The Leopards of Londolozi

Fülszöveg

Cats have fascinated man for centuries. He has worshipped them, befriended them, hunted them, drawn them and written about them but, throughout the years, he has never managed to expose their essence. Of the world's big cats, the leopárd is one of the least known. A shy, nocturnal animal, its reclusive nature has thwarted the many attempts to study it in the wild. In an evocative portfolio, The Leopards of Londolozi, author/photographer Lex Hes has managed to penetrate the priváté life of the wild leopárd to reveal its habits and behaviour. The book is the culmination of 12 years of diligent observation by the author, who is based at Londolozi - an exclusive lodge situated in the game-rich bushveld of the eastern Transvaal in southern Africa. The Londolozi rangers and trackers were able to achieve their close-range study by forming an unprecedented relátionship with a group of leopards in the reserve. Showing sensitivity and restraint from the outset, they overcame the initial... Tovább

Fülszöveg

Cats have fascinated man for centuries. He has worshipped them, befriended them, hunted them, drawn them and written about them but, throughout the years, he has never managed to expose their essence. Of the world's big cats, the leopárd is one of the least known. A shy, nocturnal animal, its reclusive nature has thwarted the many attempts to study it in the wild. In an evocative portfolio, The Leopards of Londolozi, author/photographer Lex Hes has managed to penetrate the priváté life of the wild leopárd to reveal its habits and behaviour. The book is the culmination of 12 years of diligent observation by the author, who is based at Londolozi - an exclusive lodge situated in the game-rich bushveld of the eastern Transvaal in southern Africa. The Londolozi rangers and trackers were able to achieve their close-range study by forming an unprecedented relátionship with a group of leopards in the reserve. Showing sensitivity and restraint from the outset, they overcame the initial apprehension and wariness of one particular female and her cubs. Soon they were able to follow the leopárd, and eventually she became so accustomed to the vehicles that close tracking of the family group was possible. By monitoring the leopards in this way, the rangers have observed behavioural aspects not previously recorded and their success with these unpredictable, aggressive cats has aroused international interest. The text, drawn from Lex Hes's personal field observations, has sustained vitality with moments of excitement and poignancy as the constant cycle of life and death in the bush unfolds. The book deals pragmatically with the question of the survival of leopards, whose existence, like that of so many other species, is threatened by shrinking habitats. The outstanding feature of the book is, however, its visual impact. Lex Hes's empathy with his subject is almost uncanny and, in a collection of superb images, this awardwinning photographer reveals the quintessential leopárd, showing this magnificent cat to rare and dramatic effect.
Iex Hes developed an interest in photography and wildlife j during his school years in southern Africa. He learnt his craft on an old twin-lens reflex camera, using black and white film which he processed and printed. In 1976 he joined Londolozi Game Reserve, an exclusive lodge in the eastern Transvaal, as a game ranger. Apart from trips to the sub-Antarctic islands of Marion and Amsterdam with the Mammal Research Institute of the University of Pretoria, he has remained at the reserve. In addition to guiding tourists through the reserve, he operates aló mm movie camera for Londolozi Productions. He is thus ideally situated to study and photograph the wide diversity of plánt and animal life in the area. His work has been widely published, not only in southern Africa but in Europe and North America, appearing on postcards, calendars and in brochures, books and magazines. Publication credits include Geo, BBC Wildlife, National Geographic World, Minolta Mirror, and the Audubon and Sierra Club wildlife calendars. His photographs have won prizes in the annual Agfa wildlife photographic competition and have been highly commended in the annual BBC Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition. The Leopards of Londolozi is his first book. Other books from New Holland Publishers Vissza