HOME | DD

Okavanga β€” Happy Hippos 5

#africa #hippo #hippopotamus
Published: 2014-11-29 13:25:41 +0000 UTC; Views: 1196; Favourites: 34; Downloads: 13
Redirect to original
Description Every wildlife photographer must have one - a hippo yawn!!



Reincarnation...as a Hippo?We saw our poor wee gecko slide down the slinky, sinuous gullet of the African bush snake in the previous set of photographs from my recent vacation in South Africa , and that might be that for the gecko. However, many millions of people in many a religion believe in reincarnation, and our unfortunate may yet be reborn, say, as a hippopotamus! Now there could be worse fates than that. As our guide on a marvellous river trip at iSimangaliso Wetlands Park Warick said, "Hippos have just about the best life of any wild animal in Africa". Just to get you in the mood let's look at a hippo on dry land:

This is a young female hippo, according to our ranger Julian, out for a late afternoon stroll in the grasslands adjacent to one of the large, lazy lagoons of the wetlands. We had watched her for some 15 minutes as she ambled back to the water, happily grazing on the rich grass that is the main food of hippos. This is unusual behaviour - to be out
Related content
Comments: 24

vanndra [2015-06-22 06:17:16 +0000 UTC]

Wow! What a shot

πŸ‘: 0 ⏩: 1

Okavanga In reply to vanndra [2015-06-22 06:22:03 +0000 UTC]

Yes, you have to get a hippo yawning as part of your photographic CV!!

Many Thanks, Ann.

David

πŸ‘: 0 ⏩: 1

vanndra In reply to Okavanga [2015-06-23 01:22:13 +0000 UTC]

You're welcome

πŸ‘: 0 ⏩: 0

WagmoreBarkless [2015-05-12 07:03:37 +0000 UTC]

The Hippopotamus
By Ogden Nash
Behold the Hippopotamus - we laugh at how he looks to us
But yet in moments dark and grim, I wonder how we look to him
Peace, peace, thou Hippopotamus! We really look alright to us
As you, no doubt delight the eye of other hippopotamiΒ 

Excellent shot, David!

πŸ‘: 0 ⏩: 1

Okavanga In reply to WagmoreBarkless [2015-05-12 10:27:32 +0000 UTC]

Good quote, Goodwin!

David

πŸ‘: 0 ⏩: 0

fotoponono [2015-05-01 05:09:38 +0000 UTC]

looks more like jaws of death - not of life. Β As always, brilliant shot, David!

πŸ‘: 0 ⏩: 1

Okavanga In reply to fotoponono [2015-05-01 06:18:42 +0000 UTC]

Agreed - this guys are not to be trifled with, Henry.

Many Thanks

David

πŸ‘: 0 ⏩: 1

fotoponono In reply to Okavanga [2015-05-01 08:03:56 +0000 UTC]

Great!


Cheers!

Henry K

πŸ‘: 0 ⏩: 0

mikeloveridge [2014-12-08 05:19:53 +0000 UTC]

good shot. these guys are killers, more human kills than lions....

πŸ‘: 0 ⏩: 1

Okavanga In reply to mikeloveridge [2014-12-08 07:47:09 +0000 UTC]

Indeed - not to be trifled with!

Many Thanks

David

πŸ‘: 0 ⏩: 0

Scooby777 [2014-12-06 20:13:49 +0000 UTC]

Amazing candid, David! Β Perfect timing, focus and framing for sure!

πŸ‘: 0 ⏩: 1

Okavanga In reply to Scooby777 [2014-12-07 08:55:32 +0000 UTC]

Indeed, Sheri, many thanks. In fact, through the whole of this 2 hour trip, this was the only yawn I captured. You can't predict who is about to yawn or when. Anyway, I managed to capture this and it is an OK shot!

Cheers

David

πŸ‘: 0 ⏩: 1

Scooby777 In reply to Okavanga [2014-12-07 23:41:17 +0000 UTC]

It is better than an ok candid, David!

πŸ‘: 0 ⏩: 1

Okavanga In reply to Scooby777 [2014-12-08 11:14:48 +0000 UTC]

Maybe it is!

David

πŸ‘: 0 ⏩: 1

Scooby777 In reply to Okavanga [2014-12-08 13:06:57 +0000 UTC]

It most certainly is!

πŸ‘: 0 ⏩: 0

LindArtz [2014-12-01 20:48:38 +0000 UTC]

"All right now that's enough; on your way now with ya!!" (amazing you captured the one sleeping! They must have felt very relaxed and safe)

πŸ‘: 0 ⏩: 1

Okavanga In reply to LindArtz [2014-12-02 13:52:15 +0000 UTC]

Hippo yawns are very frequent and no photographer should come away without one. Hippos sleep a great deal during the day, but we would call it dozing.

Cheers

David

πŸ‘: 0 ⏩: 1

LindArtz In reply to Okavanga [2014-12-03 05:38:08 +0000 UTC]

I must have been a hippo in one of my past lives....I'm tired so much!

But seriously, the look on the face of the one sleeping, is just adorable! Reminds me of a cartoon character or something; he seems to be smiling (with the eyes too).

πŸ‘: 0 ⏩: 1

Okavanga In reply to LindArtz [2014-12-03 08:15:18 +0000 UTC]

Working in front of a screen is tiring, Linda. We DA junkies need our beauty sleep. Yes, the physiognomy of hippos is such that they can adopt a wide range of facial expressions that we interpret in an anthropological manner. It may be that the range of expressions does mean something to other hippos.

Cheers

David

πŸ‘: 0 ⏩: 1

LindArtz In reply to Okavanga [2014-12-03 17:43:38 +0000 UTC]

!!! Too true, David! LOL

Yes, I would think if they are capable of so many facial expressions, that mother-nature has a reason for it; usually does work that way. ^^ (animals are so very smart; they don't get the credit for intelligence that they deserve, imo)

πŸ‘: 0 ⏩: 1

Okavanga In reply to LindArtz [2014-12-03 19:15:00 +0000 UTC]

Agreed!!

David

πŸ‘: 0 ⏩: 0

jennystokes [2014-11-30 04:27:10 +0000 UTC]

Super.

πŸ‘: 0 ⏩: 1

Okavanga In reply to jennystokes [2014-11-30 09:30:59 +0000 UTC]

πŸ‘: 0 ⏩: 1

jennystokes In reply to Okavanga [2014-11-30 10:10:16 +0000 UTC]

Β Β 

πŸ‘: 0 ⏩: 0