Wildlife - Eckart Mayer Photography

Blow of a whale in the ocean, illuminated by the low standing evening sun

Sunset blow of a whale

Spotting whales in the vast ocean tends to be a challenge everywhere. Despite of their size, they remain so small compared to the endless water. In Greenland, this exercise proved even more difficult, and the few times someone discovered a blow, these were far away. However, using my telephoto lens and cropping the image, I got a good view of this giant sunset traveler. (West Coast, Greenland, August 2024 - Image ID: 202408-GL-035)

A spiny tailed iguana taking a sunbath on a stone boulder

Spiny tailed iguana sunbath

Visitors to the archeological sites in Yucatan usually share these with some local inhabitants. Amongst them are a number of different lizards and iguanas. Due to their color, it is not so easy to see them from far away. Their dress code inconspicuously blends in with the natural tones of the earth and the stones. But with a bit of time and effort, you will most likely see some of these amazing creatures, like this spiny tailed iguana enjoying the early morning sun. (Uxmal, Mexico, July 2014 - Image ID: 201407-MX-18)

A beautiful metallic green colored beetle walking on top of the blooming white and yellow flowers of a cherry laurel plant

Emerald on six legs

As if the flowers were not attractive enough, they are complemented by this beautiful green rose chafer beetle. Towards end of May, the cherry laurel shrubs fencing off our terrace present themselves in full bloom. Countless racemes, each with lots of small white flowers emerge from the evergreen leaves. Whilst this beauty is short-lived, the sweet smell attracts a lot of insects and bugs. After flowering, small cherry fruit appear within the thick bushes (Esslingen, Germany, May 2024 - Image ID: 202405-DE-01)

Close-up on the head of a honey bee on top of some white flowers approaching a small bug

Danger looming behind ?

Most likely not, this bee is not interested in the small bug. Towards the end of May, the cherry laurel shrubs fencing off our terrace present themselves in full bloom. Countless racemes, each with lots of small white flowers with a yellow center emerge from the evergreen leaves. Whilst this beauty is short-lived, the sweet smell attracts a lot of visitors. (Esslingen, Germany, May 2024 - Image ID: 202405-DE-04)

A single honey bee with lots of pollen on one of its legs harvesting white flowers in full bloom

Cherry laurel bee temptations

Towards the end of May, the cherry laurel shrubs fencing off our terrace present themselves in full bloom. Countless racemes, each with lots of small white flowers with a yellow center emerge from the evergreen leaves. Whilst this beauty is short-lived, the sweet smell attracts a lot of insects and bugs. After flowering, small cherry fruit appear within the thick bushes (Esslingen, Germany, May 2024 - Image ID: 202405-DE-02)

Close up on a bright orange bug sitting on a textured white wall

Orange stink bug on white wall

Whilst I am not a big fan of bugs, this one immediately caught my attention. Obviously, the bright orange color makes it almost impossible not to spot it, especially on a white background like this wall. But it was only after I took my camera with a macro lens, I discovered the beautiful pattern on its back. The halyomorpha halys, also known as the brown marmorated stink bug, is considered an agricultural pest and can also cause skin rush when touched. (Taipei, Taiwan, June 2014 - Image ID: 201406-TW-01)

Caterpillar with long white hair hanging on a black wall

Long-haired caterpillar on black wall

When you take a closer look, you will understand why I called the folder for these images "Hidden Beauty". I found this amazing caterpillar with very long hair in our garden in Taipei. Since it was hanging upside down from a wall overhang, it was somehow coincidence to spot it. Zooming in on the fragile details reveals the finest details of the wet hair and the black and white pattern of the body. (Taipei, Taiwan, June 2014 - Image ID: 201406-TW-08)

Macro-shot of a caterpillar with white hair

Close-up on caterpillar with long hair

Zooming in further, you get an even closer look and will understand why I called the folder for these images "Hidden Beauty". I found this amazing caterpillar with very long hair in our garden in Taipei. Since it was hanging upside down from a wall overhang, it was somehow coincidence to spot it. Zooming in on the fragile details reveals the finest details of the wet hair and the black and white pattern of the body. (Taipei, Taiwan, June 2014 - Image ID: 201406-TW-09)

Close-up of two Tibetan women, holding a baby yak in their arms with the mother animal standing by

Two Tibetan women with baby yak

The highest mountain pass on our transfer from Lhasa to Gyantse reached more than 5.000 meters above sea level. We stopped for a while at this place, and enjoyed the spectacular views of the Kharola Glacier. Walking around a bit, we once again met some local Tibetan people who make a small business from posing for cameras with their typical costumes. My favorite image shows two women, one of them holding a baby yak with its mother standing next to them. (Kharola Glacier, Tibet, April 2014 - Image ID: 201404-CN-45)

Beautifully decorated Tibetan Yak standing on the edge of a mountain road

Yak with colorful Tibetan decoration

On our drive from Lhasa to Gyantse, the road climbed to more than 4.500 meters above sea level at the Gampa Pass. One of the attractions on our route was the beautiful Yamzho Yumco lake. The water shines in an amazing turquoise color, reflecting the blue sky. With many tourist stops en route, this has become an important source of income for some local people. Apart from posing for cameras with their typical costumes, their beautifully decorated yaks are quite popular photo models. (Gampa Pass, Tibet, April 2014 - Image ID: 201404-CN-36)

Portrait of smiling Tibetan farmer in traditional costume with little goat

Proud owner of a cute little goat

After a few days in Lhasa, we moved on to our next destination. On our way to Gyantse, the road climbed to more than 4.500 meters above sea level at Gampa Pass. One of the attractions on our route was the beautiful Yamzho Yumco lake. With a lot of tourists stopping at various viewpoints, some local Tibetans make a living from posing for photo and video cameras with their typical costumes and animals. (Gampa Pass, Tibet, April 2014 - Image ID: 201404-CN-32)

Side-view of one Eurasian hoopoe sitting on rocks on top of mountain

Eurasian hoopoe mountain lookout

Most tourists coming to Tsetang go there to visit the famous Yumbu-Lha monastery. And so I did together with my family. However, the spectacular scenery with the surrounding mountains also caught my attention. While taking a 360 degrees survey of the area, I spotted this beautiful bird sitting on the rocks. Thankfully, it stayed there for quite some time, so I could take a few pictures. (Tsetang, Tibet, April 2014 - Image ID: 201404-CN-15)

Close-up of a green woodpecker in grass, looking to the right

European green woodpecker

Whilst I am not a bird-watch expert, sometimes feathered visitors in our garden do catch my attention. This green woodpecker comes by on a regular basis, looking for a morning or afternoon snack. Since the main diet are ants, this process usually takes a while. With a length of more than 30cm it is almost impossible to miss it. Unfortunately, this bird is extremely shy and keeps monitoring the area constantly. For this reason, it never stands still, and flies away even with the smallest movement behind the window. (Esslingen, Germany, December 2023 - Image ID: 202312-DE-04)

Close-up on the head of a young brown scottish highland cow

Highland cattle teenager portrait

This close-up show the face of a youngster within a whole herd of Scottish highland cattle grazing on juicy grass. The low-standing sunlight on a chilly autumn morning nicely highlighted the long hair and the colors. With the wild hairstyle this animal looked really cute. I felt like touching it, but obviously didn't considering the long horns of the surrounding adults. (Göppingen, Germany, November 2023 - Image ID: 202311-DE-05)

Face portrait of Scottish highland cattle with eyes covered by hair

Two horns and blindfold

This Scottish highland cow definitely doesn't need any sunglasses. It rather seems to be completely blindfold. The long brown hair completely covers the face, and it is impossible to even spot the eyes. However, when I approached the fence to take some photos, the cow clearly recognized me, and looked up into my direction. (Göppingen, Germany, November 2023 - Image ID: 202311-DE-04)

Beige hairy highland cattle bull with threatening pose

This is my highland cattle territory

As cute as they may look, the long horns still send a clear signal that these cows could actually defend themselves whenever they feel threatened. Especially this bull stood out, partially because of the lighter brown / beige color of the fur. In addition, the pose clearly indicated that I shouldn't try to invide the herds territory. (Göppingen, Germany, November 2023 - Image ID: 202311-DE-07)

Two dark brown highland cows breathing cold air

Two highland cows breathing cold air

The two dark-brown colored Scottish highland cows standing in the morning sun alone would have been enough for some interesting photos. What made the whole scene even more attractive was the cold weather on an early November morning. Due to the low temperatures, every breath resulted in swathes of mist coming out of the cattles mouths and noses. Backlit by the low-standing sun, this looked really special. (Göppingen, Germany, November 2023 - Image ID: 202311-DE-09)

One young highland cow standing on a green meadow

Young Scottish highland cow

Since long, I wanted to take some photos of a herd of Scottish highland cattle that I had seen during my cycling tours. Finally, on a cold November morning, I went and took a whole series of images. This young cow was peacefully standing on the field of grass, enjoying the warming effect of the morning sunshine. (Göppingen, Germany, November 2023 - Image ID: 202311-DE-06)

Side view of a brown highland cow with long hair

Scottish highland cattle side view

Since months, I wanted to take photos of a large herd of Scottish highland cattle that I had spotted during my cycling training sessions. A cold but sunny November morning was the perfect opportunity. So I went with my camera gear by car, and took a whole series of images. This side view shows why this specific breed of cows has become so popular amongst photographers. The warm light of the morning sunshine was a perfect assistant for this session. (Göppingen, Germany, November 2023 - Image ID: 202311-DE-08)

Closeup on bird of prey sitting in a tree

Bird of prey portrait on tree

Honestly, I am not an expert in ornithology. Nevertheless, when the opportunity comes my way, I do enjoy watching birds. And if my camera gear is available, I do invest some time to find the right angle for a good photo. I spotted this beautiful bird right from the balcony of our house in the outskirts of Taipei. It stayed on this branch for quite some time before flying off into the valley. So who knows which bird this is? (Taipei, Taiwan, October 2013 - Image ID: 201310-TW-06)

Two polar bears cuddling asleep on a big rock

Two sleeping polar bears - Take a rest

This is one of my personal all-time zoo photography favorites. I took it already 30 years ago at the Wilhelma in Stuttgart, together with many other photos. The enclosure for the polar bears there is rather spacious, with lots of rocks and deep pools. Glass windows below the water surface provide visitors with spectacular views of the majestic animals swimming and diving. But every now and then, even the most active ones need to take a rest. (Stuttgart, Germany, September 1993 - Image ID: 199309-DE-07)

Elephant foot and toes - Solidly grounded

Imagine how much weight these feet need to carry on a daily basis! It may not be the most looked at part of these majestic animals. However, since zoos usually are not great for wildlife photography (too much background disturbance), I decided to rather approach the elephants with some close-up images. The toenails very much remind me of our own ones... (Stuttgart, Germany, September 1993 - Image ID: 199309-DE-04)

Hippo toddler swimming in pond

As fascinating as exotic animals might be for children, I always had mixed feelings about them. On one hand, they do play an important role for conservation and education. On the other hand one doesn't have to be a scientist to understand that the "accomodation" in many cases is not species-appropriate. The pond even for a baby hippo was already rather small. (Stuttgart, Germany, September 1993 - Image ID: 199309-DE-05)

Peacock butterfly with two eyes on pink flower

European peacock butterfly on pink flower

Natural beauty perfectly set in scene: this butterfly is called European peacock. I guess the name makes sense since it is almost as colorful as the mesmerizing feathers of the bird bearing the same name. In this case I was lucky. The butterfly choose a nice flower to take a short rest. Can you spot the two eyes? (Laubach, Germany, September 1983 - Image ID: 198309-DE-02)

Orange-black butterfly resting on grey wall

Small tortoiseshell reddish orange butterfly

As much as I prefer to take butterfly images when they rest on a flower, one sometimes needs to settle for less. I found this beautiful medium-sized butterfly taking a rest on a great wall. (Laubach, Germany, September 1983 - Image ID: 198309-DE-01)

Brown and white cow lying on grass against alpine peaks and sky

Chillout with an awesome view - Cow resting on mountain pasture

The power of marketing: It is probably because of successful chocolate advertising that many relate Switzerland with happy cows on green mountain pasture. Living in the fresh air on such a healthy diet, combined with the spectacular views must produce top class milk for this sweet trademark product. The area around Grindelwald has a lot of stunning hiking trails to enjoy the Bernese Alps panorama. (Grindelwald, Switzerland, July 2003 - Image ID 200307-CH-03)

Two brown calfs taking a rest in a bed of green summer leaves

Two light brown calfs resting in a bed of green leaves

It is probably because of successful chocolate advertising that many relate Switzerland with happy cows on green mountain pasture. Living in the fresh air on such a healthy diet, it seems inevitable that these cows produce top class milk as raw material for this popular Swiss export product. The area around Grindelwald has a lot of stunning hiking trails to enjoy the Bernese Alps panorama. (Grindelwald, Switzerland, July 2003 - Image ID 200307-CH-09)

Young orangutan hanging from a branch in the forest

Hold on - Orangutan toddler having fun

After a few days in the city of Kota Kinabalu, we moved to the Shangri-La Rasa Ria Hotel. Located just 25km north of the city, the 45min trip takes you to a completely different world. The beautiful setting with pristine beaches and lush tropical forests is the perfect spot to unwind. Attached to the hotel there is the Rasa Ria Nature Reserve. When we visited, they still operated an orangutan rehabilitation sanctuary, which obviously was one of the highlights of our visit. This toddler is busy training its muscles and flexibility. (Rasa Ria Reserve, Malaysia, July 2013 - Image ID 201307-MY-21)

Rear view of orangutan climbing up a tree in tropical forest

Climbing artist - Orangutan on its way up a jungle tree

After a few days in the city of Kota Kinabalu, we moved to the Shangri-La Rasa Ria Hotel. Located just 25km north of the city, the 45min trip takes you to a completely different world. The beautiful setting with pristine beaches and lush tropical forests is the perfect spot to unwind. Attached to the hotel there is the Rasa Ria Nature Reserve. When we visited, they still operated an orangutan rehabilitation sanctuary, which obviously was one of the highlights of our visit. It was absolutely fascinating to see how elegant these amazing animals climbed the trees. (Rasa Ria Reserve, Malaysia, July 2013 - Image ID 201307-MY-22)

Sitting monkey with baby enjoying icecream in a cone

Monkey with baby and stolen icecream at Batu Caves

As in many tourist destinations, local wildlife quickly adapts to the new situation. Especially monkeys have learned to benefit from careless visitors. Being extremely agile and fast, you really need to watch your belongings. Otherwise, things might be stolen within seconds. Obviously, food is amongst the top targets. The monkey proudly shares the ice-cream cone with its young born. Whilst this may look very cute, this clearly is not the recommended diet for these primates. (Batu Caves, Malaysia, July 2013 - Image ID 201307-MY-07)

Head of brown horse looking out of a yellow and black building

Honor to whom honor is due - Horse taking a look

I am not exactly sure anymore at which building I took this snapshot. The scenery with the yellow painted building covered with marble and just the head of one horse sticking out was almost unreal. Nothing we would have expected in the city center of a multi-million people capital. The horse was just standing there, taking a look at the street. Considering the color, it looks like a royal stable to us. (Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, July 2013 - Image ID 201307-MY-05)

Cautious look of monkey breastfeeding its baby

Monkey breastfeading hungry baby at Batu Caves

This is another monkey mother and child portrait taken at the Batu Caves in Gombak, Selangor. These animals are used to the thousands of visitors coming to the caves and Hindu shrines, and therefore show no fear of human beings. With a constant supply of food collected from dustbins or stolen from inattentive tourists, these monkeys will most likely never go to sleep hungry. (Batu Caves, Malaysia, July 2013 - Image ID 201307-MY-08)

Cat with white and brown fut sleeping on stray with closed eyes

Siesta time - Cat chillout

On the way towards the Cote d'Azur, we passed a lot of mountain villages, where we also stayed over, and bought local products. As usual, I went to explore the area, and found this beautiful cat taking a relaxed afternoon nap. (Route des Grandes Alpes, France, July 1993 - Image ID: 199307-FR-05)

One big and a small fish swimming at the surface of a crystal clear lake

Crystal clear - Fish swimming at the surface in fresh water

If there is a paradise for freshwater fish, it probably looks very similar to this. These definitely enjoy themselves, swimming close to the surface in the morning sunlight. Since my first visit to Plitvice in 1991, I was fascinated by the breathtaking scenery, and the very unique colors of the crystal clear water. The cascade of lakes connected by waterfalls is incredibly beautiful. If you want to enjoy the serenity and the unique shape of water of this location, I would suggest to come early in the morning. (Plitvice Lakes, Croatia, June 2023 - Image ID: 202306-CR-61)

Head and neck of a giraffe standing out above red rocks

Peekaboo - an unexpected encounter with a giraffe

We definitely didn't expect to see any giraffes in this rather serious offroad terrain, with lots of stones and steep inclines everywhere. And yet, it was suddenly there, taking a look from behind a large rock. From what we could see, it was travelling alone. It seemed to be quite happy in the Augrabies Falls National Park. This less known sanctuary is located in the Northern Cape and covers more than 800 square kilometers. The spectacular landscape is quite popular amongst local outdoor fans. Whilst mainly dry with lots of rocks and sand, the colorful park also features a broad range of flora and fauna. (Augrabies National Park, South Africa, April 2011 - Image ID: 201104-ZA-19)

Single giraffe walking in the South African savanna afternoon sun

Giraffe taking a walk in Augrabies National Park

After the initial sighting, we spent some more time observing the lonely giraffe continuiing its walk through the hilly terrain with an amazing elegance. (Augrabies National Park, South Africa, April 2011 - Image ID: 201104-ZA-20)

Side view of dassie rock hyrax sitting on a rock eying flower

Cute hungry dassie starring at a yellow flower

This cute dassie seems to have its eyes firmly fixed on the yellow blossom of the nearby shrub. Whilst pretty close, the potential lunch grows on the edge of a steep ravine, and as such remains inaccessible without risking its life. Fortunately, this cute animal can find less dangerous places with vegetarian food nearby. While searching for it, dassies always need to be aware of potential predators, especially birds of prey. I took this image in the Augrabies Falls National Park in South Africa. (Augrabies National Park, South Africa, April 2011 - Image ID: 201104-ZA-03)

Dead fish with a smile and white thorns on sandy beach

On the beach with a smile

This poor fish stranded and died on a sandy beach in the Tamsui area. Despite of this misfortune, it still seems to smile at everyone walking by. Somehow sad! (Taipei, Taiwan, January 2013 - Image ID: 201301-TW-06)

Side view of greyish bird between rocks on the edge of a pond

City Wildlife

Even within the densly populated greater Taipei area, nature still has its places of refuge. Many public parks with lakes and ponds of all shapes and sizes provide home to a number of birds. (Taipei, Taiwan, January 2013 - Image ID: 201301-TW-01)

Close-up on cute lion cub face and paw, resting on the ground

Siesta time

Shortly before our departure from South Africa, we revisited the lion breeding and conservation center. Once again, the youngsters were the main attraction, like this cub taking a short rest. (Ukuthula Conservation Center, South Africa, December 2012 - Image ID 201212-SA-17)

Close-up on the sole of a lion cub's paw lying in red sand

Little paw

Just adorable: the paw from this lion cub is still small, but will grow together with its owner, and become a dangerous hunting weapon in the future. (Ukuthula Conservation Center, South Africa, December 2012 - Image ID 201212-SA-18)

Two rhinoceros facing each other, ready to fight

Trouble ahead

Despite of having enjoyed a relaxing bath in the mud, these two rhinos seem to have an issue with each other. Standing head to head, their feet properly aligned and ready to attack indicantes some trouble ahead. (Sabi-Sabi Game Reserve, South Africa, December 2012 - Image ID 201212-SA-16)

Two rhinos lying on top of each other taking a mud bath

Mudbath, together!

After a hot and dry day out in the bush, these two rhinos are having a blast, enjoying a rejuvenating mudbath together. Animal spa at its'best! (Sabi-Sabi Game Reserve, South Africa, December 2012 - Image ID 201212-SA-14)

A group of rhinos in the bush enjoying a bath in the mud

Rhino outdoor spa

A group of rhinos wraps up a hot day in their animal spa. The refreshing mudbath also protects their skin against sun and insects. Collective happiness! (Sabi-Sabi Game Reserve, South Africa, December 2012 - Image ID 201212-SA-15)

Young lion jumping down from the branch of a tree

Here I come

During a guided walk with two lions, we had the chance for close encounters with these still young predators. They ran around, disappeared in the high grass and bushes, or up on a tree, just to suddenly and quickly reappear. A quite unusual and somehow scary experience, for adults only. (Ukuthula Conservation Center, South Africa, December 2012 - Image ID 201212-SA-20)

Majestic tiger walking in high grass with tongue out of its mouth

Wrong species

Well, this tiger didn't really fit into the lion research and conservation center. However, walking through the high grass, this majestic animal was so beautiful that I had to take a few photos. (Ukuthula Conservation Center, South Africa, December 2012 - Image ID 201212-SA-19)

Lion lying on the branch of a tree carefully watches surroundings

Lions don't climb trees !?

Whilst not as agile in climbing as leopards, lions can very well make a move up a tree. This one just quickly jumped up, took a look around and then came down as quickly as it went up. (Ukuthula Conservation Center, South Africa, December 2012 - Image ID 201212-SA-21)

Dominant male lion with impressive mane lying in thick grass

Lion King

Impressive and beautiful at the same time: encounters with large male lions tends to create goosebumps. Especially when you have a chance to look him directly into the eyes, even from a safe distance. (Sabi-Sabi Game Reserve, South Africa, December 2012 - Image ID 201212-SA-08)

Several legs and paws of a pride of lions facing up from the grass

Deceptive tranquility

Looking at the pack of lions resting in the grass creates an impression of peace and tranquility. However, I was glad to sit in an offroad vehicle rather than "walking into them" by accident. (Sabi-Sabi Game Reserve, South Africa, December 2012 - Image ID 201212-SA-10)

Intense look into the eyes of a female lion resting in the grass

The look

The golden fur was nicely shining in the afternoon sun whilst we observed a pack of lions resting in the high green grass. This lioness gave us quite a penetrating view. Hungry? (Sabi-Sabi Game Reserve, South Africa, December 2012 - Image ID 201212-SA-09

Facial portrait of a buffalo taking a bath with great satisfaction

What a treat !

This buffalo seems to have the time of his life, or at least of the day. Cooling down in the refresting water of a small pond creates this special "Wow". An complimentary tooth-cleaning on top wouldn't hurt... (Sabi-Sabi Game Reserve, South Africa, December 2012 - Image ID 201212-SA-12)

Rear view of the legs and testicles of a buffalo standing in water

Male buffalo rear view...

I somehow couldn't resist to take this photo. Not sure if this rear-view image of a huge buffalo would require a "nudity - warning"? (Sabi-Sabi Game Reserve, South Africa, December 2012 - Image ID 201212-SA-13)

Two horns

Guarded game reserves offer good protection for the endangered rhinos from poaching. Observing these huge herbivores feeding on the juicy grass is quite relaxing. The low-standing late-afternoon sun provided a beautiful warm light. (Sabi-Sabi Game Reserve, South Africa, December 2012 - Image ID 201212-SA-01)

Portrait of a single-eyed leopard hiding in green grass

A single-eyed leopard is watching us

Watching injured animals always make me sort of sad and sentimental. It's maybe because they do not have any doctor,hospital or medicine that could help them. Therefore, even minor mishappenings can have a fatal outcome. I am not sure what caused this leopard to loose its sight on the right eye. The ranger who provided us with a lot of useful insights about wildlife also didn't know. But have explained to us that for predators, such injuries make it a lot more difficult to hunt successfully. Hence, this partial blindless is a real challenge for this magnificent big cat to survive. (Sabi-Sabi Game Reserve, South Africa, December 2012 - Image ID 201212-SA-06)

Rear view of mother and child rhinoceros grazing in savanna grass

Rhinoceros mother and child rearview

Even from behind, rhinos look as impressive as they are. These two were happily grazing in the fresh and juicy grasslands of the Sabi-Sabi game reserve. Even though we waited for quite a while, they didn't do me the favor to turn around. So I decided to take a picture from this angle, a different perspective of this endangered species. I think they are adorable creatures, and deserve to be protected. Observing them in their natural habitat is so much more exciting than seeing them in a zoo. (Sabi-Sabi Game Reserve, South Africa, December 2012 - Image ID 201212-SA-05)

Side view portrait of a grey lourie bird with feather crown

Grey Lourie feather crown portrait

Birdwatching is extremely popular in South Africa. I sometimes did it when going on a safari trip, but somehow lack the required patience. I am also no expert in this field, but sometimes bird did catch my attention. The stylish & fascinating feather-crown on its head makes this parrot-like bird a rather interesting sight. I spotted this beautiful grey lourie during a game drive at Sabi-Sabi Private Game Reserve. It was kind enough to remain seated until I had taken the shot with my camera. (Sabi-Sabi Game Reserve, South Africa, December 2012 - Image ID 201212-SA-04)

Side view of a yellow-billed Southern hornbill bird sitting in a tree

Southern Yellow-billed Hornbill

Bird-watching requires patience, or a certain amount of luck. In this case, it was the 2nd option that provided me with this unexpected photo opportunity. (Sabi-Sabi Game Reserve, South Africa, December 2012 - Image ID 201212-SA-03)

Black swan with four grey cygnets swimming in pond

Black swan family outing swimming in a lake

Carefully guarded during their black swan family outing, the youngsters explore their pond and improve their swimming skills. Have you heard about the "black swan theory"? It describes completely unexpected events with a major impact, and their role in history. It was described by Nassim Nicholas Taleb in his book "The Black Swan". Interestingly enough, the term originates from the historic assumption that no bird with this color exists. This only changed after they were actually discovered in Australia. Now you can find them in many places around the globe, and I consider them just adorable. (Centurion, South Africa, November 2012 - Image ID 201211-SA-01)

Whilst the Unesco World Heritage Side can get quite busy even during low season, these sheep enjoy their afternoon feast A very relaxing scenery France, Mont Saint Michel, October 2022 Image ID 202210 FR 28

Tourist attraction - so what ?

Whilst the Unesco World Heritage Side can get quite busy even during low season, these sheep enjoy their afternoon feast. A very relaxing scenery... (France, Mont Saint Michel, October 2022 - Image ID 202210-FR-28)

Walking around the high city walls of Saint Malo, I spotted this seagull taking a rest in the afternoon sun Fortunately, I quickly took a portrait snapshot with my iPhone, before another tourist chased her away France, Saint Malo, October 2022 Image ID 202210 FR 13

Seagull portrait

Walking around the high city walls of Saint Malo, I spotted this seagull taking a rest in the afternoon sun. Fortunately, I quickly took a portrait snapshot with my iPhone, before another tourist chased her away. (France, Saint Malo, October 2022 - Image ID 202210-FR-13)

Side view of black swan with red beak resting in its nest

Proud parent

Good news for all fans of the black swan couple: more family members are underway! Carefully protected by their parents, only the white feathers are clear evidence of their presence. (South Africa, Centurion, October 2012 - Image ID 201210-SA-06)

Silhouette of black swan against colorful orange water reflections

Swan Silhouette

The main attraction of the lake: Black swans are always an attractive photo model. This one perfectly posed in front of the bicolored light reflections of the lake. (South Africa, Centurion, October 2012 - Image ID 201210-SA-05)

Large lying elk taking a rest in the mud, looking left

Close elk encounter

On the way from Breesgard to Trondheim, we spotted one of the iconic animals of the North, an elk. Without thinking too much, I stepped out of the car and walked as close as necessary to take this photo. Maybe not such a smart idea..., they are huge! (Breesgard, Norway, July 1992 - Image ID 199207-NO-07)

Close-up of cute lion cub exploring conservatory garden

Cute lion cub exploring its surroundings - Photo Painting

Do not even think about adopting this lion cub as a pet. As small and cute as it may be: even as a baby it is not comparable to a domestic cat. Apart from that, it obviously is not available for sale. Instead, you can visit babies, toddlers, teenagers and adults at the "Ukutula Conservation Center", best known for its lion breeding program. Visitors have the opportunity to engage with certain age groups only, to ensure peoples safety. The very young lions are also off limits, to prevent any transfer of infections by humans. Observing them, exploring the garden or playing with their sibblings, in fascinating enough. (Ukutula Conservation Center, South Africa, May 2012 - Image ID: 201205-ZA-01)

Close-up of green lizzard sitting on a green leaf

Green lizzard on a large green leaf

Here it is again, this time seen from above. Amazing different shades of green... (Vallee de Mai, Seychelles, June 2012 - Image ID: 201206-SC-06)

Shadow of lizzard seen from below through colorful leaf

Lizzard walking on a colourful transparent leaf

Whilst hiking in the "Vallee de Mai" Nature Reserve, I spotted a lizzard on this Autumn-coloured leaf. In order to do something different, I took the image from below against the sunlight. (Vallee de Mai, Seychelles, June 2012 - Image ID: 201206-SC-04)

Single ostrich walking along a stony Cape Peninsula beach

Ostrich on the Beach

Quite an unsual sighting on the rocky shores near Cape Point. (Cape Peninsula, South Africa, February 2012 - Image ID: 201202-ZA-18)

Black and white feathered kingfisher bird sitting on tree branch

Pied Kingfischer

Whilst I am not a professional nor passionate bird-watcher, taking this picture of a Pied Kingfisher felt quite special. (Entabeni Game Reserve, South Africa, February 2012 - Image ID: 201202-ZA-13)

Frontal view of a herd of elephants approaching on dirt road

Herd of african elephants approaching on a dusty path

During my six years work-related stay in South Africa, my family and I went on quite a lot of nature trips. It was such a gift to experience the diverse and amazing wildlife in their natural habitat. No matter how many encounters, spotting and observing elephants always remained a highlight that words can hardly describe. Especially, since these intelligent animals usually appear in larger groups with the entire extended family. Being extremely social, it never gets boring to observe their behaviour. Having professional guides (=rangers) was extremely helpful, since they gave us a lot of useful information. (Entabeni Game Reserve, South Africa, February 2012 - Image ID: 201202-ZA-12)

Portrait of a young gnu with little horns a its unique hairstyle

Gnu Teenager Portrait

Gnu teenager with its very unique hairstyle (Entabeni Game Reserve, South Africa, February 2012 - Image ID: 201202-ZA-11)

Hippopotamus exiting the stairs of a hotel swimming pool

Caught in the act - Wellness hippo exiting hotel swimming pool

Expect the unexpected! During holiday trips, esp. adventure trips like safaris, great moments can happen anytime. When we woke up, one morning we discovered an unusual visitor enjoying the swimming pool at our lodge in South Africa. A hippo had taken over these wellness facilities. Being a professional when it comes to swimming and diving, it seemed to enjoy this unusual treat. I was just wondering if and why the chlorine didn't bother it. Whilst this put a big smile on our face, it wasn't such a nice surprise for the service team. They had to perform a massive cleaning before reopening the pool to the guests. (Entabeni Game Reserve, South Africa, February 2012 - Image ID: 201202-ZA-10)

Zebra toddler trying to drink milk from its mother in high grass

Zebra Motherhood!

Providing a healthy breakfast for her little ones, whilst being on constant watch for potential danger (Entabeni Game Reserve, South Africa, February 2012 - Image ID: 201202-ZA-09)

Portrait of young elephant feeding on green grass with its trunk

Elephant enjoying fresh long grass

"Tea-Time": a fresh grass afternoon snack, apparently delicious (Entabeni Game Reserve, South Africa, February 2012 - Image ID: 201202-ZA-08)

Close-up of a trunk held up above elephants grey head and ears

Elephant's telescope

An elephant's trunk: probably one of the most amazing and versatile "tools" in animal kingdom? (Entabeni Game Reserve, South Africa, February 2012 - Image ID: 201202-ZA-07)

One zebra toddler standing on green grass looking at us

Zebra Toddler Afternoon

Zebra toddler enjoying the beautiful afternoon sun in the grasslands (Entabeni Game Reserve, South Africa, February 2012 - Image ID: 201202-ZA-02)

Yellow weaverbird artistically building a green nest using its beak

Weaverbird in Action!

I find it equally beautiful and fascinating to observe this master-builder whilst constructing and continuously "renovating" it home, made entirely from natural resources. We were lucky to host these amazing birds in our garden whilst living in South Africa. (Centurion, South Africa, January 2012 - Image ID: 201201-ZA-03)

Hadeda ibis with shining feathers and long beak against blue sky

Hadeda Ibis Wake-Up Call

As beautiful as it may be, this bird can be really annoying when it makes a lot of noise very early in the morning, sitting just on top of your bedroom on the roof. Especially since they are rather social birds, usually coming in large groups! (Centurion, South Africa, January 2012 - Image ID: 201201-ZA-02)

About this archive

The Wildlife archives contain all photos that fit to this exciting theme. The definition of wildlife is a bit broader than the one in the lexicon. Apart from free living wild species, this category also includes domestic and farm animals. You will find all kinds of living creatures from around the globe in this section. Most of them do comply with the real meaning of wildlife. AI-generated images are not part of my work!

Visitors can access this part of my photo collection via the portfolio tab on the home page. There, please click on the respective sample photo, and you will see the latest uploads in this category. For an improved viewing experience in a larger size, please just click on a single image of your choice. Scrolling down will take you to photos published earlier.

Some photos have a green icon in the upper right hand corner, a shopping bag. Clicking this icon will take visitors directly to one of my online stores. This includes my own image license store with downloads for private or business use. Other items are available as wall prints and photo presents on fineartamerica.com, or as digital downloads on Getty Images.

Please enjoy the photographic journey within my Wildlife archives!

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