Freeze frame: The rodents are snapped mid-battlePosted on 12/10/2008 10:08:43 AM PST by BGHater
These incredible pictures of squirrels locked in battle on an African campsite reveal fur as well as punches flying.
This furious pair of Cape Ground Squirrels were snapped taking part in a ferocious squabble in Etosha, Namibia.
The images are so vivid that they almost appear to be staged.
But they were taken on December 5 this year by award-winning British photographer David J. Slater.
In scenes reminiscent of the freeze-frame Kung Fu moves performed by Keanu Reeves and Laurence Fishburne in The Matrix, Slater captured the rodents in a series of battle poses.
The squirrels seem almost elegant as they whirl around in the dust, seemingly unaware of their audience.
The Cape Ground Squirrel is found in the drier parts of Africa and lives in colonies of up to 30.
They are poor climbers so tend to live in interconnecting burrows, which they sometimes share with mongooses.
The rodent uses its bushy tail to shield it from the sun and pumps it up and down as an alarm signal to other members of the pack.
Slater, who was born in Blackburn, won the International Wildbird Photographer of the Year award in 2004.
His work has appeared in various newspapers and wildlife and conservation magazines as well as on the BBC. Freeze frame: The rodents are snapped mid-battle
Ka-pow: The fighters hit the ground
Flee: One takes off but the other is in hot pursuit
Fight club: A group of Cape Ground Squirrels watch the fracas
(Excerpt) Read more at dailymail.co.uk ...
It is a fight between a male and female. Funny that...
I take it that those ground squirrels have no reason to collect nuts...
Speaking of nuts, the one in that last picture has a well developed pair.
That’s to what I was alluding. ;)
just ‘cause
All male squirrels have a set like that.
Although if they get in a fight and lose sometimes the victor takes them to make sure there is less breeding competition
Maybe. Dominant male squirrels intentionally castrate lesser males though
AFAIK, the squirrel castration thing is a myth.
Aw nuts!
>The images are so vivid that they almost appear to be staged.<
That photo of the 4 onlookers is flat-out astounding. That one critter with its paw on its companion makes the shot.
Totally, I was thinking the same thing. Hand on the shoulder. Pretty cool.
Well, I’m not surprised since Chinese Kung Fu is based animal movements during fights, e.g. Tiger, Crane, Snake, Praying Mantis, and Monkey, among many others.
Or maybe they're mooslim Cape Ground squirrels.............
Beautiful. Thanks a lot.
That explains the Senate Republicans but I always thought the Senate was a bit squirrelly.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.
