Jackal catch - Johan J Botha - Wildlife Photographer of the Year2007

2007 Animal Behaviour: Mammals - Winner

Johan J Botha Click to enlarge Jackal catch

Johan J Botha (South Africa)

Jackal catch

'Every morning, thousands of Cape turtle doves came to drink at the waterhole in Namibia's Etosha National Park. And every morning, this black-backed jackal joined them - looking for breakfast. It would trot slowly past pretending to ignore the birds, and then suddenly jump. This clever routine earned it two or three birds every morning.' There are three species of jackal across Africa, the Middle East, southeast Europe and in south Asia. Groups fighting over carrion are common sights in most of Africa's parks, but scavenging only makes up about 10 per cent of their diet. They are agile hunters, able to catch small birds and mammals such as newborn antelope.

Canon EOS D1 Mark II + Canon 600mm f4 USM lens and 2x converter; 1/1000 sec at f8; own-design car-support lens bracket with Wimberley head.