The Last Prayer of a baby Baboon

On a very hot (>40 Celsius) Thursday afternoon game viewing in the Kruger National Park in South Africa just outside the Lower Sabie Rest Camp we came across this Tawny Eagle resting in the shade of some brush.

The Tawny Eagle had recently killed a baby chacma baboon and. must have been disturbed by other animals or birds of prey and flew to this location to shield itself from other larger birds of prey. The eagle was visibly hot as it was panting and watching out for others that could steal its prey. That is unfortunately the Circle of Life in the African Bushveld, very sad but a reality. Especially when the baboon looks almost human and the hands are together like in prayer.

Shot this photo from our rented minivan on the Skukuza - Lower Sabie Road at the Tshokane turnoff, with a Canon 1D X body and a Canon EF200-400 f/4L lens at 381 mm. At least this eagle was fairly close to the road as in 40+ Celsius (above 105 fahrenheit) heat haze can become a real challenge.