NEW TOTALS ARE AT 325,  not 315!  This time last week it was 294. 
No words needed... :-(

For #ThreatenedThursday  curated by +Sumit Sen +Anette Mossbacher +Diego Cattaneo and me. 

WTF happened to G+?! Just when I was used to the old format, they throw another new one at us?! Good grief!! 

RHINO HORN IS NOT MEDICINE
Just came home to heartbreaking news. 294 rhinos killed so far this year...in only 130 days. More devastating news...even though they were dehorned, two pregnant white rhino cows were poached in the Gravelotte area of South Africa. The poachers are stopping at nothing to kill these gentle giants.  Proof again that dehorning and legalizing the sale of rhino horn is not the answer!

For #ThreatenedThursday  curated by +Sumit Sen +Anette Mossbacher +Diego Cattaneo and myself. 

Gosh, sis, I hope I have tusks just like yours when I'm your age.

Did you know?...  The tusks present at birth are only milk teeth which fall out after around one year of age (approximately 5 cm long). The permanent tusks begin to protrude beyond the lips of an elephant at around 2-3 years of age, and will continue to grow  throughout its life. The growth rate of tusks is at approximately 15-18 centimeters (6-7 inches) per year.
About one quarter of the tusk is hidden within the socket. Thus, the typical question of why people can not just cut off the elephant's tusks to ward off poachers is answered. There is still a large amount of ivory that is attached inside the head and attached to the skull.

For #ElephantWednesday  curated by +Matthias Haeussler  +Diego Cattaneo and +Louisa Catharine Forsyth 
#WildlifeWednesday  by +Mike Spinak and +Morkel Erasmus 
#WholeWildlifeWeek by +Anette Mossbacher +Diego Cattaneo +Dick Whitlock and me.
#AfricanTuesday  

Honored to have my ele photo make it into +Jarek Klimek's 7 TOP Google+ Photographs for May 1st. Always an unexpected and pleasant surprise! Congrats to the other photogs and their excellent work.  
http://www.photoextract.com/plus-extract/2013/5/1

Elephants are living treasures. Nature's gardeners. Nature's great teachers. Tragically some people don't give a damn. They prefer the dead treasure to the living one. The ivory. We must challenge this so-called 'trade' with all our might and shame on those who would condone it. ~ Virginia McKenna OBE Founder & Trustee: Born Free Foundation

"Post mud bath stroll"

For #ThreatenedThursday  curated by +Sumit Sen +Anette Mossbacher +Diego Cattaneo and myself
#ElephantWednesday  by +Diego Cattaneo +Matthias Haeussler and +Louisa Catharine Forsyth 
#WildlifeWednesday
#AfricanTuesday
#WholeWildlifeWeek +Whole Wildlife Week 
#Elephantidae  

"Heading for Cover"
Masai Mara, Kenya

Did you know?... When a leopard stalks prey, it keeps a low profile and slinks through the grass or bush until it is close enough to launch an attack. When not hunting, it can move through herds of antelopes without unduly disturbing them by flipping its tail over its back to reveal the white underside, a sign that it is not seeking prey.
As a mother leopard leads her cubs through thick undergrowth, she holds her tail upright, high in the air. The leopard cubs can keep track of their mother by watching the white tip of her tail, even in tall grassland during the night time.

For #WildlifeWednesday  curated by +Mike Spinak and +Morkel Erasmus 
##WholeWildlifeWeek by +Anette Mossbacher +Dick Whitlock +Diego Cattaneo and myself
#AfricanTuesday  
#WildKenya  by +Guy Dekelver 
#Catsallovertheworld by +Robert SKREINER 

Wilderness gave us knowledge. Wilderness made us human. We came from here. Perhaps that is why so many of us feel a strong bond to this land called Serengeti; it is the land of our youth. ~ +Boyd Norton  Serengeti: The Eternal Beginning

For #AfricanTuesday, Open theme curated by +Morkel Erasmus, +Dick Whitlock and +Grobler du Preez 
#WholeWildlifeWeek +Whole Wildlife Week  by +Anette Mossbacher +Dick Whitlock +Diego Cattaneo and myself
#WildlifeWednesday  
#ThreatenedThursday
#WildKenya  by +Guy Dekelver 
#Catsallovertheworld by +Robert SKREINER 
#Simba

Hey Gang...
Because of the popularity of the G+ daily theme Whole Wildlife Week  we have started a new page dedicated to the same! Be sure to add us to your circles! So now when you post your photos and hashtag them with #WholeWildlifeWeek we'd like you to also add them to +Whole Wildlife Week as well. 
Many of you know already know who the curators are: +Sandy Schepis +Dick Whitlock +Anette Mossbacher and +Diego Cattaneo!  
Looking forward to seeing all your great wildlife pics on G+ and on our page. Cheers! 

"Little bitty pretty one"
Virungas National Park, Rwanda

As a female mountain gorilla was gently caressing her young infant, I caught the precious little one peeking out curiously at our group of "humans".

For #MonkeyMonday  curated by +Alex Lapidus and myself.
#WholeWildlifeWeek
#AfricanTuesday  
#WildlifeWednesday  
#ThreatenedThursday
 

My heart breaks a little more every time I see these numbers increase. Day 115 of this year and we've already lost 250 rhinos... in South Africa alone. That's 2.17 rhinos killed each day. We are losing this war. :-( :-(

For #ThreatenedThursday curated by +Anette Mossbacher +Sumit Sen +Diego Cattaneo and me. 

"Walking a Thin Line"

At the CITES conference last month, eight principal nations were identified as complicit in the ivory trade: Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Vietnam, Malaysia, Philippines, Thailand, and China. Tanzania, Kenya, and Uganda today account for nearly 70 percent of the illegal ivory flowing out of Africa.

Poaching and ivory trafficking have skyrocketed in the post-China ivory sale years. The Chinese government recently built the world’s largest ivory carving factory and is funding the training of a new generation of ivory carvers.

A survey of several hundred middle class people in nine cities in China revealed that 80 percent of respondents own ivory (averaging 2.7 pieces), and 84 percent intend to acquire more.

The ivory crisis is unparalleled. We have fewer elephants than ever before and continue to lose them at an alarming rate.  There is unprecedented and rapidly escalating international demand for ivory, and highly sophisticated criminal networks are feeding that appetite. With a gestation period of close to 2 years, if the poaching is not stopped, elephants may become extinct by the year 2020. Is it too late to save these gentle giants? 

For #ThreatenedThursday curated by +Sumit Sen  +Diego Cattaneo  +Anette Mossbacher and myself
#ElephantWednesday curated by +Diego Cattaneo  +Matthias Steiger and +Louisa Catharine Forsyth 
#WildlifeWednesday  
#WholeWildlifeWeek  
#AfricanTuesday  
#Elephantidae  

RESHARE:
Sharing this wonderful ele photo by my friend, +Billy Dodson. If you haven't circled him yet, you're missing some great wildlife photography. 

Comments and +1's to Billy, please!

For #ElephantWednesday  curated by +Diego Cattaneo +Matthias Haeussler and +Louisa Catharine Forsyth 
#WildlifeWednesday +Morkel Erasmus and +Mike Spinak 

Reshared text:
Mother and goober at Amboseli

"Moving Day"
Masai Mara, Kenya
The adults of this hyena clan were "trying" to move their cubs to a different den. Every time they'd move one cub and go back for another, the cub in the new den would run back "home" and they'd have to start all over. 

For #WildlifeWednesday  curated by +Morkel Erasmus and +Mike Spinak 
#WholeWildlifeWeek  
#AfricanTuesday  
#WildKenya by +Guy Dekelver 
#MasaiMara  
#Africa

I believe in God, only I spell it Nature.
~ Frank Lloyd Wright

Not the best shot but an itty-bitty Malachite Kingfisher
Kwando Lagoon, Botswana

Another one for #AfricanTuesday , Tiny Africa curated by +Dick Whitlock +Morkel Erasmus and +Grobler du Preez 
#WholeWildlifeWeek  
#WildlifeWednesday  
#Birds4all  
#Birdloversworldwide  

Like delicate lace,
So the threads intertwine,
Oh, gossamer web
Of wond'rous design!
Such beauty and grace
Wild nature produces...
Ughh, look at the spider
Suck out that bug's juices!” 
~ Bill Watterson, Calvin and Hobbes: Homicidal Psycho Jungle Cat

Ugh is right! Took this in Botswana a few years ago. Quickly snapped off a couple of pics and didn't care if they were in focus or not. Thought this thing was going to come after us. My guides were cracking up at my reaction. Spiders are NOT high on my list of favorites. Yucky, phooey, ewwwwy! ;-) 

Here ya go, +Morkel Erasmus, +Grobler du Preez and +Dick Whitlock. My contribution to #AfricanTuesday Tiny Africa.
#SpiderSunday  
#macro4all  
#WholeWildlifeWeek (if spiders count) 

Our task must be to free ourselves... by widening our circle of compassion to embrace all living creatures and the whole of nature and its beauty. ~  Albert Einstein

"Buffalo soldier"
Masai Mara Kenya

For  #MonochromeMonday (+Monochrome Monday) Curated by +Hans Berendsen , +Jerry Johnson , +Steve Barge, +Dominique Hilbert , +David Orr and +Martin Heller 
#WholeWildlifeWeek  
#AfricanTuesday  
#WildlifeWednesday  
#WildKenya by +Guy Dekelver

"The King of Camouflage"
Savute, Botswana

The lion population of Africa has plummeted by more than 90%. Only 15,000 to 20,000 remain in the wild with current numbers on the decrease due to hunting, poaching, loss of habitat and human-wildlife conflict. 

Attached is a link to a recent article where lions are now being bred in South Africa only to be sold for body parts similar to the fate of tigers. It is a lucrative "business" for those involved. Why are countries across the world destroying this magnificent species? When will this end? 
http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2013/apr/16/south-africa-lion-bones-trade

For #ThreatenedThursday  curated by +Sumit Sen +Anette Mossbacher  +Diego Cattaneo and myself.
#WholeWildlifeWeek  
#catsallovertheworld  by +Robert SKREINER 
#AfricanTuesday  
#WildlifeWednesday  
#NikonShooters  
#Simba 

You know, sometimes the world seems like a pretty mean place. 
That's why animals are so soft and huggy.  ~ Bill Watterson

Dwarf Mongoose
Botswana

The Dwarf Mongoose is the smallest African mongoose. They have a body length between 18 and 28 cms (7 - 11 inches) and a tail length between 14 and 19 cms (5.5 - 7.5 inches) and they weigh between 200 and 350 g (7 - 13 oz). They feed upon insects, snakes, lizards, birds, rodents fruit and eggs.

They are found in the grasslands, woodlands, brush lands and scrub of east and southern Africa and are common in areas that have many termite mounds.

They have a small home range that they mark with secretions from their anal and cheek glands. Within this range they will have many dens that they can run to for safety. (See hole in log.)

They live in groups of 2 - 20 individuals and they consist of a dominant pair, their offspring and several sub-ordinate males and females. The dominant female is the leader of the group while the male often observes their surroundings for signs of a threat. 

Dwarf Mongoose may breed 2 - 3 times per year, usually during the rainy season between October and May. Only the dominant female breeds and after a gestation period of 49 - 56 days up to 6 young are born in a den. 

All members of the pack care for the young and they are weaned when they are around 45 days old. They are able to go out with the group by the time they reach 6 months old and they reach sexual maturity at 3 years old.

For #WildlifeWednesday  curated by +Mike Spinak and +Morkel Erasmus 
#WholeWildlifeWeek  
#AfricanTuesday  

All I know is that every time I go to Africa, I am shaken to my core. ~  Stephen Lewis 
 
A young woman from the Hamer tribe.
Omo River Valley, Ethiopia

The Hamer are a semi-nomadic, pastoral people, numbering about 42,000. They inhabit the territory east of the Omo River and have villages in Turmi and Dimeka. Honey collection is their major activity and their cattle is the meaning of their life. They will stay for a few months wherever there is enough grass for grazing, putting up their round huts. When the grass is finished, they will move on to new pasture grounds. This is the way they have been living for generations.

For #AfricanTuesday curated by +Morkel Erasmus +Dick Whitlock and +Grobler du Preez 
#PortraitTuesday  
#Ethiopia  
#NikonShooters  

That "Geico gecko" ain't got nuthin' on me! 
Agama lizard
Chyulu Hills, Kenya

Agama lizards are sometimes called "rainbow" lizards because of the colorful displays put on by the dominant males. While most agamas are green and brown, dominant males show off by rapidly turning their bodies blue and their heads bright red or yellow. Most agamas live in small groups with the dominant male ruling over several females and sub-males. While sunning themselves each morning, the dominant male will claim the most elevated spot, with subordinates in lower areas. Agamas hunt by vision and prefer to wait for an insect to come by. Their sticky tongues help them hold onto prey.

For #ReptileMonday  curated by +Will Pirnasch 
#NatureMonday  by +Rolf Hicker and +Jen Baptist
#WholeWildlifeWeek  
#AfricanTuesday  
#WildlifeWednesday  
#WildKenya 

There is nothing in which the birds differ more from man than the way in which they can build and yet leave a landscape as it was before. ~Robert Lynd

Lilac-breasted Roller
Botswana

#BirdsforAll by +Ricky L Jones and +Walter Soestbergen 
#Birdloversworldwide by +Robert SKREINER 
#WholeWildlifeWeek  
#nikonshooters  

Horrible, horrible news, on the rhino front!  Updated totals of 227 for South Africa for the year. 163 of them killed in Kruger Park alone. At a loss for words. :-(

For #ThreatenedThursday curated by +Anette Mossbacher +Sumit Sen +Diego Cattaneo and myself. 

I feel like I'm nothing without wildlife. They are the stars. I feel awkward without them. ~ Bindi Irwin 

Cheetah atop a termite mound looking for food.
Masai Mara, Kenya
Cheetahs, the fastest land animal alive, are known for sprinting 0-65 mph in less than 4 seconds to chase down its prey. If unsuccessful, it can take a cheetah up to 30 minutes to regain its strength to try again. 

For #ThreatenedThursday curated by +Sumit Sen +Anette Mossbacher +Diego Cattaneo and myself
#WholeWildlifeWeek  
#AfricanTuesday  
#WildlifeWednesday  
#Bigcatsallovertheworld  by +Robert SKREINER 
#Caturday  
#Wildkenya  by +Guy Dekelver 

How beautifully everything is arranged by Nature; as soon as a child enters the world, it finds a mother ready to take care of it.  ~Jules Michelet

As I've previously mentioned, due to the surge in poaching of these gentle giants, I will no longer disclose where my ele photos were taken. Suffice it to say it was somewhere in the wilds of Africa, where I hope they are still safe. 

For #ElephantWednesday  curated by +Matthias Haeussler , +Diego Cattaneo and +Louisa Catharine Forsyth 
#WholeWildlifeWeek  
#WildlifeWednesday  by +Mike Spinak and +Morkel Erasmus 
#nikonshooters  

In every walk with nature one receives far more than he seeks. ~John Muir

A herd of orxyes walking single-file across the vast plains of the Kalahari, Botswana

For #WildlifeWednesday  curated by +Mike Spinak and +Morkel Erasmus
#WholeWildlifeWeek  
#AfricanTuesday  


Beauty in motion. The elegance of the impala in flight.  
Kwara concession, Botswana
(Playing around learning Silver Efex in Nik software I came up with this. Thoughts?) 

For #AfricanTuesday   Monochrome Africa  curated by +Morkel Erasmus, +Dick Whitlock and +Grobler du Preez 
#WholeWildlifeWeek
#WildlifeWednesday  

Family is one of nature's masterpieces, no matter the species.

Taken a few years ago in the Virungas National Park, Rwanda, this is one of the most tender and loving moments I've witnessed in the animal kingdom.

For #MonkeyMonday  curated by +Alex Lapidus and myself.
#NatureMonday  +Rolf Hicker 
#WholeWildlifeWeek  
#AfricanTuesday  
#WildlifeWednesday  
 
 
 

Where Mom goes, they will follow. Well... most of the time!
Ndutu, Serengeti, Tanzania

For #FurryFriday  curated by +Ross Campbell 
#Catsallovertheworld  by +Robert SKREINER 
#WholeWildlifeWeek  
#AfricanTuesday  
#WildlifeWednesday  
#NikonShooters  
#Simba  

African Wild Dog (Lycaon pictus)
Kwara concession, Botswana

The African wild dog, also called the hunting dog, is a vanishing species in Africa. The wild dog is a highly intelligent and social animal and they live in packs of six to 20. If the pack numbers fall below six, hunting efficiency is eroded. When prey is targeted, some of the dogs run close to the animal, while others follow behind, taking over when the leader tired. They can run long distances, at speeds up to about 35 miles per hour.

Throughout Africa wild dogs have been shot and poisoned by farmers, hunters and, at one time, by rangers who considered them as bloodthirsty raiders of livestocks and dispersers of wild herds. As the numbers of these wild dogs dwindle, they become more mysterious, elusive and enigmatic, reappearing suddenly in places they have not inhabited for months and then vanishing again a few days later. Even though protected in parks and reserves, wild dog populations have declined to the point that packs may no longer be viable. In some areas they are close to extinction.

No two wild dogs are marked exactly the same, making it easy to identify different individuals. Wild dogs are usually on the move over a very large range, covering for example, some 900 square miles in the Serengeti.

For #ThreatenedThursday  curated by +Sumit Sen +Diego Cattaneo +Anette Mossbacher and myself
#WholeWildlifeWeek  
#AfricanTuesday  
#WildlifeWednesday  
#FidoFriday

RESHARE:
Starting off our #ThreatenedThursday  with a great idea by a friend of +Chris Miller's. This video is hilarious but we all know the rhino is facing imminent extinction due to the staggering rate of the poaching.
If any of you guys are up to the task of sponsoring a "human" rhino, this is a great cause. Let's wish Sam well in his endeavor! :-)

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It seems the news for rhinos just keeps getting worse as they are targeted by poachers in ever increasing numbers. A good friend of mine Sam is trying hard to do something about this however. He is raising money for Save The Rhinos by running the London marathon. The catch? He'll be wearing a full-body rhino suit for the entire race! Madness I say...

If you want to see what the suit is like, Sam made this little promotional video which I think is absolutely brilliant. Please do check it out, I think you'll enjoy it too: Run Rhino Run

Of course if you do feel willing to sponsor Sam he would very much appreciate anything you can give, however small. You can do so here: http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/SamuelBond

If you aren't able to sponsor then sharing this post or the video would help too (yes, Facebook or Twitter also count! On Twitter he's @MagpieTravels). So far he is still quite a long way short of his target with just over two weeks to go which I think is a shame given the cause and how much effort he is putting in. Thank you!

A male Jackson's Hartebeest standing guard over its mate and calf.
Chyulu Hills, Kenya
The population of Jackson's Hartebeest throughout Africa is small, at best and declining. 

For #WildlifeWednesday "Antelopes" curated by +Mike Spinak and +Morkel Erasmus 
#WholeWildlifeWeek  
#WildKenya  by +Guy Dekelver 
#AfricanTuesday  

Hope the G+ staff is aware of this issue and this petition (43,000+ signatures so far). And that +Larry Page is working to rectify the situation. 
If anyone has any info, please comment. Thanks. 

Little one enjoying a little "down" time. 
Ndutu, Serengeti, Tanzania

For #AfricanTuesday  curated by +Morkel Erasmus +Dick Whitlock and +Grobler du Preez 
WholeWildlifeWeek by +Diego Cattaneo +Dick Whitlock +Anette Mossbacher and myself
#WildlifeWednesday  

Breakfast by Mom, teaching the next generation of champions.
Masai Mara, Kenya

For #Caturday  curated by +Shantha Marie Fountain , +Cicely Robin Laing +Jules Falk Hunter, +Christophe Friedli & +Lee Daniels
#Catsallovertheworld by +Robert SKREINER 
#Bigcatsandsmallthebest  curated by +Mark HELM 
#WholeWildlifeWeek  
#WildKenya  by +Guy Dekelver 
#AfricanTuesday  
#WildlifeWednesday
#Simba  

Yay! An unexpected and pleasant surprise! My "talking" lions photo made it into +Jarek Klimek's top G+ photos for March 27th. Humbled to be included with all these great photos. Congrats to all! 

WARNING... GRAPHIC PHOTO
I debated whether or not to post this but awareness is everything and this is the unfortunate reality of what is happening to Africa's wildlife... repeatedly, several times a day...every day!

A precious young cow elephant from the Laikipia region of Kenya was found yesterday, having succumbed to gunshot injuries sustained during an attempted poaching incident last Saturday evening. Tragically she was heavily pregnant and her unborn calf who was due to be born any day now, also died.
The Laikipia community policing initiative rapid response team & sniffer dogs arrived on the scene to track up the suspects at first light Sunday morning but were unable to pick up any fresh scents. The poachers and their backers remain at large.....while the community is doing their very best to try and keep elephants secure in this part of the world, they need some help from those who could close the illegal markets in Asia, particulalry in China. In the meantime they will continue to work with the Kenya Wildlife Service, the police and their partners, Ol Pejeta, to bolster security in Kenya. 
Sorry for sharing such shocking images but the rest of world should know what is happening to Africa's natural heritage to supply nonsensical trinkets to unsuspecting or poorly informed consumers in Asia.
Almost half of Africa's elephants have been wiped out in the last 30 years and the poaching continues to escalate. Stop the trade in ivory! 

Picture by Anne Powys.

For #ThreatenedThursday  curated by +Sumit Sen +Diego Cattaneo +Anette Mossbacher and myself. 

"I know you're proud of your first kill, but tail down, son, tail down! It's our breakfast and we're not going to share! Survival of the fittest, remember?!" 
Ndutu, Serengeti, Tanzania

For #WildlifeWednesday curated by +Mike Spinak and +Morkel Erasmus 
#WholeWildlifeWeek by +Diego Cattaneo, +Dick Whitlock +Anette Mossbacher and me. 
#Catsallovertheworld by +Robert SKREINER 
#catsbigandsmallthebest  by +Mark HELM 
#AfricanTuesday  
#Simba  

The view from my tent on a cloudy afternoon while in the Chyulu Hills, one of favorite places in Kenya. I never tire of looking at that beautiful never-ending vista. To the right is Mt. Kilimanjaro in Tz., easily seen on a clear day where she majestically stands overlooking the plains of the Chyulus and Amboseli. 

For #AfricanTuesday   Vast Vistas curated by +Morkel Erasmus, +Grobler du Preez and +Dick Whitlock 
  #LandscapePhotography +Landscape Photography curated by +Margaret Tompkins  +Carra Riley  +paul t beard  +David Heath Williams  +Bill Wood  , +Jim Warthman  +Ben T 
#landscapearttuesday  curated by +Christina Deubel 
#TreeTuesday  curated by +Shannon S. Myers and +Christina Lawrie 
#SkySunday  
#WildKenya 

RESHARE:
Very cool! Help support AWF and their work! 

Reshared text:
Big announcement: This week only, ThreadStart.org is featuring AWF with a custom shirt design & line of apparel to raise money & awareness for us! Shop to help at http://threadstart.org/awf

#conservation   #poaching   #wildlife  

A curious trio of oryxes
Kalahari, Botswana

For #MonochromeMonday curated by +Hans Berendsen, +Jerry Johnson, +Steve Barge 
#WholeWildlifeWeek  
#AfricanTuesday  
#WildlifeWednesday  
#Botswana

Sometimes you can win the battle but still lose the war. 
I came across this injured springbok while in the Kalahari in Botswana. I couldn't believe he was still alive. He had somehow escaped his predator but would probably not survive anyway due to the extent of his injuries or eventually falling prey to another predator. As much as I wanted to change the outcome, I knew I couldn't. It's easy to forget that life in the wild can be cruel and unforgiving... when you're indoors, protected by light and walls.

#WholeWildlifeWeek  
#AfricanTuesday  
#WildlifeWednesday 

"What kind of species are you?" she asked.
A very timid young lioness that quickly hid behind the bushes after pausing curiously for a few brief seconds. 
Chyulu Hills, Kenya

For #Caturday curated by +Jules Falk Hunter, +Shantha Marie Fountain and +Cicely Robin Laing
#Catsallovertheworld by +Robert SKREINER 
#WholeWildlifeWeek
#WildKenya  by +Guy Dekelver 
#Simba
 

A LBR (Lilac-breasted roller) ... a.k.a. ABR ( Another bloody roller as it's affectionally called) enjoying a yummy snack. 
Kwara concession, Botswana

#WholeWildlifeweek  
#birdloversworldwide  

RESHARE:
I should be packing... but taking a break to share this great circle of talented photogs. Thanks to Margaret for putting this together.

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>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Great Photographers With < 50,000 Followers

This is a very special circle.  I’ve not shared it before but I have shared the people in it.  I call it the Graduates Circle.  These are the fine people that I shared with you when they had < 25,000 followers but now they have more – they’ve graduated!  These are the people who are top photographers, very interactive, and are the heart and soul of G+.  I ask each of them to identify those people who inspire them, form a circle and share it.

The photographers here are all in my personal circles.  The choices are mine and mine alone.  No one asked, begged, or pleaded to belong.  No bribes were offered or accepted.  These are the people that I follow because I appreciate their great quality photography and their interaction.  Most I have met as I help curate several of the photography themes.  There are NO requirements to share this circle.  I would appreciate the people in this circle plus the post, leave a comment, and share the circle as public.  

Each profile has been verified by me.  Most have between 25,000 and 50,000 followers.  They each have high quality original photography content.  You won’t find many animated gifs!  I have included myself in the circle. 

I wasn’t included, what do I do?  If you meet the criteria, weren’t included, but think you should be, then leave me a comment.  Maybe I don’t know about you.  There are millions of people on G+ and I don’t know everyone.  However, I’ll be happy to have a look at your work if you will call it to my attention.  Start posting landscapes that get my attention (see above)!!

There’s a really great photographer XXX that you didn’t include.  Please feel free to recommend qualified people.  I discover new people every day and would be happy to look at their work.  Please make sure that the recommended person meets the criteria.  If they don’t then that tells me a lot about you!

#Circleshare   #Sharedcircles   

“Remember that even just watching animals has an impact. Intrusion into their living space can expose them to predation, keep them from feeding or other essential activities, or cause them to leave their young exposed to predation or the elements. No photo or viewing opportunity is worth harassing or stressing wildlife." ~ Mary Taylor Young 

For #Caturday curated by +Christophe Friedli and +Lee Daniels +Shantha Marie Fountain and +Cicely Robin Laing. 
#WholeWildlifeWeek
#WildlifeWednesday  
#AfricanTuesday  
#Catsallovertheworld  

This will be my last photo for a while (I think). I will be moving in the next week so I have to (try to) stop playing and finish packing up the house, tear down the computers and hard drives and pack everything away. I will see you folks again in a few weeks once I get settled and get everything back up and running. Until then, be well, everyone! Ciao for now! 

"Brothers on guard"
Kwara concession, Botswana

#WholeWildlifeWeek  
#PassionforAfrica  
#AfricanTuesday  
#Catsallovertheworld  
#ThreatenedThursday  

“I never knew of a morning in Africa, when I awoke, that I was not happy.” ~ Ernest Hemingway 

For #TreeTuesday  curated by +Christina Lawrie and +Shannon S. Myers 
For #GrassTuesday curated by +Ray Bilcliff +Marilou Aballe and +Margaret Tompkins 
For #AfricanTuesday  curated by +Morkel Erasmus, +Grobler du Preez and +Dick Whitlock 
#WildKenya by +Guy Dekelver 
#Landscapephotography  by +Margaret Tompkins, +Carra Riley, +paul t beard +David Heath Williams, +Bill Wood +Jim Warthman 
#PassionforAfrica  

"You talkin' to me?!"
A very curious reticulated giraffe. Shaba Game Reserve, Kenya

For #AfricanTuesday  curated by +Morkel Erasmus, +Dick Whitlock and +Grobler du Preez
#WildlifeWednesday  
#WildKenya by +Guy Dekelver 
#WholeWildlifeWeek  
#PassionForAfrica  
#PortraitTuesday by +Laura Balc
 

RESHARE:
Wow! Whatever the "secret algorithm" is, I'm honored to be included among all these other fine folk! :-)

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It's time to share the RUL again. Recommended user list to check out for steaming up your stream.

Feel free to add and share the circle!
Please don't forget to add +RUL ForGplus
The selection is the result of a secret algorithm.
If you want to stay updated it's good to add this profile.

+RUL ForGplus will over time develop ways to bring the best of Gplus to you.
This means we will also have attention to other initiatives like the SUL and +Euro Maestro's great community work.

Also we plan to put the spotlight on individuals and pages deserving special attention.

Doing what lions do best. :-) 

For #SleepySaturday  curated by +Gemma Costa and +Andrea Martinez 
For #Caturday curated by +Christophe Friedli and +Lee Daniels 
#Catsallovertheworld by +Robert SKREINER and +Edith Kukla 
#WholeWildlifeWeek  
#Simba  
#PassionforAfrica  

RHINO HORN IS NOT MEDICINE
To date, in 2013, 57 rhino have been killed by poachers in South Africa, with 42 of these in the Kruger National Park in January alone.
So far this year 6 rhino have been poached in KwaZulu-Natal, 6 in North West, 2 in Limpopo and 1 in Mpumalanga. 
Totals for previous years: 
2012 = 670
2011 = 448
2010 = 333
2009 = 122
We need to stop this madness before it's too late and we lose this magnificent species to stupid, false medicinal practices!  

For #ThreatenedThursday  curated by +Sumit Sen, +Anette Mossbacher, +Diego Cattaneo and myself
#AfricanTuesday  
#WildlifeWedenesday  
#PassionForAfrica  
#WholeWildlifeWeek
#SavetheRhino  

"Under protective cover"
Poaching of eles for the illegal ivory trade is now taking the lives of approximately 100 elephants per day. In 2011, over 35,000 elephants were killed. The totals for 2012 have not been released. At this rate, eles could become extinct by 2020, only 7 years from now. Because of the dire situation of this issue, I will no longer be sharing the location of where my ele photos were taken.

For #ElephantWednesday  curated by +Diego Cattaneo , +Matthias Haeussler and +Louisa Catharine Forsyth 
For #WildlifeWednesday  curated by +Mike Spinak and +Morkel Erasmus
#WholeWildlifeWeek  
 

"Golden Boy"
Taken in the Masai Mara, Kenya, in the early morning light after the night's rains. The lion population of Africa has decreased by 90% in the last 30 years because of the increasing human population, hunting and poaching. With approximately only 15,000 to 20,000 left in the wild they are losing their stronghold as "king of the jungle". Africa is the lion... the lion is Africa!  

For #AfricanTuesday  curated by +Morkel Erasmus, +Dick Whitlock and +Grobler du Preez 
#WildKenya  by +Guy Dekelver 
#WholeWildlifeWeek  
#Simba  

I should be packing up the house but instead I'm sitting here going through photos, reminiscing about Africa. (((sigh))

A handsome young Grevy's zebra stallion in Shaba Game Reserve, Kenya who was "feeling his oats" and took time out of his day to put on a show for us.

#WholeWildlifeWeek  
#WildKenya  by +Guy Dekelver 
#AfricanTuesday  
#WildlifeWednesday  
#EquineTuesday  
#MonochromeMonday 
#Plusphotoextract  by +Jarek Klimek 

"The End"
As 2012 draws to an end, wishing all of my G+ friends a very Happy New Year! Hoping for the best for everyone (including all my wildlife/animal friends) in 2013! Cheers! 
#WholeWildlifeWeek  
#ElephantWednesday  
#WildKenya  
#PassionforAfrica  

Love having "friends" drop by. Blackie, next to my deck, out foraging for food this morning after our Christmas snowfall last night. And yes, I did help her out. It is Christmas, after all. :-)

Wishing my G+ friends a Merry Christmas and a Happy Holiday!
Cheers!
#Christmas
#WholeWildlifeWeek
#FoxyFriday w/ +Brad Buckmaster! (A little early but this one's for you, Brad!) :-)

HoHoHo...and BarkBarkBark...from me and the dogs! :-)

"Way up high"
A leopard on the very top of a tree dining on and hiding her kill...a heron that she had recently caught. A little difficult to capture her with my 300 and 2x tc. She was pretty high up and there was a whole lot of sky to contend with. Not the greatest shot but pretty cool seeing her way up there. 
Masai Mara, Kenya

For #WildlifeWednesday  curated by +Mike Spinak and +Morkel Erasmus.
#WildKenya  by +Guy Dekelver
#WholeWildlifeWeek  
#PassionforAfrica  
#Catsallovertheworld  by +Robert SKREINER and +Mark HELM 

"Live free and beauty surrounds you..."
A pride of lions relaxing near beautiful Lake Masek, Ndutu, Tanzania, sharing the peacefulness of the moment with my guide and me.  

For #LandscapePhotography  curated by +Margaret Tompkins +Carra Riley +paul t beard, +David Heath Williams +Bill Wood 
#WholeWildlifeWeek  
#FurryFriday  by +Ross Campbell 
#PassionforAfrica  
#Simba  
#Caturday  
#SleepySaturday  
#Catsallovertheworld by +Robert SKREINER and +Mark HELM

An ele with what seemed to be a tear stain under its eye, weeping for the death of all of the eles lost to man's greed. Last year, 35,000 eles were killed for their ivory. The statistics for 2012 are currently unknown. At this rate, by 2020, elephants as we've come to know and love them in the wild, will be no more. 

Bless the beasts and the children
For in this world they have no voice
They have no choice

Bless the beasts and the children
For the world can never be
The world they see

Light their way
When the darkness surrounds them
Give them love
Let it shine all around them

Bless the beasts and the children
Give them shelter from the storm
Keep them safe
Keep them warm

For #ThreatenedThursday curated by +Sumit Sen +Anette Mossbacher +Diego Cattaneo and myself.
#ElephantWednesday curated by +Matthias Haeussler +Diego Cattaneo +Louisa Catherine Forsyth  
#WholeWildlifeWeek
#WildKenya  by +Guy Dekelver 
#PassionforAfrica  

OK, guys, we love you and your photography and appreciate you wanting to join but the operative word in this community is "women". ;-)  
A shout out to all "gals" who are into nature photography, let's keep this going!  

"Go ahead, make my day!" 
Hippos are responsible for more deaths in Africa than any other animal. This guy wasn't going to disappoint... had we given him half a chance. 
Masai Mara, Kenya
For #WildlifeWednesday  curated by +Mike Spinak and +Morkel Erasmus 
#WholeWildlifeWeek  by +Diego Cattaneo, +Dick Whitlock +Anette Mossbacher and me.
#WildKenya by +Guy Dekelver 
#PassionforAfrica  

"Up, up and away..."
The hot air balloon takes off from Governor's Camp in the wee hours of the morning, gliding over the savannah.
Masai Mara, Kenya
For #AfricanTuesday   Sunrise Sunset curated by +Morkel Erasmus, +Grobler du Preez and +Dick Whitlock 
#WildKenya by +Guy Dekelver 
#PassionforAfrica  
#LandscapePhotography  by +Margaret Tompkins +Carra Riley, +paul t beard +David Heath Williams and +Bill Wood 

Hey you gals who love to shoot (with cameras) critters and flowers and bees and birds and landscapes... anything related to nature, come join our community of like-minded women. :-)

Anyone else having issues on here (G+) today? From notifications to server dropping out to commenting? Both on my Mac and pc laptop. 

We're still growing and hoping to add many more women wildlife/nature photogs. And don't forget to share with your friends. :-) 

Humbled and honored to have my "lion" photo selected as one of the top photos for Dec. 6th for the G+ #plusphotoextract by +Jarek Klimek. Congrats to all the other photogs and their wonderful photos. :-)

We had a great first day in G+ communities. We would love to have the ladies out there with a passion for wildlife/nature photography join our community to share photos, experiences in the field and more! 

If you missed this the first time around... for gal photogs with a passion for wildlife & nature, this community is for you. We'd love to have you join. 

Hey gals, here's a community for us to showcase our talents. Would love to have you on board sharing your photos and joining in on discussions on working out in the "field". Cheers! 

RESHARE:
Really kinda surprised and totally humbled I made it in the top 250. Woot!  Make sure you add these folks to your circles. Some great talent in here. Thanks to +Charles Lupica for compiling these circles. 

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        Top 250 most followed photographers list and circle
                    Group 3: 192 to 250    
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Here is the third part of my list of the top 500 most followed photographers - this time I have included the first circle of 250.  

If you are on this list or in this circle, I urge you to comment with your specialty, plus and share the post. The next time I update the list, I would like to show your photographic specialty   If you do a bit of everything, simply note: electric or eclectic :-). 

Last week I shared a list of the top 100 most followed photographers on G+. https://plus.google.com/u/0/103236949470535942612/posts/bqsL5BtVW2R

A few days I ago I share the second part of the list: https://plus.google.com/u/0/103236949470535942612/posts/2Bth5PpUhmv

Once I get to 500 photographers, I'll share this as a circle. 

I have sifted through lots of pages and circles as well as http://circlecount.com/  to try to get an accurate list. If I'm missing anyone, please let me know.  I have specifically left off a few people who only share links to their content housed elsewhere,  people who share a lot of other peoples work without sharing their own, or people that appear to be inactive.  

I will start with the tail end of the previous list.
192 +jan ellis 31831
193 +shane holsclaw 31770
194 +Chris Marquardt 31729
195 +Myrna Weinreich 31502
196 +Claudine de Faÿ 31456
197 +Nathan Beaulne 31197
198 +Jan Kabili 31315
199 +Klaudia J 31128
200 +LaDonna Pride 31011
201 +Alister Benn 30702
202 +Suzanne Haggerty 30572
203 +Seung Kye Lee 30523
204 +linda stokes 30487
205 +Jeff Clow 30404
206 +Amy Heiden 30370
207 +Ricky L Jones 30246
208 +Jeff Wendorff 30131
209 +Maggy Meyer 30100
210 +Josh Adamski 30001
211 +Jules Falk Hunter 29845
212 +Juergen Buergin 29804
213 +Mike Olbinski 29771
214 +Lawrence del Mundo 29731
215 +Lucie Debelkova 29724
216 +April Joy Gutel 29690
217 +Julia Anna Gospodarou 29655
218 +Charlotte Therese Björnström 29606
219 +Léon Leijdekkers 29602
220 +Stephen Ingraham 29538
221 +Laura Balc 29486
222 +Ricardo Williams 29456
223 +PJ Ammidon 29390
224 +Alex Stoen 29089
225 +Suzana Ristic 29083
226 +Mark Hall 29081
227 +Terry Nelson 29020
228 +Michael Frye 28956
229 +Steve Johnson 28925
230 +Markus Landsmann 28910
231 +Marc Edward Smith 28799
232 +Stephen Candler 28708
233 +Sandy Schepis 28649
234 +Sara Collaton 28630
235 +Mary Kay 28523
236 +Younes Bounhar 28495
237 +Victor Lacken 28430
238 +Jürgen Keil 28406
239 +Honza Čopák 28405
240 +Andy Stuart 28404
241 +Kev Isabeth 28384
242 +Gérald Verdon 28392
243 +Dan Pancamo 28361
244 +David Herreman 28127
245 +Yannick Lefevre 28003
246 +Andrea Martinez 27957
247 +Peter Adams 27888
248 +Al Ebnereza 27796
249 +Moon Lee 27786
250 +Samir Osman 27714
251 +Marilou Aballe 27694

We are on the verge of losing this iconic species!
A new report out on the status of African lions and their habitats...

"Africa's lion population plummets by two thirds in 50 years. Only nine African countries have at least 1,000 lions, and five have likely lost all their lions since a 2002 study, the experts said.
About 75 percent of Africa's savannahs were fragmented by farmers and other development in the last 50 years. Only 25 percent remains of an ecosystem that once was a third larger than the continental United States."

For the rest of the story, please see this link: 
http://worldnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2012/12/04/15671643-africas-lion-population-plummets-by-two-thirds-in-50-years-study-finds?lite

For #ThreatenedThursday  curated by +Sumit Sen, +Diego Cattaneo, +Anette Mossbacher and myself. 
#WholeWildlifeWeek
#WildKenya  by +Guy Dekelver 
#AfricanTuesday  
#PassionforAfrica  
#Simba
#catsallovertheworld  by +Robert SKREINER and +Walter Soestbergen 

"Bugger off, human, we refuse to sign the model release!"
Masai Mara, Kenya 

For #WildlifeWednesday  curated by +Mike Spinak and +Morkel Erasmus 
#WholeWildlifeWeek  
#WildKenya  by +Guy Dekelver
#PassionforAfrica  
#catsallovertheworld  by +Robert SKREINER and +Walter Soestbergen 

"Ground Clearance"
An LBR (Lilac-breasted roller) hanging out on a small termite mound. 
Masai Mara, Kenya

For #AfricanTuesday curated by +Dick Whitlock, +Grobler du Preez and +Morkel Erasmus 
#WholeWildlifeWeek  
#Birdloversworldwide by +Robert SKREINER and +Walter Soestbergen 
#WildKenya by +Guy Dekelver
#Birds4all by +Walter Soestbergen

RESHARE:
What a wonderful capture by wildlife/nature photog +Gerry van der Walt!  He hasn't been circled by too many folks yet. What's that about?! 
Comments and +1s to Gerry, please. 

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Something different...

I photographed this Cape Fur Seal during our Great White Sharks of Seal Island photo safari earlier this year. Considering the rough seas and small target I was quite chuffed with this one! :)

Check out details of next year's trip here - http://bit.ly/sharks2013

#oceanlife #ocean #southafrica #wildlife #photography #seal #capefurseal #photosafari  

"Little One"
Ndutu, Serengeti, Tanzania

For #MonochromeMonday  curated by +Hans Berendsen, +Jerry Johnson, +Manuel Votta, +Steve Barge. +Nurcan Azaz
#WholeWildlifeWeek  
#PassionforAfrica  
#Serengeti  
#tanzaniawildlife  

For #ThreatenedThursday  curated by +Sumit Sen, +Diego Cattaneo, +Anette Mossbacher and myself. 

RHINO HORN IS NOT MEDICINE!!  Total rhinos poached to date: 582
(FIVE HUNDRED AND EIGHTY TWO)
The number will be close to, if not over, 700 by the end of the year. :-(

Not my pic but I wanted to share this emotional photo of a man bowing down in front of one of the most majestic species on the planet. One species that we are close to losing that has been on earth for hundreds of millions of years. One species that is on the verge of extinction due to the ongoing genocide for false medicinal purposes. One species that is targeted by cartels and crime syndicates simply because it exists. One species that is being killed for greed, lust, and blood money. 

On this Thanksgiving day here in the U.S., I am thankful I have gotten to photograph and spend time with this species in the wild and am thankful there are many people fighting to save them. I hope that we win this war. I pray that we win this war. 

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone! 

#WholeWildlifeWeek  
#AfricanTuesday
#WildlifeWednesday  
#PassionforAfrica  
#savetherhino

(Photo courtesy OSCAP) - Outraged South African Cititzens Against Poaching

"Lioness on the Lookout"
Masai Mara, Kenya

For #AfricanTuesday  curated by +Morkel Erasmus, +Grobler du Preez and +Dick Whitlock 
#WholeWildlifeWeek
#WildKenya  by +Guy Dekelver 
#Simba
#PassionforAfrica  

Please sign and share the petition at:  www.iworry.org . Let's get all the signatures we can to help save the eles! 

A message from Dame Daphne Sheldrick: 
‘I know elephants intimately having reared their orphaned young over a lifetime. I have witnessed their suffering and their grieving for lost loved ones, and I have often been ashamed to be a member of the human race in view of how they have been treated at the hands of humans. Noble, powerful, yet inherently gentle elephants are emotionally identical to us, but so much better than us in many ways. Endowed with a mysterious intuition, slow to anger, they never forget, and yet find forgiveness despite the unjust and evil cruelty inflicted on them. Today elephants are dying in droves on a daily basis, to feed the infamous and evil ivory trade fuelled by the demand from the East. Killing such a magnificent animal simply for its ivory epitomises all that is evil. It is outrageous, cruel and wrong and cannot be allowed to continue. It is time for all caring people in the world to make a difference by speaking out loud and clear against this inhuman practice that is driving elephants as a species to extinction - Your voice can be heard.' 
Please sign our petition at
www.iworry.org
For more on helping elephants please visit:
www.sheldrickwildlifetrust.org
+The David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust (DSWT) 
#DavidSheldrickWildlifeTrust  

(Photo courtesy DSWT)

RESHARE:
Great portrait of a grey-crowned crane by +Bertus Fuhri. This is too cute! 
Comments and +1's to Bertus please

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It is predicted that at the rate we are losing elephants to poaching to satiate the demand of the illegal ivory trade, that these beautiful animals will become extinct by the year 2020.  That is only  8 years away. 
What can you do to help? Please do NOT buy ivory of any kind! And please spread the word telling others not to.
The David Sheldrick WildlifeTrust has created a petition to combat the poaching of eles. Please sign and share the petition at
www.iworry.org.
We can't lose the elephants. We just can't. Let's do what we can before it's too late. 
For #ThreatenedThursday  curated by +Sumit Sen, +Diego Cattaneo, +Anette Mossbacher and myself. 
#WholeWildlifeWeek
#PassionforAfrica 

"Seeing double"
Cheetah brothers scanning the savannah for lunch. 
Masai Mara, Kenya

For #WildlifeWednesday  curated by +Mike Spinak and +Morkel Erasmus 
#WholeWildlifeWeek, +Diego Cattaneo, +Dick Whitlock, +Anette Mossbacher and myself
#WildKenya  by +Guy Dekelver 
#PassionforAfrica  
#Plusphotoextract  by +Jarek Klimek 

The "Green Hills of Africa" 
Chyulu Hills, Kenya
One of my favorite places in Kenya that I try to return to as frequently as possible. The vistas are superb. I took this from high atop one of the rocky outcroppings where we were enjoying our sundowners. Oh, how I miss this place. (A lesser known fact is that many of the scenes in Out of Africa were filmed in the Chyulus.)

For #AfricanTuesday Magnificent Mountains curated by +Morkel Erasmus, +Dick Whitlock and +Grobler du Preez
#LandscapePhotography  curated by +Margaret Tompkins, +Carra Riley, +paul t beard, +David Heath Williams, +Bill Wood, +Jim Warthman
#WildKenya  by +Guy Dekelver
#ChyuluHills  
#PassionforAfrica

RHINO HORN IS NOT MEDICINE

Horrible news to start the morning. 549 Rhinos killed so far in 2012!  It will easily surpass 600 by year's end. 

Mketeni said October was the worst month for rhino in South Africa as 75 animals were killed during this month.
"So far in November 34 rhino have been killed."

http://www.news24.com/Green/News/549-rhino-poached-in-SA-this-year-20121113#.UKIYRpE8K3M.facebook

Links to donate/help:
http://www.oscap.co.za/
http://savingrhinos.org/
www.savetherhino.org
www.rhinos-irf.org/

For:
#AfricanTuesday  
#WildlifeWednesday  
#WholeWildlifeWeek  
#PassionforAfrica  

Little Green Bee Eater
Botswana
#Birdloversworldwide  by +Robert SKREINER and +Walter Soestbergen 
#WholeWildlifeWeek  
#PassionforAfrica  
#Botswana

Kwando Lagoon
Botswana
For #MonochromeMonday curated by +Hans Berendsen, +Jerry Johnson, +Manuel Votta, +Steve Barge and +Nurcan Azaz. 
#SkySunday
#LandscapePhotography  curated by +Margaret Tompkins, +Carra Riley, +paul t beard, +David Heath Williams and +Bill Wood. 

"Gorilla pole dancing"
This little guy was saved from animal traffickers during a sting operation and was placed in the care of a gorilla sanctuary in Goma, DRC. 

For #MonkeyMonday  curated by +Alex Lapidus and myself
#WholeWildlifeWeek  

During my collaboration with the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund International (DFGFI) I had the privilege of visiting "Karisoke", where Dian used to live and work, high up in the Virungas Volcanoes chain in Rwanda.

It was a cloudy/rainy day in the rainforest as we ascended the mountain. On several occasions, we found ourselves knee-deep in mud. It was a tough hike that day but putting it into perspective, this was a hike Dian did several times a week, going back and forth to town for supplies. And she smoked. So who was I to complain? Along with me was with the director of the Karisoke Research Center and several of the rangers, a couple of whom had worked with Dian back in the day. The rangers skipped along the mountain like it was nothing. Then again, this is their country. 

I had always wanted to visit Dian's gravesite, where she is buried next to Digit and the rest of the mountain gorillas who pass, still to this day. I was looking forward to paying homage to her, someone who I admire deeply, along with Digit and all the mountain gorillas I had loved for many years.

As we turned down the trail to the gravesite, I told myself I wasn't going to cry. When we arrived at the site, I felt myself getting very emotional, couldn't hold it any longer and started to cry. No one said a thing while I stood there and bawled like a baby. They all understood. My pics that day weren't that great as I couldn't stop crying and  was trying to take photos with tears in my eyes. We were going to stay longer so I could get better photos but the skies opened up and it started to rain and the temperature dropped. We found shelter at a visitor's gazebo and shortly afterwards headed back down the mountain.  

Dian's tombstone reads:

"Nyiramachabelli" 
No One Loved Gorillas More
Rest In Peace, Dear Friend
Eternally Protected
In This Sacred Ground
For You are Home

For #SacredSunday  curated by +Manfred Berndtgen, +Robyn Morrison, +Chatchai Rombix, +Justin Hill, +Steve Barge, +Carolyn St.Charles and  +Sherrie von Sternberg  
#SentimentalSunday by +Louisa Catharine Forsyth 

"The beauty that is Rwanda"
Kinigi, Rwanda
A local walking down a rural road near one of the volcanoes of Virungas National Park. If you look closely at the volcano you can see the separation of the farmland and the rainforest. The locals have partially plowed up the side and there is a man-made wall separating the two. The remaining rainforest(s) habitat of the Virungas are the home of the critically endangered mountain gorillas. Through education the locals have learned not only the value of protecting the mountain gorillas but that tourism dollars go back into helping the communities. 

For #LandscapePhotography curated by +Margaret Tompkins, +paul t beard, +David Heath Williams and +Bill Wood. 

Hilary Clinton is stepping up in the wildlife wars ready to kick some ass! 
Get 'em girl and welcome aboard! Let's hope we can get the rest of the world to join in the fight. 

"If you love animals, if you want to see a more secure world, if you want our economy not to be corrupted globally by this kind of illicit behavior, there is so much we can do together. After all, the world’s wildlife, both on land and in our waters, is such a precious resource, but it is also a limited one. It cannot be manufactured. And once it’s gone, it cannot be replenished. And those who profit from it illegally are not just undermining our borders and our economies. They are truly stealing from the next generation. So we have to work together to stop them and ensure a sustainable future for our wildlife, the people who live with them, and the people who appreciate them everywhere."

Pleasantly surprised to see my "Rainy days and eles" photo chosen as one of  +Jarek Klimek's Top 10 G+ photos for Nov. 7th. Humbled to be included with the other photographers/their photos. Introduced to a couple more talents to add to my circles, too. :-) 

RESHARE:
Wow! If you guys haven't added +Kenneth Snyder to your circles, this is an example of what you've been missing. I just found him through +Jarek Klimek's #plusphotoextract. 
Comments to Kenneth, please. 

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Star trails image from my Sleeping Bear Dunes - Starry Nights time-lapse video: http://vimeo.com/46395732

#NightPhotographyFriday  / +Night Photography Friday by +Steve Passlow & +Mark Hammon 

#nightscapes  / +Nightscapes by +Christopher Prins & +Dennis Hoffbuhr 

"Born Free"
Two young male lion brothers. 
Masai Mara Kenya

For #ThreatenedThursday  curated by +Sumit Sen +Anette Mossbacher, +Diego Cattaneo and myself. 

Per IUCN, lions are considered a threatened species, with numbers plummeting. (I consider them endangered.)
Thirty years ago over 100,000 lions roamed the African plains. Today only 15,000-20,000 remain in the wild. A decline of almost 90%
You can help support the lions of Africa by downloading the new release of "Born Free" by Brian May of the rock band "Queen" in collaboration with the Born Free Foundation. Funds raised by the downloads will help the the charity continue to protect fragile populations of lions in the wild. 
For more information on the new single, please visit:
http://www.queenonline.com/en/news-archive/press-release-new-brian-may-and-kerry-ellis-single/
and for more information on Born Free and their work, please visit: 
www.bornfreeusa.org and
www.bornfree.org.uk

#WholeWildlifeWeek  
#WildKenya  by +Guy Dekelver 
#Simba  
#Catsallovertheworld  by +Robert SKREINER and +Walter Soestbergen 

November 5th was the worldwide release of the Oscar-winning song ‘Born Free’ re-recorded by legendary Queen guitarist Brian May and West End and Broadway songstress Kerry Ellis. The classic hit single will be sold in aid of international wildlife charity the Born Free Foundation. "Funds raised by the downloads will help the charity continue to protect fragile populations of lions in the wild.”
I love the fact that celebrities are getting involved in the war to save wildlife. We need all the help we can get. 
For #ThreatenedThursday  curated by +Sumit Sen, +Anette Mossbacher, +Diego Cattaneo and myself.  
#Simba  
#WholeWildlifeWeek  

"Rainy days and eles"
Ndutu, Serengeti, Tanzania
Got caught in a big storm while out photographing. Raining so hard had to keep the camera inside the jeep to try to get this shot. Just another day, though, in the lives of the wildlife on the plains. 

For #WildlifeWednesday curated by +Mike Spinak and +Morkel Erasmus   #ElephantWednesday  curated by +Diego Cattaneo, +Matthias Haeussler and +Louisa Catharine Forsyth
#WholeWildlifeWeek  

"Do you see what I see?"
Masai Mara, Kenya

For #AfricanTuesday  curated by +Morkel Erasmus, +Grobler du Preez and +Dick Whitlock 
#WholeWildlifeWeek  
#WildKenya by +Guy Dekelver
#plusphotoextract  by +Jarek Klimek
#catsallovertheworld  by +Robert SKREINER and +Walter Soestbergen 

Now this is a church with a view AND a peaceful setting that I'm sure none of us would mind attending on the island of Tahaa in French Polynesia.  Taken  back in '10 during our week of sailing around the FP islands.

For #SacredSunday curated by +Manfred Berndtgen, +Robyn Morrison, +Justin Hill, +Steve Barge, +Sherrie von Sternberg and +Chatchai Rombix 
Also for #ZenSunday  curated by +Charlotte Therese Björnström, +Simon Davis-Oakley and +Nathan Wirth 

I am sad to report that I woke up to some staggering, horrific numbers. 502 rhinos poached so far in 2012, surpassing last year's total!  With two months left the number could easily climb to over 600+.  
Where do you draw the line?!  

"Put down the camera and come play 'stick chase' with me." 
Nelson "barking" orders at me. 
For #FidoFriday  curated by +Wes Lum, +mel peifer, +Lisa Lisa and +Suhaib Ayaz