Hunting with the cheetahs

• Prize
• Photographer
  Jose Fragozo, South Africa

Wild animals are born into a dangerous world and thus surviving is
part of a complex competition. I could witness that in the unending
plains of the Karoo, in South Africa, in a wildlife reserve called Tiger
Canyons, where a cheetah mother lead her 5 sub-adult cubs on a
warthog hunt.
Cheetahs have a reputation for being docile in comparison with other
big cats. For years I have photographed cheetahs and in some
reserves in Southern Africa they let you approach them or they
approach you: sometimes they jump into your car or use the bonnet as
a hunting platform. This sequence was taken at a close distance
without the use of remote controlled devices. To do this, you need to
observe the cheetahs for quite some time to find out whether they will
let you approach them and be guided by an experienced ranger who
knows the animals’ habits.

Wildlife photographer and photographic safari guide.