Shane Ross

www.shanerossphoto.com

[shanerossphoto]

... Continued from last post. ~ Habitat: Found in savanna woodlands and grasslands (like roan), mainly in tropical and subtropical regions. ~ Food / Eating Habits: Sable, like roan, are grazers (eat grasses etc) and eat mid-length grasses, as well as some browse (leaves). Diurnal (daytime eaters). ~ Group Structure / Sexual Habits: Sable antelope form harem groups of 10-30 animals, led by a dominant male bull. Males commonly fight for dominance of their herd, clashing horns and often moving the fight to their knees. ~ Reproduction: Reach sexual maturity by 2.5 to 3 years, gestation last 9 months (long for an antelope). Lifespan to 19 years. ~ Predators: Limited to larger predators, predominantly lions, though weak/injured/young animals could fall prey to leopards, cheetah, wild dogs and spotted hyena. ~ Tracking: Their spine arches/dips slightly, much like a horse/zebra, and from observation their tracks appear to partial-register - their dipped/slightly sloped back causes their rear foot to not "direct-register" within the track left by the front foot while walking. Ungulate, two-hoofed animal, dewclaws may register in deep sand/mud. ~ IUCN Red List (Conservation) Status / Threats: Least concern, 50-60,000 individuals - though individual subspecies classifications range from critically endangered to vulnerable, and their populations seem much less stable than this number, so the blanket IUCN classification is inaccurate. Threats incl. urban development, agriculture conflict/competition for grazing land and poaching for bushmeat. ~ *My personal experiences with sable antelope: The particular subspecies in these images is H. n. niger (Matsetsi sable), one of the four subspecies, seen in Chobe NP, northern Botswana, in Feb 2016. I have also seen sable in Kasanka NP, central Zambia, and in Busanga Plains, the northern private section of Kafue NP, western Zambia, though this was the subspecies H. n. kirkii (West Zambian sable). ~ Sable may be visible on my 12-day Best of Botswana Safari. For more information visit www.raw-worldwide.com. ~ . . . . #sableantelope #antelope #africanimals #africanamazing #mammals #mammal #mammalsofinstagram #mammalia (at Chobe National Park) https://www.instagram.com/p/CBdJaxtF0md/?igshid=1hcu09sm30eus

[shanerossphoto]

Following on from yesterday's "Antelopes and the Critters that Eat Them" on roan antelope is today's feature on another spectacular species from the same subfamily, the stallion-like Sable Antelope. ~ Distribution + Phylogeny (family history): Four subspecies. The most common, the animal in these photos, is the Southern, Common, Black, Matsetsi or South Zambian sable, Hippotragus niger niger, has the darkest coat of the sables and occurs south of the Zambezi River, in northern Botswana, the Matsetsi Valley in Zimbabwe, and South Africa. Approx. 1,500 left in the wild and declining, down from 24,000 in 1994. H. n. variani, the Giant or Royal sable, is now only found in isolated parts of central Angola, and classified as critically endangered. The Zambian or West Tanzanian sable, H. n. kirkii, is the most widespread, found in West Zambia, Malawi, Congo and southwestern Tanzania. The Eastern or Shimba sable, the smallest of the four subsp., H. n. roosevelti, occurs between southeastern Kenya and northern Mozambique. *Like the roan it also belongs to the Hippotraginae horsily-built subfamily. ~ Name Meaning: The name "sable" derives from an old English word meaning "black", and has been associated with / given to both the sable antelope and the northern Asian sable, a small dark-furred carnivore in the family of "martens", similar to mongoose. Their scientific name Hippotragus (goat-like horse) niger (dark-coloured) also reflects their colour. ~ Size / Body Features / Body Colour: After roan and the eland, greater kudu and bongo, sable is one of the largest antelope (5th) in the world. Males weigh around 200-250kg, shoulder height up to 140cm, length to 255cm. Horns are ringed as in oryx/roan though form more of a backward-curling sickle shape, reaching 1.65m in males, less in females. While both males and females have horns, they are labelled "sexually dimorphic" (different body features between sexes) as males are larger and have a dark-black coat while females are a lighter rich chestnut to dark brown. White facial mask and white underbelly. Slightly dipped spine. Like roan they are especially horsey, including their erect mane/beard. ~ Continued in next post.. (at Botswana) https://www.instagram.com/p/CBb5Y6blFwN/?igshid=nl0md8h3p7th

[shanerossphoto]

“THREE HORSEMEN rode out from the edge of the forest with a restrained eagerness that not even weary weeks of searching could dull. ~ They reined in, stirrup to stirrup, and looked down into another shallow valley. Each stalk of the dry winter grass bore a fluffy seedhead of a lovely pale rose colour, and the light breeze stirred them and made them dance, so that the herd of sable antelope in the gut of the valley seemed to float belly-deep in a bank of swirling pink mist. ~ There was a single herd bull. He stood almost fourteen hands tall at the withers. His satiny back and shoulders were black as a panther’s, but his belly and the intricate designs of his face-mask were the starting iridescent white of mother-of-pearl. His great ridged horns, curved like Saladin’s scimitar, swept back to touch his croup, and his back was proudly arched as that of a blood Arabian stallion. Long ago hunted to extinction in his former southern ranges, this noblest of all the antelopes of Africa had come to symbolise for Ralph Ballantyne this wild and beautiful new land between the Limpopo and the wide green Zambezi rivers. ~ The great black bull stared arrogantly at the horsemen on the ridge above him, then snorted and tossed his warlike head. Thick dark mane flying, sharp hooves clattering over the stony ground, he led his chocolate-coloured brood cows at a gallop up and over the far ridge, leaving the watching men mute at their grandeur and beauty...”. ~ *I posted these pics on my Shane Ross Photography + RAW Worldwide Facebook page recently, including the finer details of the Sable’s physical and behavioural characteristics. The next day, just before I intended posting these photos on Insta, I picked up one of my old @thewilbursmith @thepowerofadventure novels, “The Angels Weep” - one of the best in the Ballantyne Series, a tale of tribal and early settler battles in Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe). On the very first page was this ☝️ That’s no cognitive bias, it’s too perfect. It’s just plain old irony 😅 id only read it again 6 months ago, but i don’t remember committing this powerful opening scene to memory... ~ #wilbursmith #wilbursmithauthor #sable #sableantelope #antelope (at Chobe National Park, Botswana) https://www.instagram.com/p/CBb1oFSF4Pf/?igshid=sr3qqlb15i5d

[shanerossphoto]

1,000 subscribers on YouTube! Thanks legends!!

I didn't think this is something I was ever going to achieve, or celebrate, but I've had a couple videos trend really well - and those surely helped reach the magic 1k mark.

Here's the most watched, at 530,000 views...

[shanerossphoto]

Roan antelope feature continued (3/3)... ~ My personal experiences with roan antelope across Africa: ~ This particular subspecies is H. e. cottoni, one of six subsp. I have seen roan only in a few locations in all my travels, including in Moremi GR, Botswana 🇧🇼(these photos); in Busanga Plains, the northern private section of Kafue NP in Zambia 🇿🇲 where I also saw sable in the same area; I think maybe Kasanka NP, also in Zambia; and in Namibia’s 🇳🇦 Khaudum Game Reserve, southwest of The Caprivi Strip, Bwabwata NP. ~ I have a grand total of only 36 photos of roan, most of them taken on one of my RAW Safaris last October, 2019, in Botswana. ~ It's really a rare treat when you see them! ~ For more info visit www.raw-worldwide.com . . . . . #antelope #antelopes #roan #roanantelope #roanhorse #roanokeoutside #roanmountain #minimalistphotographer #breakfreewitholympus #olympusphotography #olympusomd #getolympus #olympusau #olympusaustralia #natgeoyourshots #natgeoyourshot #wildlifephotographers #wildlifephotographs #ecologylife #wildlifeecology #nature_perfection #ecologytours #africananimal #africananimals #africanwildlife #africanwildlifephotography #africanwildlifefoundation #fgasa #wildlifefacts #wildlifemonitoring (at Kruger National Park) https://www.instagram.com/p/CAY3u3mFrcE/?igshid=1q2571yx6ke3x

[shanerossphoto]

Roan Antelope feature continued... ~ Food / Eating Habits: Roan are grazers (eat grasses etc) and eat mid-length grasses. ~ Group Structure / Sexual Habits: Roan antelope form harem groups up to ~15 animals, with a dominant male. Males commonly fight for dominance of their herd, clashing horns and often moving the fight to their knees. ~ Reproduction: Reach sexual maturity by 2.5 to 3 years, gestation last 9 months (long for an antelope). Lifespan to 18 years. ~ Predators: Limited to larger predators, predominantly lions, though weak/injured/young animals could fall prey to leopards, wild dogs and spotted hyena. ~ Tracking: Their spine arches/dips slightly, again much like a horse or zebra, and from observation their tracks appear to semi-register - their dipped/slightly sloped back causes their rear foot to not "register" within the track left by the front foot while walking - only partially. Ungulate, two-hoofed animal, dewclaws may register in deep sand/mud. ~ IUCN Red List (Conservation) Status / Threats: Least concern, 50-60,000 individuals. Threats incl. urban development, agriculture conflict/competition for grazing land and poaching for bushmeat. ~ For more info visit www.raw-worldwide.com . . . . . #antelope #antelopes #roan #roanantelope #roanhorse #roanokeoutside #roanmountain #minimalistphotographer #breakfreewitholympus #olympusphotography #olympusomd #getolympus #olympusau #olympusaustralia #natgeoyourshots #natgeoyourshot #wildlifephotographers #wildlifephotographs #ecologylife #wildlifeecology #nature_perfection #ecologytours #africananimal #africananimals #africanwildlife #africanwildlifephotography #africanwildlifefoundation #fgasa #wildlifefacts #wildlifemonitoring (at Kafue National Park) https://www.instagram.com/p/CAYoFaJlyYy/?igshid=jiohfqk1xgbv

[shanerossphoto]

Today's first official "Antelopes and the Critters that Eat Them" species feature is dedicated to the Roan Antelope - one of the stranger-looking but especially pretty members of the group. ~ Distribution + Phylogeny (family history): Found in West, Central, East and parts of southern Africa, the roan, like all antelope, belong to the Bovidae family... but from within that family, and the seven different Antelope groupings (antelopes being all bovids that aren't sheep/goats/cattle), they belong to the Hippotraginae subfamily - the "hippo" name deriving from ancient Greek "hippos" referring to their horse-like appearance - long legs, beefy body and a thick, muscular neck. ~ Name Meaning: Their scientific name, Hippotragus equinus, aka horsey-horse, reflects their size and horsiness, though personally I think the sable and oryx - also members of Hippotraginae - are even horsier. Their common name, roan, refers to the "roan" reddish-brown colour of their coats. ~ Size / Body Features: Hippotraginae captures the second-largest-in-body-size of the antelope subfamilies, only the Tragelaphinae (spiral-horned antelopes) hosting the biggest antelope of all - the eland, greater kudu and bongo. Males are largest coming in at 220-300kg (similar to sable), shoulder height up to 150cm, length to 280cm. Horns are ringed as in oryx/sable and can reach 1m in males, slightly less in females - though as both males and females have horns they are "sexually monomorphic" (similar body features). Slightly dipped spine. ~ Body Colour: Stunning black-and-white facial mask-like markings set on a roan coat, with white belly (most antelopes) and black tail. All very horsey, including their erect mane/withers. ~ Habitat: Found in woodland/grassland/savanna, mainly in tropical and subtropical grasslands, savannas, and shrublands biome, which range in tree density from forest with a grassy understorey eg. Zambezian Miombo woodlands (incl. mopane) to grasslands dotted with few trees. . . . . . #antelope #antelopes #minimalisttattoo #minimalistphotography #minimalistphoto #minimalistphotographer #minimalismart #breakfreewitholympus #olympusphotography #olympusomd #getolympus #olympusau (at Botswana) https://www.instagram.com/p/CAXQgfNlB05/?igshid=bbv2t1rnj06u

[shanerossphoto]

“Antelopes of Africa, and the Critters that Eat Them"... coming at you for the next month! ~ This theme is all about recognising the incredible diversity of antelopes found in Africa (72 of 91 species worldwide), how and why they've evolved, and what predators have evolved in unison to eat them, maintaining the wonderful Circle of Life. Of that 72 in Africa I’ve seen over 30... the Duiker subfamily most eluding never so far. ~ *Quiz: Is the species in this cover photo an antelope or not? Explain your answer. . . . . #antelope #antelopes #minimalisttattoo #minimalistphotography #minimalistphoto #minimalistphotographer #minimalismart #breakfreewitholympus #olympusphotography #olympusomd #getolympus #olympusau #olympusaustralia #natgeoyourshots #natgeoyourshot #whitephoto #whitephotography #wildlifephotographers #wildlifephotographs #naturephotograpy #natureshooters #natureseekers #naturecolors #natureloversgallery #natureinspired #nature_captures #natureheals #naturehub #nature_lovers #nature (at Tanzania) https://www.instagram.com/p/B_tCUcNl4Wc/?igshid=1ft6c6gikkoqz

[shanerossphoto]

“Antelopes of Africa, and the Critters that Eat Them"... coming at you for the next month! ~ This theme is all about recognising the incredible diversity of antelopes found in Africa (72 of 91 species worldwide), how and why they've evolved, and what predators have evolved in unison to eat them, maintaining the wonderful Circle of Life. Of that 72 in Africa I’ve seen over 30... the Duiker subfamily most eluding never so far. ~ *Quiz: Is the species in this cover photo an antelope or not? Explain your answer. . . . . #antelope #antelopes #minimalisttattoo #minimalistphotography #minimalistphoto #minimalistphotographer #minimalismart #breakfreewitholympus #olympusphotography #olympusomd #getolympus #olympusau #olympusaustralia #natgeoyourshots #natgeoyourshot #whitephoto #whitephotography #wildlifephotographers #wildlifephotographs #naturephotograpy #natureshooters #natureseekers #naturecolors #natureloversgallery #natureinspired #nature_captures #natureheals #naturehub #nature_lovers #nature (at Ruaha National Park) https://www.instagram.com/p/B_tB6EwFIkn/?igshid=1gbqpdbpkvhuf

[shanerossphoto]

“Antelopes of Africa, and the Critters that Eat Them"... coming at you for the next month! This theme is all about recognising the incredible diversity of antelopes found in Africa (72 of 91 species worldwide), how and why they've evolved, and what predators have evolved in unison to eat them, maintaining the wonderful Circle of Life. Of that 72 in Africa I’ve seen over 30... the Duiker subfamily most eluding never so far. *Quiz: Is the species in this cover photo an antelope or not? Explain your answer. . . . . #antelope #antelopes #minimalisttattoo #minimalistphotography #minimalistphoto #minimalistphotographer #minimalismart #breakfreewitholympus #olympusphotography #olympusomd #getolympus #olympusau #olympusaustralia #natgeoyourshots #natgeoyourshot #whitephoto #whitephotography #wildlifephotographers #wildlifephotographs #naturephotograpy #natureshooters #natureseekers #naturecolors #natureloversgallery #natureinspired #nature_captures #natureheals #naturehub #nature_lovers #nature (at Africa) https://www.instagram.com/p/B_tBqOjlCaO/?igshid=6t7uithoqxpl

[shanerossphoto]

In April/May 2020, our @shanerossphoto nature photography photo theme is: "Antelopes of Africa, and the Critters that Eat Them"... ~ This theme is all about recognising the incredible diversity of antelopes found in Africa (72 of 91 species worldwide), how and why they've evolved, and what predators have evolved in unison to eat them, maintaining the wonderful Circle of Life. ~ *Quiz: Do you know what species this is? Explain reason. ~ Hint - it’s possibly the best known antelope species in the world! ~ . . . . . #antelope #antelopes #minimalisttattoo #minimalistphotography #minimalistphoto #minimalistphotographer #minimalismart #breakfreewitholympus #olympusphotography #olympusomd #getolympus #olympusau #olympusaustralia #natgeoyourshots #natgeoyourshot #whitephoto #whitephotography #wildlifephotographers #wildlifephotographs #bnw_captures #bnwportrait #bnw_daily #bnwart #bnwphotographyofinstagram #bnwphotographer #bnwphotos #bnwphotooftheday #bnwphotograph #monochromephoto #bnwanimals (at South African National Parks) https://www.instagram.com/p/B_i0HnyFhv3/?igshid=1hrc1ghc5i51j

[shanerossphoto]

In April/May 2020, our @shanerossphoto nature photography photo theme is: "Antelopes of Africa, and the Critters that Eat Them"... ~ This theme is all about recognising the incredible diversity of antelopes found in Africa (72 of 91 species worldwide), how and why they've evolved, and what predators have evolved in unison to eat them, maintaining the wonderful Circle of Life. ~ *Quiz: Do you know what species this is? Explain reason. ~ Hint - it’s possibly the best known antelope species in the world! ~ . . . . . #antelope #antelopes #minimalisttattoo #minimalistphotography #minimalistphoto #minimalistphotographer #minimalismart #breakfreewitholympus #olympusphotography #olympusomd #getolympus #olympusau #olympusaustralia #natgeoyourshots #natgeoyourshot #whitephoto #whitephotography #wildlifephotographers #wildlifephotographs #bnw_captures #bnwportrait #bnw_daily #bnwart #bnwphotographyofinstagram #bnwphotographer #bnwphotos #bnwphotooftheday #bnwphotograph #monochromephoto #bnwanimals (at Kgalagadi_sightings) https://www.instagram.com/p/B_izvsIl6wc/?igshid=4nzl13th2jt5

[shanerossphoto]

In April/May 2020, our @shanerossphoto nature photography photo theme is: "Antelopes of Africa, and the Critters that Eat Them"... ~ This theme is all about recognising the incredible diversity of antelopes found in Africa (72 of 91 species worldwide), how and why they've evolved, and what predators have evolved in unison to eat them, maintaining the wonderful Circle of Life. ~ *Quiz: Do you know what species this is? Explain reason. ~ Hint - it’s possibly the best known antelope species in the world! ~ . . . . . #antelope #antelopes #minimalisttattoo #minimalistphotography #minimalistphoto #minimalistphotographer #minimalismart #breakfreewitholympus #olympusphotography #olympusomd #getolympus #olympusau #olympusaustralia #natgeoyourshots #natgeoyourshot #whitephoto #whitephotography #wildlifephotographers #wildlifephotographs #bnw_captures #bnwportrait #bnw_daily #bnwart #bnwphotographyofinstagram #bnwphotographer #bnwphotos #bnwphotooftheday #bnwphotograph #monochromephoto #bnwanimals (at Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park) https://www.instagram.com/p/B_izTxzll3l/?igshid=1ce5k4141ft5l

[shanerossphoto]

G’day friends, family, forever-supporters, ~ This is a bit of a tough one… It is with a huge amount of sadness that I announce RAW Worldwide has cancelled ALL African Safaris for the 2020 year. ~ As restrictions descend regarding international flight bans, visa refusals and increasing cases of spread worldwide, for the health and wellbeing of clients I’ve had to make the call this morning to responsibly cease operations, for now. ~ It’s been far from the year I was hoping for, but the plus side is – nature gets a wonderful rest. ~ I don’t plan on letting this break me, or the RAW brand. I’ll spend the next 12 months rebuilding, refining and improving systems so that when we relaunch, RAW is a standout expedition business on a worldwide scale. ~ For now, it is a little sad though. ~ It means no staring contests with lions 1000x braver than us sitting just metres away; no elephants peeling bark of acacia trees in camp as the remaining debris scatters like rain over our dining tent below, while the sound of their chewing shocks our eardrums like the rising crescendo from an African battle scene. ~ No driving past one-of-a-kind active volcanoes towering above us, spotting flamingos feeding across a shimmering mirage-like lake, no discovering the wonders of Eden at the base of waterfalls flowing from underground streams in a barren desert. ~ No emerald delta stretching into the horizon, or sparkling blue and tannin-stained waters merging like lovers as they snake their way amongst hundreds of kilometres of prime crocodile, hippo, waterbird and fish habitat. ~ But that’s ok, because nature deserves a rest. The leopards with their wildly-intense glares and white-tail-tips flicking above the grassy plains will stay wild, with or without humans around. Cheetahs, painted wolves, rhinos, pangolins, aardvarks, meerkats, and wildebeest will keep doing as they have always done; the stripes of the zebra, intricate patterning of the giraffe and bursts of colour of Africa’s diverse birdlife will continue to flicker across the earthy hues of the landscape with flair and vibrance. (at Cairns, Queensland, Australia) https://www.instagram.com/p/B98J0A1FD7q/?igshid=1e79rrixqzia3

[shanerossphoto]

Today is International Women's Day 2020. ~ For the past few years on IWD I've shared images of one of the most powerful symbols of woman-power in the animal kingdom - of the intensely powerful but compassionate lioness. ~ This year's IWD theme is Each for Equal. That's right fellas, equal. And it's how it should be. ~ I feel like every day we should celebrate the world of women, and not need one day to commemorate IWD when we really should be equal every single day. We're different, but we're also the same. Time to stop discriminating. I also find it ridiculous, in this age, that men still think they're dominant, that they can suppress the women around them, and worse. It's just not ok. ~ If you're a man who doesn't respect women, who emotionally or physically abuses women, or does anything else that is disrespectful, unequal or unethical - please unfollow me now. I have no time for you in my life, nor should anyone else. Snap out of it boys, because until you do - you're not a man. ~ Ladies, do your thing. Don't let men hold you back, talk you down and treat you wrong. Support each other, love the good women and the good men in your lives, and keep kicking ass. There's nobody else like you. ~ Do as the lioness does, or the lady elephant, wolf, rhino, leopard. Be strong, and lead with authority. ~ #EachforEqual #IWD2020 (at International Women's Day) https://www.instagram.com/p/B9dnNKklM9b/?igshid=dgruu2dt01hi

[shanerossphoto]

If you've seen my recent RAW Africa 2020 brochure, then you've seen this image... ~ Shot wayyyy underexposed in overcast, stormy conditions in the Serengeti last October, I've processed it only by bringing out the highlights / lights and exposure a touch - no background editing or massive manipulation here. Most was done in-camera, the key for all photography - but especially your more creative shots. Inbox me if you’d like more hints. ~ If you want opportunity to take photos like these, join me on Great Migration Safari, July-Oct this year. Dates attached in 3rd pic. ~ ISO 320 (very low for the stormy late afternoon conditions) | SS 1/640 | f/4.0 | with Olympus E-M1 MKII + 300mm f4. ~ For 2020 Tour Bookings visit www.raw-worldwide.com 🦁 for image purchase, visit www.shanerossphoto.com 🦒 (at Serengeti National Park, Tanzania) https://www.instagram.com/p/B7pj4tlFwFN/?igshid=5nqv4v0yoe09

[shanerossphoto]

With Christmas just hours away, I want to write one last post to wish you all a Merry Christmas, and Happy New Year ahead! ~ Eat alllll the amazing food, drink the drinks, enjoy the sh*t out of any time you take out! Have a blast everyone, and happy travels to anyone on the move ✈️🎄🥳🦁☺️ (at Cairns, Queensland, Australia) https://www.instagram.com/p/B6b5oZFl0bg/?igshid=1fmco19ic5plh