Kittens of the Serengeti.

So, I got my new digital camera a couple weeks ago (Canon Powershot S3 IS for those interested). I figured I needed something to test it out on, but then I thought what could be better than the practice babies? So I present to you,

Kittens of the Serengeti: A look at these amazing beasts in their natural habitat.



Here we come across a wild and savage kitten (felinus domesticus). Judging by her size and coloring, she appears to be about one year old.



From her perch high above the ground, she surveys her territory. The other beasts of the wild know to pay her heed and give her a wide berth. As lord of the jungle, she will fight to protect her territory.



As our documentary crew approaches, she takes notice of these strangers. She is unfamiliar with man and as such shows no fear in her curiousity.



She extends her whiskers forward and turns all her powerful senses to investigate this new creature in her land.



As she approaches the camera, we can see into her eyes, giving us a glimpse of the soul behind this magnificent best. She looks at us with perhaps some curiosity, and perhaps a bit of wonder, but primarily with dominance, as she is always ready to subdue any threat to her reign.



We can only wonder what she is planning to do with this foreign being. Will she let it be? Will she consider a new part of her kingdom and extend her reign over it? Or will she consider it a threat and pre-emptively attack?



Before our question can be answered, she is distracted by something unseen.



It is a new kitten that has wandered into the territory. She spies the perch with jealously, for she wishes to reign over the kitchen.



She attempts to climb up. We can see from this view that she is about the same age, but slightly larger. This makes her a threat and she could possibly win for herself the title of dominant kitten.



But the smaller one has the height advantage. The new-comer recognizes this gives up her attempt to climb the perch. The ruler remains unchallanged, at least for the time being.



Once back on the ground, the new-comer spies something from afar. The light from the camera causes her eyes to glow, as they are wide and taking in all the light they can manage.



She moves in on this object, whatever it may be. She appears ready to pounce.



The smaller one has taken interest in this as well. The new-comer may be interested in one of the creatures of the domain, potentialy edging in on her food supply.



She moves to the ground to watch from afar and protect her territory.



The new-comer has found a leaf from the native vegitation that has fallen to the ground. She investigates it.



Temporarily putting aside their differences, they both investigate.



But it was just a ruse! The new-comer takes advantage of the opporunity and quickly scrambles to the top of the perch! Once there, she begins to mark the territory as her own.



The queen is not amused. She eyes the new-comer with bitterness.



But the new-comer now has the height advantage. She looks down upon the former ruler with 2 parts triumph and 1 part challenge, as if to say, "go ahead. Just try it."



The dethroned ruler appears to be willing to accept the challenge. With powerful claws, she begins to ascend the perch.



But the tides have turned. With her advanatge, the new-comer can prevent the little one access to the top with sheer physical presence.



Once the invader has been driven of, she turns her attention to us. She can now devote some effort to protecting her perch from this other unknown invader.



As we approach, her eyes narrow and her ears go back, giving us a threatening glare. This indicates she's ready to pounce. Our experienced camera crew knows to back away.



Meanwhile, the other kitten has moved to a new perch. While she has been forced from her prime location, she won't give up her dominion over the apartment.



But the new-comer is not so interested in having a perch as she is in having that perch which the smaller one is occupying at the moment. She stalks from below.



But again, the small one has the height advantage, making any attempt at challenging her futile.



So she settles into a nearby nook. Natural heat given off by the environment make this a warm and desirable relaxing place for kittens.



She basks in the warmth of the nook.



This of course makes the little one jealous. She is not so much interested in keeping her position, as not letting the new-comer hold any position within her territory. Coming down from her perch, she easily muscles the new-comer out.



She basks in the heat.



...which of course leaves this new perch open to the new-comer!



The little one moves to a new perch on an elevated mesa and begins stalking her dinner.



The new-comer is not willing to give up until the little one submits to her dominance. She rubs up against the trees of the territory, marking them as her own in a direct challenge.



The little one, now having lost two battles of wits, retreats, fearing a direct confrontation.



The new-comer chases off the little one, claiming the mesa, and the prey upon it, as her own.



She quickly and easily overpowers a native caterpillar.



She begins messily devouring it. The carnage and blood-letting show nature in its rawest form.



Once finished with her meal, she begins looking for the little one again. She has unfinished business with her.



She spies something to the side.



The little one has taken refuge behind a tree with five distinct roots.



The black one prepares to pounce. With define and powerful musculature and feline grace, she jumps to the ground.



The little one hopes that she has not been spotted and uses her natural camouflage to her advantage.



But the black one's keen eyesight allows her to detect the small one either way. She is not fooled.



Before she can pounce, something grabs her attention. The kittens have perceived a new threat to their contested domain.



She quickly moves in on this new threat, pouncing into a small cave. Though only the tip of her tail can be seen, much comotion can be heard coming from within.



After a while all movement stops. What was the kitten opponent in this short battle and who was the victor?



The kitten emerges to show that she has engaged the kittens' vile and nefarious natural arch-nemesis: the stick with a piece of string attached.



This round appears to have ended in a draw. The kitten is hopelessly tangled, unable to deliver a killing blow.



She begins her retreat, eyeing a hidden perch.



Atop this secluded perch, the black one licks her wounds from the battle. She is safe momentarily.



But what's this? The small one appears to be hiding here as well. She no doubt retreated when the tussle began.



What is most fascinating is that the kittens appear to be content now to share their territory. Perhaps they realize that there is strength in numbers and that as long as deadly string sticks slither through the territory, they cannot risk petty squabbles with eachother.



After some time, the black one emerges. She is on the prowl, probably trying to find her nemesis.



The little one watches from a distance, out of sight. They appear to be working as a team now. One their own, kittens are fearsome creatures, but when hunting in packs, they are the bane of the wild.



Though she is motionless and out of sight, she signals the black one to approaching threats with coos and meows.



The black one investigates the local flora, using her powerful sense of smell to track her enemies. She can detect scents that are far from noticeable by humans.



She continues on the prowl. It appears she's caught the trail.



But what's this? She's interrupted in her stalking. It appears the flash from our photographer's camera has distracted her.



No longer tolerant of this passive observer, she rushes in towards our brave photographer.



His puny human physique is no match for the quick speed and lightning reflexes of the kitten. She is on him in no time.



She moves in for the attack, latching on to his camera strap. Her sharp and fearsom mandibles can be seen as she tears through the material.



Moving on, she then directs her attack at the photographer himself. Our brave photographer keeps snapping pictures even though there is no hope for himself to escape her relentless onslaught.



This is the last picture the photographer was able to capture. His shredded remains were discovered weeks later by a rescue crew. His bones were snapped in half and picked clean. We can only imagine the fearsome teeth that are hidden by shadow.