uk666 5,298 Report post Posted October 19, 2019 Battle Between Fox And Rodent Fox battles rodent in 'perfect' wildlife photo, clinching top award “Photographically, it is quite simply the perfect moment. The expressive intensity of the postures holds you transfixed, and the thread of energy between the raised paws seems to hold the protagonists in perfect balance,” said Roz Kidman Cox, chair of the judging panel, in a statement. “Images from the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau are rare enough, but to have captured such a powerful interaction between a Tibetan fox and a marmot -- two species key to the ecology of this high-grassland region -- is extraordinary.” It looks like it ought to be the subject of a funny caption competition but this picture taken in China's Qilian Mountains is deadly serious. The fox has surprised the marmot and a fight is about to begin that will result in the rodent being killed. Not even the intervention of the marmot's mother can change the outcome. "That's nature," says Yongqing Bao, whose striking image has earned him the top prize in the 2019 Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition. The shot also meant Yongqing got to share the award for the best picture in the mammal behaviour category. Persistence pays when you are a wildlife photographer, and Yongqing had to stake out an alpine meadow on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau for several hours to be in position to catch the action. 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites