My wildlife posts are usually filled with birds. Not only because our #featheredfriends are awesome, but also because they're way easier to spot (and photograph) than mammals or reptiles.
So, to change things a bit, decided to do a little round up of some of the mammals I was able to see on the wild everytime I travel. And we shall start with the biggest one!
I've never seen an african elephant, so this is the biggest earth mammal I've ever seen. And seeing them in their natural habitat is an experience you don't forget. This photo was taken during a safari in Sri Lanka, in Uda Walawe national park, and if you visit the country and like wildlife, it's something you can't miss.
There are also big mammals roaming the park... or relaxing by the waters.
These ones are a more common view, but still impressive; and I almost always seen them in groups. What's not a common view, is another creature that was cruising the park too:
A jackal! I had no idea they existed here, since when you hear about jackals you normally think in the American continent. But here he is: for what I read, it's a subspecies of the golden jackal, and he's gorgeous. I would probably mave missed him if it weren't for the guide's hawk eyes. But after being spotted, he even paused for a brief moment, before continuing into to bushes and out of our sights again.
Ok, let's change island. Off to the caribbean, to a small islet in the coast of Cuba, where I found another species I didn't knew existed: Hutias.
Yes, there's also a cool rock iguana, but this is mammal's time to shine! Hutias are these large rodents, and there's really not that many similar species, at least on this habitat.
They are probably used to tourists, since this one passed really close, without paying us any attention: just a normal day in the islet!
Back to Europe and in our Spanish neighbours, the last mammals of the post are a species most of us recognize. Yet, this was the first time I've seen such a large group.
In Doñana national park, a large group was crossing the fields in the distance; it was fun to see the organization, with big males leading the group, females and probably juveniles in the middle, and more males closing the group.
Impressive animals, and I'm fortunate to be able to see them in my own country too. Males are easy to identify, given the presence of antlers (the deer's "horns"). Curiosity: did you knew that antlers fall and regrow each year?
Hoping to add a few more mammals to my photo collection in 2024!
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