Hungry Jaguar

[dstppy]

I just saw this!

Not bad for a Nikon shooter . . . ;D

I've been trying to convince the wife to get a pet alligator (you know, 2-3 feet) . . . now I'm hoping she's a 'cat' person.

 

[mackguyver]

Damn, those are some amazing photos! That must've been one hungry cat to risk attacking a Caiman!

I keep hoping to get a shark vs. gator encounter at my local beach where the gators and sharks share the Gulf of Mexico, but alas no photos yet...

 

[Sporgon]

What strange behaviour from the Jaguar taking the clearly alive Caiman back into the water.

 

[dstppy]

Jaguars eat turtles and try to kill their prey by literally biting through their skulls . . .

I doubt it was alive by the time it started doggy-paddling back. I can't tell for sure, but it looks like it may have something wrong with it's right-eye too.

Definitely a hardcore creature.

 

[vlim]

Caïmans are common preys of the Jaguars but that one is bigger one than usual for sure... They're so powerful !

Terrific pictures and intensity ! The Jag has a badly wounded right eye...

 

[brad-man]

Awesome shots. I wonder how long Mr Black had to hang around to catch that series? I guess melanoma is not the only worry while sunbathing in Brazil

 

[Click]

Amazing shots! Thanks for sharing.

 

[Menace]

Those are amazing shots - well done.

 

[Northstar]

thanks for posting...wow.

I have to believe the gator was dead before the cat risked swimming back across the river with it....I suppose a vicious bite to the head/neck would/could kill very quickly

 

[dstppy]

Those are amazing shots - well done.

Just to clarify, those are NOT mine, I just thought they were incredibly cool.

I stay a healthy distance away from both crocodilians and big cats . . . and by safely away, I mean I wouldn't get close enough to use an 800mm in the wild ;D

 

[MrFotoFool]

Unbelievable photos. I am into cats so I know that jaguars have a huge prey base, including caimans. Although it is well known that the cats prey on them, I doubt anyone has ever captured it in a clear photo sequence like that before.

 

[mackguyver]

I stay a healthy distance away from both crocodilians and big cats . . . and by safely away, I mean I wouldn't get close enough to use an 800mm in the wild ;D

LOL - I must have things backwards - here's an 11 foot alligator with my 24-70mm:

and a little cat with my 400mm:

Maybe someday I'll be fortunate enough to capture amazing photos like the ones in the OP!

 

[dstppy]

I stay a healthy distance away from both crocodilians and big cats . . . and by safely away, I mean I wouldn't get close enough to use an 800mm in the wild ;D

LOL - I must have things backwards - here's an 11 foot alligator with my 24-70mm:

and a little cat with my 400mm:

Maybe someday I'll be fortunate enough to capture amazing photos like the ones in the OP!

Don't get me wrong, in my youth, if there was a show like GatorBoys on TV, I so woulda dropped out of college to go catch wild gators with my hands.

I have a kid now, so if there's something dangerous around, I'll be keeping my eyes on it (and any more that might sneak up on me) vs. looking through the viewfinder.

BTW, did you see the guy with the 7D when Paul got bit in the head by an Alligator? ;D

 

[Northstar]

I stay a healthy distance away from both crocodilians and big cats . . . and by safely away, I mean I wouldn't get close enough to use an 800mm in the wild ;D

LOL - I must have things backwards - here's an 11 foot alligator with my 24-70mm:

and a little cat with my 400mm:

Maybe someday I'll be fortunate enough to capture amazing photos like the ones in the OP!

LOL...i hear that as long as you stay to their side you're pretty safe...but next time try using an 8-15mm fisheye and get closer!!

 

[mackguyver]

Don't get me wrong, in my youth, if there was a show like GatorBoys on TV, I so woulda dropped out of college to go catch wild gators with my hands.

I have a kid now, so if there's something dangerous around, I'll be keeping my eyes on it (and any more that might sneak up on me) vs. looking through the viewfinder.

BTW, did you see the guy with the 7D when Paul got bit in the head by an Alligator? ;D

Yes, that was interesting to see the guy with the 7D, and quite alarming to see the gator chomp down on Paul's head. And he just laughs it off...My rule is NOT to swim in any un-chlorinated body of fresh water in Florida, personally. On land you have a chance, but in the water, unless you're Paul, you're screwed.

LOL...i hear that as long as you stay to their side you're pretty safe...but next time try using an 8-15mm fisheye and get closer!!

I've never heard that one, but the last one I shot let me know he didn't like me being too close by letting out a loud hiss when I got about 20 feet away (see below):

He was a little guy - about 6-7 feet, which are by far the most dangerous because they are really fast and more than powerful enough to take off limbs, or otherwise maim and kill you. The big guys like the one in my post above are slower and don't consider you a threat. Here's the biggest one I've seen - the rangers say he's 14 feet long - and yes, that's a little 6-8 foot female next to him!

 

[dstppy]

That reminds me, I still need to photoshop the tape out of the picture of my Son on the back of a gator, holding his mouth from our trip to Florida this year

 

[mackguyver]

That reminds me, I still need to photoshop the tape out of the picture of my Son on the back of a gator, holding his mouth from our trip to Florida this year

LOL!

 

[rpt]

I stay a healthy distance away from both crocodilians and big cats . . . and by safely away, I mean I wouldn't get close enough to use an 800mm in the wild ;D

LOL - I must have things backwards - here's an 11 foot alligator with my 24-70mm:

and a little cat with my 400mm:


Maybe someday I'll be fortunate enough to capture amazing photos like the ones in the OP!

LOL...i hear that as long as you stay to their side you're pretty safe...but next time try using an 8-15mm fisheye and get closer!!

Better yet, 100L with macro rings

Fantastic pictures on this thread! Luckily the only Gators near where I live are in the zoo.

 

[mackguyver]

I stay a healthy distance away from both crocodilians and big cats . . . and by safely away, I mean I wouldn't get close enough to use an 800mm in the wild ;D

LOL - I must have things backwards - here's an 11 foot alligator with my 24-70mm:

and a little cat with my 400mm:


Maybe someday I'll be fortunate enough to capture amazing photos like the ones in the OP!

LOL...i hear that as long as you stay to their side you're pretty safe...but next time try using an 8-15mm fisheye and get closer!!

Better yet, 100L with macro rings

Fantastic pictures on this thread! Luckily the only Gators near where I live are in the zoo.

Thanks, and yes, I've been thinking my 180mm macro is too long, maybe the 50mm macro with life size converter over even the 65mm 1-5x macro might be better for the dangerous critters. I could check for tartar on the alligator's gums

 

[Menace]

Two images - Focus stacked