Puku (antelope) escapes from Wild Dog into the jaws of a Croc........pulling off a double escape!

[marc]

Just back from South Luangwa's NP in Zambia and had some incredible sightings of which the story below was a highlight.
Getting another dose of malaria fortunately came @ the end of my trip. Thankfully these days it's a simple 1 tablet a day for 3 days treatment and a rest in JoBerg saw me right.

A Puku escapes death from the Milyoti Wild Dog pack by jumping into Kawere Lagoon, only to be met by an ambitious Croc that eventually bit off more than it could chew, and although this young male lost half it's ear, this was a small price to pay for a miraculous double escape!

South Luangwa Nat Park- Zambia

Nikon Z9
Nikkor Z400TC f/2.8
f/4
1/1600s
-0.33EV
ISO3200

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Nikon Z9
Nikkor Z400TC f/2.8
f/4
1/1600s
ISO4500

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I made it out!

Nikon Z9
Nikkor Z400TC f/2.8
f/2.8
1/1250s
ISO7200

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Cheers
Marc

 

[BertieB]

Marc, what a lovely sequence of a very special sighting. South Luangwa is one of my favourite NP, but unfortunately have not been for a while now.

 

[VTRich]

Amazing Series

 

[Maurie_S]

Great Photo's. Incredible series, amazing that you were there to see it.

One wonders if it was a set up. !!! ??

 

[Patrick M]

Wow! Great shots there! Wonderful timing

 

[ButlerKid]

Incredible sighting! Impressive images, Marc! That first image is powerful! As are the rest of the images....

 

[marc]

Great Photo's. Incredible series, amazing that you were there to see it.

One wonders if it was a set up. !!! ??

Thanks Maurie.

Are you referring to the Wild Dog pack setting this scenario or myself?

Not sure how one could orchestrate such a setup by either WD or myself?..........let's see.

1. Get the Wild Dogs into chasing one particular Puku and stop it from chasing others.....nah!
2. Ensure that the Puku was going to jump into this particular lagoon, and no other......nah!
3. Ensure you had a Crocodile that was big enough to cause some damage, and yet small enough to guarantee the Puku it's escape......nah!
4. Time all these to occur at just the right time for me to see this.......nah!

All jokes aside..........This is nature at it's most purist.

 

[marc]

Marc, what a lovely sequence of a very special sighting. South Luangwa is one of my favourite NP, but unfortunately have not been for a while now.

Thanks @BertieB ,
you need to get back here soon, the place has been really firing for Wild Dogs (even more than the usual) in the last few seasons.

 

[Marcelo_R]

Amazing shots and timing Marc, congrats!!! The last pic showing the wounded Puku wraps it all up! I guess you didn't have the chance to get the WD pack having a go at the Puku?

Krgds, Marcelo

 

[BrianBirch]

What an incredible series!

 

[gdecamp]

Superb set Marc and what a lucky Puku!

 

[Rookie Roy]

Amazing series Marc! At first I didn’t read your caption and found myself rushing to the last photo to see if the Puku escaped!

 

[kkr_images]

Wow. Incredible sequencec. KKR

 

[Hooligans Imagery]

wow great captures

 

[marc]

Amazing shots and timing Marc, congrats!!! The last pic showing the wounded Puku wraps it all up! I guess you didn't have the chance to get the WD pack having a go at the Puku?

Krgds, Marcelo

Mant thanks @Marcelo_R

Capturing that moment is extremely difficult, particularly with Wild Dog which run at full pace and will often split up to increase their chances of success
which runs @ an 80% hit rate.
I have smashed up my prime lens & body on two separate occasions in the past just trying to keep pace with these wonderful predators!

 

[Winston Churchill (Sir)]

Exceptionally well captured, and great story with it.
Wild dog are particularly special - just to watch their pack dynamics is fascinating.

 

[Marcelo_R]

Mant thanks @Marcelo_R

Capturing that moment is extremely difficult, particularly with Wild Dog which run at full pace and will often split up to increase their chances of success
which runs @ an 80% hit rate.
I have smashed up my prime lens & body on two separate occasions just trying to keep pace with these wonderful predators!

Wow Marc... that's too bad (abt the lens & body), yet, I guess the "no pain, no gain" applies here...and what a gain ! Once again, congratulations and thanks for sharing it with us!

 

[marc]

Many thanks for the positive comments everyone, greatly appreciated.