Showing 1 - 10 of 15
Where big beasts flourish
Life, L. Bruce Kekulé, Published on 30/04/2015
» Kaziranga, a Unesco World Heritage Site, is situated in the state of Assam in northeast India, and encompasses some 267m² of grassland, wetland and river habitat, plus a buffer zone amounting to another 248m². Over time, the Assamese have created one of the greatest protected areas in the world.
A dying breed
Life, L. Bruce Kekulé, Published on 31/07/2013
» Of all the mammals in Thailand, the wild elephant is probably the most important indicator species of a disappearing wilderness. A century ago, there were more than a 100,000 elephants found in the country when 75% of the Kingdom was still covered by forest. Just north and east of Bangkok, these huge mammals thrived in the marshlands and forests near the city.
A brush with death in the bush
Life, L. Bruce Kekulé, Published on 26/06/2013
» About two weeks ago, I hit the jackpot after 48 years in Thai forests. I was alone and it was raining in the Western Forest Complex. I had just set a camera trap at a trailhead where I previously got a big bull gaur, a bull banteng, an elephant, a black leopard, a wild dog, a tapir, a wild pig and a barking deer.
Burning bright: Nine tigers in seven days
Life, L. Bruce Kekulé, Published on 24/04/2013
» When the tiger evolved in southern China some 2 million years ago, the species radiated out, north to Siberia and west to the area around the Caspian Sea. The Himalayas prevented them from moving south into Nepal and India.
A black leopard in broad daylight
Life, L. Bruce Kekulé, Published on 29/05/2013
» It was late April among the growth of the Western Forest Complex, one of my favourite places in Thailand. The first rains had come and doused the dangerous forest fires that had spread throughout the area during the dry hot season between March and May.
Asian wildlife through the lens
Life, L. Bruce Kekulé, Published on 27/02/2013
» Thailand's wildlife and forests have evolved over millions of years into some of the most beautiful and interesting in the world. Photographing these ecosystems and rare animals such as the Siamese crocodile, tiger, leopard, gaur, banteng, wild water buffalo, elephant and tapir, plus a multitude of other mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians and insects in their natural habitats is a daunting task to say the least. A multitude of different aspects contribute to the difficult and sometimes dangerous pastime of wildlife photography.
A haven in the clouds
Life, L. Bruce Kekulé, Published on 27/03/2013
» Imagine a huge limestone karst massif with vertical cliffs towering up into the clouds and Doi Chiang Dao in the northern province of Chiang Mai comes to mind. This enormous horseshoe-shaped mountain was formed over 200 million years ago during the mid to late Permian era.
Bagging the savannah's big five
Life, L. Bruce Kekulé, Published on 30/01/2013
» As we motored back to the lodge after my last game drive in Kenya's Samburu National Reserve last month, a feeling of disappointment began to overcome me. With no leopard in the bag, I would not get the so-called "Big Five"_the most dangerous animals on the African continent made up of elephants, rhinos, buffalos, lions and leopards. Of these, it is the leopard that is the most notoriously difficult to obtain and is the secret to a successful safari.
Snakes Alive
Life, L. Bruce Kekulé, Published on 31/10/2012
» A magnificent serpent some 5m in length slides along the forest floor looking for another reptile to eat. Its movement is swift but steady. Senses are on high alert as a rat snake moves ahead. The big snake rears up and strikes, pumping venom into the smaller one. The two wrestle for a short while but soon it is all over as the "king" swallows the victim headfirst.
Web of intrigue
Life, L. Bruce Kekulé, Published on 28/11/2012
» It is said that arachnophobia, or the fear of spiders, is common among people around the world who have an inherent aversion to these creepy crawlies. Just the thought of coming into contact with one is something most of us dread.