Hippos....

[Winston]

Click image for larger, geotagged version.



Captured at a hippo pool in Tanzania's Ngorongoro Crater last June.
Sony DSLR-A700: 1/320s f/8.0 at 400.0mm iso400

[Dr. Harout]

Great shot as always.
But why is it staring at me like that?

[Greg Beetham]

That large one doesn't seem too happy about something, must have been having a bad day.
Impressive shot when viewing the large version.
Greg

[peterottaway]

Hippo's are not one of natures cute and cuddly. They have a deserved reputation for having a nasty steak and for violence to people and boats. Over short distances on land they can outrun a adult human.

A very good shot Sir.

[Winston]

Hippo's are not one of natures cute and cuddly. They have a deserved reputation for having a nasty steak and for violence to people and boats. Over short distances on land they can outrun a adult human.

The only creatures responsible for more human death in Africa are man and the mosquito.

[Javelin]

this is unrelated but there was a television ad here that features a "house hippo" It was an ad to ... um.. fool children into realizing what they see on TV isn't real.. the ad got a little too famous and people were trying to buy house hippos for a short time after that. Think what would have happened if this had ran in Africa .. all the daddies would be out trying to catch one from the nest

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/House_Hippo" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=clz-29C7QFs" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Dr. Harout]

Here's a shot with A100 + SAL75300

[aster]

I find Winston's 'hippos' photo to be very rich in skin/hide details and colour. I didn't realize the significant reddish tint around the eyes aand neck before on any actual live hippos, I thought they were grey overall until now. (maybe that's due to them being covered in dust while on land)

And Dr. Harout's hippo is extremely intimidating but again full of details. Those teeth look dangerous. Nice shot!

Thanks for sharing,
Yildiz

[KevinBarrett]

Hippos are so awesomely dinosaur-like. I think we may see in our lifetimes nearly every large mammal that isn't domesticated or bred for game becoming endangered or worse. Seeing that great big maw close up with all of its tusks and grinding molars reminds me how specialized an animal can be to its habitat, and how fragile it really is when that habitat is threatened. Thank you for sharing this image, Doc!

[paulmurphy]

Both great Hippo shots,

In the first one, I think the eye contact with the big hippo is fantastic - to my mind there is an implied threat along the lines of 'come any closer if you dare', the second one makes you realise why you wouldn't go any closer (and I bet the breath is just awful).

Thanks to both for posting

Murph

[bonneville]

Brilliant shots, both. Thanks for sharing.