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2010: Behaviour: Mammals - Highly Commended

Andrew Schoeman Enlarge image Lion and his little nipper

Andrew Schoeman (South Africa)

Lion and his little nipper

'Despite years in the bush, I have not seen many male lions who were tolerant of their cubs,' says Andrew. 'This male, however, was an exception.' His pride - 20 lionesses and their cubs - had spent the day asleep under an acacia tree in the Serengeti, Tanzania. He, meanwhile, had rested a distance away. Watching the cubs wake up and start to play, he began to walk over to join them. One cub ran out to meet him but then jumped at his hindquarters and sunk its claws in. The lion allowed the cub to hang on for a good few paces - giving Andrew the expressive shot he wanted - before finally snarling and shaking it off.

Canon EOS-1D Mark III + EF 100-400mm f4.5-5.6 lens; 1/13 sec at f10 (-1/3 e/v); ISO 100; beanbag.

This photograph is available to buy as a print.

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