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M A K E  T I M E  F O R  T I G E R S

Tigers are killed for their pelts, bones, and other body parts, even though selling them is illegal. Overhunting and habitat destruction have caused an alarming drop in tiger numbers. Today, tigers occupy only 7 percent of their historical range.

This Amur tiger lives at the Bronx Zoo, an ambassador for those in the wilds of Russia. He started out about the size of a house cat and could grow to 9 feet in length.

Best time to take the Bronx Zoo tigers’ pictures? First thing in the morning. There are fewer crowds, and the tigers are more active.

Conservation measures are underway to protect these big cats before their numbers and their wild lands shrink any further.

 Photo Credit: Julie Larsen Maher © WCS

Source: wcs.org

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P U M P K I N  P I C K I N’

The Bronx Zoo’s animals love Halloween because they get treats, too, as part of our animal enrichment program.

Giving animals choices that include something novel, like pumpkins, is good welfare for them. Our grizzly and brown bears get to pick their own!

Check zoo websites for special events and animal feeding times before heading to the zoo so you don’t miss photo ops like this one.

Photo credit: Julie Larsen Maher © WCS


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V O T E  F O R  O U R  M O M  A S  T H E  C R E E P I E S T

She’s the tailless whip scorpion on the Bronx Zoo’s Creepiest Crawler Poll.

“Baby” tailless whip scorpions (the little greenish guys) ride around on their mother after they hatch, but the kids have to hold on tight—those that fall off before their first molt can be eaten by mom.

I take lots of insect photos at work, and trust in the wisdom of our animal staff.

A tip: always ask an expert before getting up close!

Photo credit: Julie Larsen Maher © WCS

 

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L E A F  L O O K E R S

Leaf lookers look no further. The Wildlife Conservation Society’s zoos show off their fiery foliage during this peak week of the fall season.

Japanese macaques, or snow monkeys, are one of the most temperature-tolerant primates and like the chill that begins in autumn.

I used a shallow depth of field (a lower number on the aperture setting) when photographing this scene to keep the monkey as my focal point and the background soft, which makes it glow!

Photo credit: Julie Larsen Maher © WCS

 

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R I V E R  H O R S E

Hippopotamuses, derived from the Greek words “river horse”, are semi-aquatic herbivores that live their lives in water, except during evening feeding rituals.

Hippos line the banks of the Victoria Nile River in Uganda, above and below the water.

Keep a “camera-ready” status for hippo moments. I had both fast shutter and high ISO settings to capture the action as this female appeared from her lotus-covered lounging spot on a recent Wildlife Conservation Society photo assignment.

Illegal and unregulated hunting for hippo meat and teeth (which are a source of ivory for export) have landed one of the world’s largest land mammals on the 2008 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species with “Vulnerable” status.

Photo credit: Julie Larsen Maher © WCS

Sources: wcs.org, iucnredlist.org, lexar.com – Julie Larsen Maher

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I  B R A K E  F O R  R E D  S K Y

People often ask me, “Do you always have a camera with you?”

Yes, I do. It’s how I got this fall photo of “red sky at night,” by shooting out my car window on my way home from work.

An image of “Red sky at night, sailors delight,” was worth a tap on the brakes (while at a stop sign, of course.)

A red sky at night usually indicates high pressure and stable air coming in from the west and good weather will follow—something worth celebrating through a good picture.

Photo credit: Julie Larsen Maher 

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R U N N E R S  F O R  W A L R U S E S

More than 1,500 walrus admirers ran and walked on behalf of their flippered friends during the Wildlife Conservation Society’s Run for the Wild at the New York Aquarium last Saturday.

Ladders, sneakers, and three photographers, including me, arrived before dawn to capture every step of the event.

Walruses are an example of a species forced to cope with the impacts of a changing climate and increased industrialization of the Arctic. Proceeds from the run will help WCS save walruses and further its mission of saving wildlife and wild places around the globe.

Congratulations to the finishers, especially those that showed the most creativity for the cause.

Photo credit: Julie Larsen Maher © WCS

Source: Wildlife Conservation Society

 

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B O O !

Just south of where the Headless Horseman rides is another scary celebration, Bronx Zoo’s Boo at the Zoo.

Wear your costumes to the Creepy Hollow Hayride and the Haunting of Habitat Mansion where ghostly guides remind guests to protect wildlife from extinction.

Set your camera on a high ISO for all your spooky scenes.

Weekends through October 2012.

Photo credit: Julie Larsen Maher © WCS

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H E A D L E S S  H O R S E M A N

In Sleepy Hollow, its the time of year for football, falling leaves, and hope of sighting the country’s spookiest high school and community mascot—the Sleepy Hollow Headless Horseman.

His story goes back centuries as his career started in Washington Irving’s Legend of Sleepy Hollow. The legend continues as Horsemen legacies are made for the next generation by our high school football team – currently 4-1.

It’s homecoming next week, bring your cameras for some great sports action, and maybe you’ll get a shot of ol’ Headless hanging around the field.

Good luck, Horsemen!

Photo credit: Julie Larsen Maher

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 W E A N E R S

On a Wildlife Conservation Society photo assignment in Argentina, we walked down a sandy slope of Peninsula Valdez to see scores of weaners—month-old southern elephant seals—scattered along their sandy nursery like plump, silver pillows.

Recently weaned from their mothers’ rich milk, the weaners watched me with a lazy curiosity as I pulled out my camera. Some rolled over, which is about as far as they wanted to travel from their spot in the sunshine.

A Nikkor 80-400 mm zoom lens at a respectful distance made this shot, although it looks like I am sitting right beside it.

Photo credit: Julie Larsen Maher © WCS

 

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