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Okavanga β€” Dugga Boy

#buffalo #capebuffalo #southafrica #wildlifephotography #kwazulunatal #wildanimalphotography #duggaboy #rhinoridge
Published: 2018-10-07 07:08:26 +0000 UTC; Views: 600; Favourites: 56; Downloads: 4
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Description Animal PortraitsSome animal portraits from my recent visit to game reserves in KwaZulu Natal, South Africa. Note that all the animals shown are in the wild, not zoos. They are living in their natural habitat.
You do not want to mess with this fellow, an aging male Cape Buffalo (Syncerus caffer) also known as a Dugga Boy. While most Cape Buffalo hang out in herd of up to 500, the older males who are past their reproductive and physical prime tend to move out of a herd and wander in small bachelor herds of 2- 5. "Dugga" means mud, and the preferred occupation of a Dugga Boy is the wallow in mud pools. Dugga Boys are extremely dangerous animals, those in a main herd simply being dangerous. Apart from lions and humans, a Dugga Boy has no predator capable of bringing it down and even lions are very wary of attacking such a beast. Any human who unwittingly comes close is likely to be charged and gored to death.

Compared to the Dugga Boy a lion (Pant
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Comments: 32

Amira07art [2019-05-11 13:15:21 +0000 UTC]

This photo is amazing, may I use it as a reference for some realism painting practice? (Id of course credit you)

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Okavanga In reply to Amira07art [2019-05-11 14:28:58 +0000 UTC]

Thank you, Amira. By all means use it for practice. I often use the term Dugga Boy to refer to politicians who are long past it - which means all of them in the UK.

Cheers

David

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suezn [2018-11-05 08:18:31 +0000 UTC]

Outstanding photo!Β  Such different lives we all lead.Β  He looks a bit sad too.Β  Β 

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Okavanga In reply to suezn [2018-11-06 07:24:22 +0000 UTC]

Thank you very much. We are very good at ascribing human emotions to animals (anthropomorphism) often on the basis of how we interpret facial expressions. However, an aging Cape Buffalo would not experience any emotion such as sadness. Here, he is munching away at his grass and watching us, in the vehicle, to see if we might pose a threat. This is one very dangerous animal.

Cheers

David

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suezn In reply to Okavanga [2018-11-12 08:32:24 +0000 UTC]

Hi David.Β  Oh, I totally understand that this Cape Buffalo is living his life just as he should be and is dangerous.Β  And I agree, they show feelings very differently.
Have a great Monday!

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Okavanga In reply to suezn [2018-11-13 08:43:26 +0000 UTC]



David

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LindArtz [2018-10-28 23:23:32 +0000 UTC]

Impressive horns!! !!


(I wonder if he'd let me come at him with a Q-tip? ^ ^ )

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Okavanga In reply to LindArtz [2018-10-29 11:35:04 +0000 UTC]



The answer is no, Linda. Q-tips are not allowed - he doesn't like fluffy objects. In fact, he doesn't like very much at all!

David

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LindArtz In reply to Okavanga [2018-10-29 23:45:27 +0000 UTC]

!! Trust me, David!Β  I wouldn't 'try'.Β  Β The only way I'd even contemplate such an idea is if I knew he was going to get a shot in the bum to knock him out - and I mean for a good - Loooong - time.Β  Β  Β  Β  But I'll just leave it alllll that quite happily, to the veterinarians.Β  LOL !!

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Okavanga In reply to LindArtz [2018-10-30 09:16:09 +0000 UTC]

Sensible approach, Linda.

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AlicesPlace [2018-10-16 14:36:08 +0000 UTC]

Don't the ears look oddly low on these animals?
Sheep have the same trait, they stick out like FA Cup handles.

Still, I guess his mother loves him...

Nice close up shot David, bravo.

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Okavanga In reply to AlicesPlace [2018-10-17 06:53:18 +0000 UTC]

Good point about the ears, they do look in an odd position, yet that level sort of half way down from the top of the head is not unusual - look in the mirror! It is just that the horns emphasise the position of the ears.

Many Thanks, Alice.

David

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AlicesPlace In reply to Okavanga [2018-10-17 17:13:56 +0000 UTC]



Did you just call me buffalo ears ??

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Okavanga In reply to AlicesPlace [2018-10-18 07:57:10 +0000 UTC]

Aww...No! Would I say that? But, then just think about how you look to a dugga boy!

David

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AlicesPlace In reply to Okavanga [2018-10-18 08:19:42 +0000 UTC]

.....true....

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Scooby777 [2018-10-15 23:30:15 +0000 UTC]

The expression is priceless, David!

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Okavanga In reply to Scooby777 [2018-10-16 07:00:46 +0000 UTC]

Absolutely, Sheri. "Don't mess with me!"

Many Thanks

David

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Scooby777 In reply to Okavanga [2018-10-16 21:55:08 +0000 UTC]

Lol!

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AnnaZLove [2018-10-13 19:53:13 +0000 UTC]

Amazing photo!

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Okavanga In reply to AnnaZLove [2018-10-14 07:58:28 +0000 UTC]

Thank you very much, Anna.

David

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AnnaZLove In reply to Okavanga [2018-10-14 18:27:58 +0000 UTC]

You are very welcome!

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33M [2018-10-13 08:22:41 +0000 UTC]

wonderful photos in this series, you do outstanding work

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Okavanga In reply to 33M [2018-10-13 14:25:10 +0000 UTC]

Thank you very much, M.Β 

Cheers

David

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33M In reply to Okavanga [2018-10-18 13:55:50 +0000 UTC]

you are very welcome David

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vanndra [2018-10-10 01:29:04 +0000 UTC]

Great capture - they all are

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Okavanga In reply to vanndra [2018-10-10 08:31:36 +0000 UTC]

Many thanks, Ann.

David

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rdungan1918 [2018-10-09 16:49:34 +0000 UTC]

Excellent shot.

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Okavanga In reply to rdungan1918 [2018-10-10 08:31:25 +0000 UTC]

While I'm quite happy with this - tonal range, reflection and the character stare - I have to say the shot conveys little of the power and menace of these guys. In the wild you need to be a long way away in a fast vehicle to stay safe. If this fellow had taken a dislike to us he would easily turn over the Land Cruiser.

Many Thanks

David

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MYPeanutGallery [2018-10-07 16:05:27 +0000 UTC]

Always in a bad mood... I hope you had a really long lens!

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Okavanga In reply to MYPeanutGallery [2018-10-08 07:55:02 +0000 UTC]

Yes - these guys are perpetually grumpy, so stay well clear. And, yes - a long lens needed.

Many Thanks

David

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seek-and-hide [2018-10-07 08:34:30 +0000 UTC]

He seems a bit suspicious of you ...Β ... great shot.Β 

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Okavanga In reply to seek-and-hide [2018-10-08 07:07:23 +0000 UTC]

Yes, Dugga Boys are suspicious of anything that moves, Mayumi. These guys are very dangerous.

David

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