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Wim van den Heever's Image
Wim had been following this leopard for three days as it tried to secure a meal.
Typically an ambush hunter, he was surprised to see it hunting on the open plains. As this springbok approached, only short grass concealed the sudden attack. ‘Then to my amazement, it launched itself at the ram with incredible agility and strength,’ he recalls. With camouflage and stealth, leopards stalk close to their prey before leaping as far as six metres, aiming to deliver a swift bite to the back of the neck. A meal such as this adult springbok can sustain a leopard for up to two weeks.
Behind the lens
Wim van den Heever
South Africa
Wim’s career has taken him to some of the most remote and untouched corners of the globe, where he’s had the privilege of capturing incredible moments, species and habitats. He’s a firm believer in putting in the effort, no matter the challenges, and this mindset has been instrumental in shaping his work. Each photograph he captures is a tribute to the beauty and rawness of nature, and his aim is to inspire others to appreciate and protect it.
Image details
- Nikon D4
- 600mm f4 lens
- 1/3200 sec at f8 • ISO 1000 • Badger Door Bracket + Wimberley Gimbal head
- Etosha National Park, Namibia.
Copyright in Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition photographs remains the property of the respective photographers. You may not copy, share, reproduce or republish the photographs except as expressly permitted by copyright law. For media image usage enquiries, please contact us.
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