Nature and wildlife are stunning; sometimes comical, sometimes dramatic, and sometimes utterly devastating. Wildlife photographers are there to capture all these moments, and Ateeb Hussain witnessed – and photographed – a moment that will make your heart skip a beat.
While visiting Maasai Mara reserve in Keya, Ateeb photographed a female jackal defending her precious pup from an eagle! He shared his splendid image with DIYP, along with some details on what happened.
Ateeb is a wildlife photographer based in Dubai, and he is especially interested in African animals. So, he often visits Africa to take photos, and he took this one on his trip to Kenya in 2021. It started when he spotted a jackal mom moving across the terrain, carrying her pup in her mouth. She seemed stressed and anxious, so Ateeb and his group decided to follow her and see what was going on. Of course, they were at a safe distance in their vehicle.
As it turned out, it was worth it. They soon witnessed a dramatic encounter that Ateeb was able to capture. He recalls that they saw a Tawny eagle swoop down, aiming to snatch a pup right from its mother’s jaws. But the mother was quick, clever, and determined to save her baby. She ducked, dodging the bird by just a little. However, the eagle didn’t give up. It landed a bit away, keeping its eyes on the prize.
The wild encounter didn’t end there. The mom kept moving, stopping occasionally to scan the surroundings. The eagle used these opportunities and tried to grab the pup a few more times! The clever jackal outsmarted it almost every time. Almost! The eagle swooped down for one last time, and managed to capture the baby jackal! But as the eagle grabbed the pup, the desperate mom leaped after it, and the pup dropped from the eagle’s talons. As Ateeb recalls, it all happened in a matter of seconds.
Before we continue, let me tell you that the baby jackal was fine, because I can almost hear your gasps right now. Ateeb says that the eagle tried to catch the pup a few more times, but it eventually gave up, and both mom and the baby returned safely to the den.
As I mentioned, the whole rescue mission jackal mom performed lasted only a few seconds. However, Ateeb’s sharp eye and quick reflexes were even faster than hers. I’m amazed that he managed to capture this exact moment, showing so much in a single photo: the eagle’s determination, the pup’s fear, and the mother’s fast desire to save her baby. Thankfully, that desire prevailed and they were both safe – and Ateeb was left with this jaw-dropping wildlife photo.
Make sure to follow Ateeb on Instagram for more wildlife photos. They’re dramatic, gorgeous, and funny – just like nature and wildlife themselves.
[via My Modern Met]
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