As mentioned in previous posts, the Baird’s tapir is the largest land mammal in Central and South America. For this series of wide-angle images, I sat quietly on the ground for about an hour while the tapir slowly came closer and closer, foraging in the leaf litter. I kept going wider and wider with my lensing, and eventually he was right in front of me, so I reached for my 17-35mm. A few sniffs later he turned around and continued on in the opposite direction. Nikon D800 with Nikkor 17-35mm lens (at 20mm) ISO 3200, f/2.8 at 1/200th of a second.
I wonder what this Tapir thought that you were, lying on the ground, making strange noises and looking at it all weird. It probably thought that you were the weirdest mushroom he had ever seen. That’s what I thought when I first met you.
Thanks Sue, this guy literally wandered up to about a foot from the front of my camera. Never any aggression, he just sniffed the air and then moved on. I was alone in the woods (other than my guide was about 30 feet away from me) and quiet on the ground. Quite an encounter.
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As mentioned in previous posts, the Baird’s tapir is the largest land mammal in Central and South America. For this series of wide-angle images, I sat quietly on the ground for about an hour while the tapir slowly came closer and closer, foraging in the leaf litter. I kept going wider and wider with my lensing, and eventually he was right in front of me, so I reached for my 17-35mm. A few sniffs later he turned around and continued on in the opposite direction. Nikon D800 with Nikkor 17-35mm lens (at 20mm) ISO 3200, f/2.8 at 1/200th of a second.
I wonder what this Tapir thought that you were, lying on the ground, making strange noises and looking at it all weird. It probably thought that you were the weirdest mushroom he had ever seen. That’s what I thought when I first met you.
GRRRREAT image, Sean! Patience pays off when photographing wildlife. Just how close was the tapir to your camera when you got this shot?
Thanks Sue, this guy literally wandered up to about a foot from the front of my camera. Never any aggression, he just sniffed the air and then moved on. I was alone in the woods (other than my guide was about 30 feet away from me) and quiet on the ground. Quite an encounter.
Amazing, Sean!
Wonderful image. The tapir is obviously not an aggressive creature!
No, but I wasn’t entirely sure at the time. He was a big boy. Much bigger than he looks in this wide angle image.