Wildlife Photographer of the Year Winners

http://www.bbc.co.uk/nature/19978529

Thanks Doogs. They are all simply stunning!

Lai

Thanks for posting this. I love the instinctive stalking by the cheetah cubs.

Statistics indicate that cheetahs are successful in about two out of every seven attempts.

The gazelle probably had no chance against four of them even if they are still clumsy and learning at that stage.

Fantastic pictures Doogs, I love the Emporer Penguins and also the Black Headed Gull pictures. The Cheetah one is a stunning picture but it brought a lump to my throat, the look of terror on that young Thomsons Gazelle just really hits you. You don't ever really see their faces that close when they are being hunted and for me that was so sad and as you say Chris, it didn't stand a chance.

littlewid-x-

Littlewid, but i would rather not see the face of the hunted, I know it is life but it is none the less seriously harsh and unpleasant.

Lai

I suppose because we grow up with these scenarios in Africa where the weakest, youngest and slowest will always be the prime prey - we are not that sensitive to it.

Always remember it is part of nature's perfect design, which results in a perfect balance (until people start disturbing that balance off course)

What you say is so true Chris, nature has the balance worked out perfectly and it is man who comes along and upsets the balance, either for greed or because he feels he knows best.....which is more often than not, not the case.

I understand and respect nature and would always try and leave nature to do what it does best but I am also one of those people who has the utmost respect for nature but also struggles with the harshness of it at the same time. I suppose it's akin to you seeing a young Thomsons Gazelle being killed day in day out and me seeing Hedgehogs or Rabbits killed on the road day in day out, it brings tears to my eyes everyday, my heart never tunes in to say "oh thats just life" or it will be food for some birds or a fox, my heart always goes out to the creature that was living and feeling. Thats probably a very impractical way to live and cope with the harshness of life but I cant turn that side of me around. But on the other hand, I would never want a Cheetah to starve, so I do accept they have to kill the young Gazelles to survive and thats why there are more Gazelles than there re Cheetah.....I suppose I would just like a rosey world.

littlewid-x-

littlewid - the difference is of course that the Cheetahs are acting naturally while Hedgehogs or Rabbits killed on the road is a good example of an unnatural event where man has interfered with nature.

We find road kills very frustrating in our country because it is virtually impossible to prevent while animals are attracted to vehicle headlights for example.

I understand your natural instinct is to feel sympathy for the animals because you are "wildaboutanimals" which I suppose is the very reason why you are involved with a forum like this in the first place.

Chris-AWD a very good point.

My particular horror is road kill especially when it is badgers and foxes, oh and hedgehogs.

Lai