Kudu rather shy.

James

Really nice light considering it looks to be midday. So much for napping at this hour... I like the light grazing those long eyelashes, and of course the ears!

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