14th Annual Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest Natural World
Day of the Jackal

We followed a young male cheetah on the edge of Lake Burunge, Tanzania, as he stalked then killed a young wildebeest. It attracted the attention of this black-backed jackal, who pushed and pushed his luck trying to sneak in, until finally the cheetah snapped, turning on the jackal who, with much yelping, managed to get away by the skin of his teeth.

Photo Detail
Date Taken: 08.2016
Date Uploaded: 11.2016
Photo Location: Tanzania
Camera: Canon EOS-1D X
Copyright: © Michael Lorentz