Disappearing Animals-African wild mammals are among the most endangered species: Cheetah, Elephant, Chimpanzee, Leopards, and many others.

All over the world, wildlife is in danger of extinction within a few decades. For many of these animals, poaching, and the loss of living space is the main culprit for the dwindling population. Throughout the world, animals are finding themselves with less and less space as human civilization encroaches on their natural habitat.

That Looks Tasty
Lions once roamed throughout Africa, but now occupy only 8% of their former territory. Without the vast stretches of savanna grasslands that were once their hunting grounds, lions are struggling to survive. As lions and humans are pushed closer together the lions venture into villages for food. The villagers have no choice but to kill the lions to protect their livestock. Trophy hunters who pay thousands of dollars to hunt and kill lions is happening at an alarming rate. Disease in South Africa has devastated the lion population. It is estimated 80% of the remaining lions could be gone by 2030.
That Looks Tasty Alabama Animal Birmingham Gary Ricketts gricketts gricketts.com Lion Photography by Gary Ricketts Smugmug Zoo Fine Art Photography black and whire
Hypnotic
In the wild, Zebras live together in family groups where members maintain strong bonds over many years. Family members watch out for one another. If one is separated from the family, the other zebras search for the missing member.

Although every zebra in a herd appears to look alike, the strip patterns are as distinctive as fingerprints are for humans. Individual zebras are identified by comparing patterns, strip widths, colors and scars.
Hypnotic Alabama Animal Birmingham Gary Ricketts gricketts gricketts.com Photography by Gary Ricketts Smugmug Zebra Zoo Fine Art Photography Nature black and white black and whire
Tree Frog
Frog myths are as old as humans. One widely held superstition was the “Toad Stone”. It was supposed to be a jewel found inside a toad’s head. When placed in a ring or necklace, the jewel would heat up or change color when it detected poison, which protected the wearer from evil doers.
Tree Frog American Museum of Natural History Gary Ricketts gricketts gricketts.com Manhattan Museum New York New York City Photography by Gary Ricketts Fine Art Photography Nature black and whire
Tastes Like Chicken
Mandrills are the largest of all the monkeys. A Mandrill's cheek contains built-on pouches to store food for later consumption.
Tastes Like Chicken Animal Gary Ricketts gricketts gricketts.com Monkey Photography by Gary Ricketts fine art photography black and whire
Two Heads Are Better Than One
Giraffes pick their nose and clean their ears with their 20 inch long tongue. Even though they have extremely long necks, a giraffe’s neck is too short to reach the ground and has to spread out its front legs to bend low enough to drink water once every few days. Most of their water comes from the plants they eat.
Two Heads Are Better Than One Alabama Animal Birmingham Gary Ricketts Giraffe gricketts gricketts.com Photography by Gary Ricketts Zoo Fine Art Photography black and whire
Eyelash
In the wild, Zebras live together in family groups where members maintain strong bonds over many years. Family members watch out for one another. If one is separated from the family, the other zebras search for the missing member.

Although every zebra in a herd appears to look alike, the strip patterns are as distinctive as fingerprints are for humans. Individual zebras are identified by comparing patterns, strip widths, colors and scars.

Third Place 2015 Birmingham Zoo
Eyelash Alabama Animal Birmingham Gary Ricketts gricketts gricketts.com Photography by Gary Ricketts Smugmug Zebra Zoo Fine Art Photography Nature black and whire
Tiger Eyes
A white tiger is a Bengal tiger with a genetic condition eliminating pigment in the orange fur. The recessive gene also makes all white tigers crosseyed. The last known white tiger in the wild was shot and killed in 1958. Today, all of the captive white tigers in the world are the result of inbreeding, beginning with the white cub, Mohan, whose mother and siblings were killed in order to capture him in 1951. It has been said, the economics of inbreeding white tigers outwieghs the ethics.
Tiger Eyes Alabama Animal Birmingham Gary Ricketts gricketts gricketts.com Photography by Gary Ricketts Smugmug Zoo Fine Art Photography black and whire
Owl Eys
Great honed owls can hear sounds at frequencies humans cannot. The facial disc, concave feathers surrounding the eyes, acts as a “radar dish” to collect sound waves and send them to the ears. Owls can tell the difference of as little as 00003 seconds between the left and right ear. That information builds a metal picture their surrounding.

Determining the difference between what is heard by each ear, owls can pinpoint the exact location, direction and speed of their prey, and use the information to adjust the flight path to intercept prey.
Owl Eyes Animal Animals Bird Central Park Gary Ricketts gricketts gricketts.com Manhattan New York New York City Photography by Gary Ricketts Smugmug Winner fine art photography black and whire
Peek A Boo
The hippopotamus is the third largest land animal, by weight, in the world. The Hippo, one of the most aggressive animals in the world, is also regarded as one of the most dangerous animals in all of Africa.
Peek Boo Animal Barcelona Europe Gary Ricketts gricketts gricketts.com Hippo Photography by Gary Ricketts Smugmug Spain Water Zoo Fine Art Photography black and whire
Looking For A Sign?—Honorable Mention
Male lemurs spay the tail with a secretion and wave it at each other to attract a mate. The lemur with the stinkiest tail wins the female’s affection.

Sadly, lemurs, native only to Madagascar, are the most endangered group of mammals in the world.
Looking For Sign Alabama Animal Birmingham Gary Ricketts gricketts gricketts.com Lemur Photography by Gary Ricketts Smugmug Zoo fine art photography black and whire
A Little Closer
Yaguar as they were known to indigenous people means “he who kills with one leap”. Once jaguars roamed throughout southwestern United States and South America. Today, the jaguar’s last stronghold is Brazil where half of the estimated 170,000 wild jaguars still roam. Jaguars are threatened by deforestation in South America as their populations become more isolated, making breeding harder.
Little Closer Gary Ricketts gricketts gricketts.com Photography by Gary Ricketts Zoo Alabama Birmingham Jaguar Animal Cat fine art photography black and whire
Yellow Eye
Everyone naturally thinks pink when it comes to flamingos. However, the new born flamingo is white with soft, downy feathers and perfectly straight bill.

The young are raised by both parents who know their chick’s s voice. The young leave the nest in about five days to join a group of other young flamingos, and return “home” at meal time.

Although flamingos are not considered endangered, researchers are alarmed by the huge numbers of flamingos dying in the Rift Valley. The general consensus is there are fewer flamingos now than just a decade ago.
Yellow Eye Alabama Animal Bird Birmingham Flamingo Gary Ricketts gricketts gricketts.com Photography by Gary Ricketts Smugmug Zoo fine art photography black and whire
Hi There—Third Place
In the wild, Zebras live together in family groups where members maintain strong bonds over many years. Family members watch out for one another. If one is separated from the family, the other zebras search for the missing member.

Although every zebra in a herd appears to look alike, the strip patterns are as distinctive as fingerprints are for humans. Individual zebras are identified by comparing patterns, strip widths, colors and scars.

Third Place 2015 Birmingham Zoo
ThereThird Place Birmingham Zoo Alabama Animal Black and White Gary Ricketts gricketts gricketts.com Photography by Gary Ricketts Smugmug Zebra Animals State Capturing History Through Photography Winner fine art photography black and whire
Who Put That There?
Of the two species of Elephant, African and Asian, the African elephant is the largest land animal on earth. The African elephant is easily recognized by its larger ears. It is the Asian Elephant that can be domesticated and used as working animals in Asia.

There are some who predict both species could become extinct, resulting from being slaughtered for the ivory tusks, and the destruction habitat by encroaching human populations.
Who Put That There Alabama Animal Elephant Gary Ricketts gricketts gricketts.com Mongomery Photography by Gary Ricketts Smugmug Zoo fine art photography black and whire
Old Man of the Forest
Orangutans currently only live in the rainforests of Borneo and Sumatra. Historically, the ape was known as “mamas” by the local population. Europeans named the ape after the Malay phase “orang utan”, which mean “forest man”.

They are considered to be the most intelligent primate, make extensive use of tools, and are close relatives of humans. They are an endangered species.
Old Man The Forest Alabama Animal Birmingham Gary Ricketts gricketts gricketts.com Orangatan Photography by Gary Ricketts Zoo Fine Art Photography black and whire
Listen To Your Inner Voice
The cotton-top tamarin monkey is among the smallest in the world, around ten inches tall, and considered critically endangered. The population was decimated through deforestation and huge numbers being captured years ago for scientific research.

There are only about 6,000 left in their native habitat of northwest Colombia.
Listen Your Inner Voice Gary Ricketts gricketts gricketts.com Photography by Gary Ricketts Animal Monkey Birmingham Zoo Alabama Smugmug Capturing History Through Photography Black and White fine art photography black and whire

Disappearing Animals-African wild mammals are among the most endangered species: Cheetah, Elephant, Chimpanzee, Leopards, and many others.

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