A wildlife photographer captures an unusual view of the South African savannah when his video camera is picked up and carried off by an inquisitive lioness.
Photographer Roger de la Harpe was in South Africa's Tswalu Kalahari Game Reserve taking pictures for a book about the endangered African lion, when he spotted three lionesses on the path ahead.
Placing a small digital video camera on the ground, he retreated to a safe distance.
As planned, the lions approached the camera. However, instead of walking by, an inquisitive lioness gave the device a thorough examination, sniffing and licking the casing before picking it up her mouth and padding off with her trophy.
After 30 years working in South Africa's national parks, the 57-year-old, was stunned by the behaviour.
It was the last thing I expected her to do, he said.
Incredibly, the camera lens remains unobstructed recording a prey's view of the grasslands from the lioness's mouth.
After five minutes though, bored with her inedible find, she drops it into the long grass by the side of the track.
As the lions moved away, the photographer's wife and niece stood watch from the landrover roof while Mr de la Harpe crept back to retrieve the camera.
It was quite nerve-wracking looking for it, he said. The lions were only 75 meters away and the grass was pretty thick so it took quite a bit of searching before I spotted it.
The gadget, which cost around ã300, was left covered in lion saliva but undamaged by the ordeal.
Upon playing back the video, Mr de la Harpe was surprised to see the lion had achieved some well-framed shots of the savannah.
We were most surprised to see the footage, he said. It kept on filming all the time it was in the lion's mouth.
Africa's lions are endangered with as few as 19'000 left living within protected areas.
Watch Video: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/wildlife/8535055/Lion-steals-photographers-camera.html
Photographer Roger de la Harpe was in South Africa's Tswalu Kalahari Game Reserve taking pictures for a book about the endangered African lion, when he spotted three lionesses on the path ahead.
Placing a small digital video camera on the ground, he retreated to a safe distance.
As planned, the lions approached the camera. However, instead of walking by, an inquisitive lioness gave the device a thorough examination, sniffing and licking the casing before picking it up her mouth and padding off with her trophy.
After 30 years working in South Africa's national parks, the 57-year-old, was stunned by the behaviour.
It was the last thing I expected her to do, he said.
Incredibly, the camera lens remains unobstructed recording a prey's view of the grasslands from the lioness's mouth.
After five minutes though, bored with her inedible find, she drops it into the long grass by the side of the track.
As the lions moved away, the photographer's wife and niece stood watch from the landrover roof while Mr de la Harpe crept back to retrieve the camera.
It was quite nerve-wracking looking for it, he said. The lions were only 75 meters away and the grass was pretty thick so it took quite a bit of searching before I spotted it.
The gadget, which cost around ã300, was left covered in lion saliva but undamaged by the ordeal.
Upon playing back the video, Mr de la Harpe was surprised to see the lion had achieved some well-framed shots of the savannah.
We were most surprised to see the footage, he said. It kept on filming all the time it was in the lion's mouth.
Africa's lions are endangered with as few as 19'000 left living within protected areas.
Watch Video: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/wildlife/8535055/Lion-steals-photographers-camera.html
