Where is the Prey

[Sabyasachi Patra]

One normally expects a predator and prey. Without either one of them, this complex chain of ecological relationships would break and would come to an end. Here is the image of an apex predator without its prey. This was an attempt to show that the tiger can't sustain without its prey.

Too often we have been counting or estimating tigers without any thought given to its prey. Unless poaching stops, wilderness areas protected from ubanisation and devastation caused by infrastructural projects, the prey would be decimated. Infact, one can find the prey base to be pretty thin in most of the sanctuaries. No tiger can survive without its prey.

Sharing this image here. No idea whether this image makes any sense to you guys. Look forward to your comments.

Cheers,
Sabyasachi

Techs: Canon EOS 1D Mark II, Canon EF 400mm f2.8 L IS USM, EF 2xII, ISO 200, f9, 1/320, full frame image.

[Bibhav Behera]

Brilliantly composed. The empty space speaks of the apt title... A tad more space to the left.

[Chitrita Chatterjee]

U are right sabyasachi... we give such little thought to the food chain.... this pic speaks volumes....

[Mrudul Godbole]

Different perspective. It looks like something is missing in the image without the prey. Since the tiger is also looking in that direction, it emphasises that even more.

Thanks for sharing.

[Praveen Siddannavar]

Sabyasachi this is well composed image & speaks volumes about our ecosystems. Even more better to have documented, was this shot in Bandhavgarh?

[Sabyasachi Patra]

Praveen,
This was photographed in Bandhavgarh. This is the first attempt at this concept. Hope to create a version that is much more compelling than this.

Cheers,
Sabyasachi

[Roopak Gangadharan]

Touching image sir..... funny that our conservation policies (like the average safari goer ) is all eyes for the tiger and dismisses the chital etc as common place ,when the the tiger in turn would love get a glimpse of the chital, sambar and gaur....