The hyena squad - Lorenz Andreas Fischer - Wildlife Photographer of the Year2009

2009: Animal Portraits - Highly Commended

Lorenz Andreas Fischer Enlarge image The hyena squad

Lorenz Andreas Fischer (Switzerland)

The hyena squad

Emerging from their den at dusk, the youngsters sniffed the air, turning their heads from side to side as they picked up Lorenz's scent. It was the 'blue hour', when the sun had dropped below the horizon, draining the sky of reds, yellows and oranges and leaving it saturated with indigo. These hyenas, in the remote Liuwa Plain National Park in western Zambia, were used to Lorenz. He'd already spent more than two weeks gaining the confidence of the clan, and by now the cubs would happily play close by. So when this curious squad of youngsters worked out who it was lying on the ground near their den, they relaxed, knowing he posed no threat.

Nikon D3 + Nikkor AF-S VR 70-200mm lens; 1/125 sec at f5.6; ISO 800; flash.

This photograph is available to buy as a print.