We rarely get to see the astounding forces of nature at play, especially the circle of life by the means of prey and predator. Nature’s food chain is a spectacular mechanism and looking through it fascinates everybody. Thanks to the invention called the camera, wildlife photographs have been able to capture and immortalize those precious moments where we can see nature on the hunt, and the vicious circle of life in the wild.
From the smallest insect to the biggest carnivorous, every animal has to work hard to gather food in the wild. Some have to become the hunter, while some end up being hunted. Nonetheless, every being of the animal kingdom lives a rather fascinating life, one day at a time. Nature has always supported the survival of the fittest, and photographs depicting the wildlife on the hunt make one contemplate the struggles and dangers of living in the wild.
Wildlife photography has emerged as one of the most loved arts for it gives glimpses into the seldom seen behavioral aspects of the animal kingdom. Through immense patience and excellent timing, wildlife photographers have brought us the most spectacular photographs of such moments portraying the wildlife on the hunt.
“Gotta take my dinner away from prying eyes!” A female leopard dragging this impala carcass effortlessly so she could feed in peace.
Image: Andrew Taylor Wildlife
Jumping in Surprise! As a crocodile leapt out of a watering hole, the deer run for their life.
Image: John Mullineux
Spotted an intruder: This young female leopard was happily feeding on its steenbok kill, when it found a hyena approaching to finish off the leftovers.
Image: Andrew Taylor Wildlife
“Gotcha!” This little frog just became dinner of a ruthless reptile.
Image: Jaime Culebras
A miraculous escape of these zebras, who were ambushed by a lion on the riverbank in Masai Mara.
Image: Shivang Mehta
Patience and stillness rewards this crane with a ray-finned fish for its meal.
Image: Sanjay Sen
A lioness snatched the meal of African wild dogs who were trying to overcome this adult impala on a watering hole.
Image: Andrew Taylor Wildlife
Hunting on micro-level: An enhanced photograph of a spider grabbing a fly in its claws.
Image: Vignesh Thangaraj
A death blow: The poor spotted dear could not get out of the death fangs of this huge serpent.
Image: Shivang Mehta
The bigger bite: A jaguar overcame this yacaré caiman – a monstrously large prey, within minutes.
Image: Chris Brunskill
An African leopard got a rabbit clutched in its jaws, with a merciless look in its eyes.
Image: Arshdeep Singh
The leopard making a run after snatching the piglet, as the warthog attempts to free its offspring in vain.
Image: Peter Lindel
Rivalry over food: While one fox holds a rat in its mouth, the other began to squabble over the rodent.
Image: Matthew Maran
After a duel, the sea lion emerges victorious over an ocean sunfish that would eventually become its meal.
Image: Ralph Pace
A chase for life: A lioness is chasing after a warthog, who is running for its survival.
Image: Federico Veronesi
A cheetah looks in a far off direction, while its prey lies dead on its feet.
Image: Peter Haygarth
“Come here, you!” As a Guanco munches down its last mouthful of grass the predator emerges out from one side to nab it in its clutches.
Image: Ingo Arndt
A gentoo penguin — the fastest underwater swimmer of all penguins — runs for its life as a leopard seal bursts out of the water.
Image: Eduardo del Alamo
Titled “The Final Leap,” this photograph is an indicator that no matter how much you run from your destiny, it always catches up with you.
Image: Wim Van Den Heever
The Atlantic puffin has got a mouthful of sand eels, and it looks like the puffin is not going to share its food.
Image: Micha Amar Nature Photography
“Let’s play catch and chase, shall we?” Two cheetahs indulge in a hunting game with this deer.
Image: Bridgena Barnard
The Death Stare: This poor wildebeest calf was born in the morning and became the supper of this lion. Oh! Mother Nature, thou art cruel!
Image: Johann Kloppers
Cleaners of Nature: The endangered Rüppell’s and white-backed vultures feasting on carrion and bone.
Image: Charlie Hamilton James
Rookie Mistake: A sub-adult tiger trying to catch the prey by its back as it makes its first independent hunting attempt.
Image: Shivang Mehta
“Darn it!” A leopard seal got into a lagoon and ambushed a young penguin as it got closer.
Image: Amos Nachoum
Group hunting: Scraps of grouper flesh fall from the jaws of two grey reef sharks as they tear the fish apart.
Image: Laurent Ballesta
First Lesson: An inexperienced tiger cub trying to hunt a spotted dear, but lucky deer was a bit big for the cub to catch alone.
Image: Shivang Mehta