Epic Observation Fail

I have recently joined the forums of iNat and taken up a few discussions. One topic was an observation that you were witnessing, yet failed to document. Some very interesting responses were put up and most were failed due to not having a camera. My "fail" as it were, was not because I lacked my camera, but because others scared off the observation subjects.

I was in Thailand. I was halfway through a six week Asian Adventure. On this day I was in Khao Yai National Park. My guide was driving to an area knowing the goal was wildlife photography. We stopped at a pullout and got out. In the field was a male muntjac and a large monitor. We sat quietly as we watched the large lizard stalk the little deer. The muntjac would look up and around and go back to grazing, then look up again. The monitor was walking slowly and stopping when the muntjac raised his head. I watched as they got closer and closer to one another. Was I about to get photos of a dinner battle? Would the monitor succeed in capturing a meal? Would the muntjac get away? I snapped photo after photo and watched eagerly. I was torn, I wanted to see the monitor succeed in getting dinner, but I wanted the muntjac to escape. Whatever would happen, would happen.

A van full of tourists pulled up. Everyone got out of the van loudly and rushing out into the grass. The muntjac took off running. The monitor looked towards the people and sulked off in the other direction. I missed the dinner battle and was a bit annoyed by the interruption. I'm guessing my facial expression matched the monitors, if it were able to make facial expressions.

I still wonder who would have won. But, I have the photo with them together, even if the battle never happened.

Same photo, different specie observation:

https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/109619924 (muntjac)
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/109619922 (monitor)

-Nature Girl

Posted on 27 March, 2022 05:53 by