Lars Beusker b. 1973
Khumba, 2020
Handmade black lacquered wooden frames, museum glass, Hahnemühle baryta paper
160 x 186 cm
Further images
Eye to eye with the king of the jungle - what wildlife photographer doesn't dream of this portrait? When I set off to India in February 2020 to look for...
Eye to eye with the king of the jungle - what wildlife photographer doesn't dream of this portrait? When I set off to India in February 2020 to look for a Bengal tiger in its natural environment, I was disappointed. Due to the many tourists from all over the world, it is not possible to "work" with an animal in peace.
Luckily I found contact to a special kind of Concervationists in South Africa: Tiger Canyon rewilded a semi-arid region of South Africa 20 years ago by converting the land back to wilderness. Here, 4 Bengal tigers from India were relocated in hopes of a life in freedom, the return of biodiversity, and the creation of jobs for local people. This area is not accessible for tourists, accordingly relaxed the animals live here - wild and pristine. When I saw Khumba for the first time, my blood shot through my veins, I was so excited. He was lying completely relaxed in the shade of a bush to escape the afternoon sun. When Nick and I stopped and I watched through the camera, he raised his head for a second before he disappeared in the thicket. What a sublime king you are!
Luckily I found contact to a special kind of Concervationists in South Africa: Tiger Canyon rewilded a semi-arid region of South Africa 20 years ago by converting the land back to wilderness. Here, 4 Bengal tigers from India were relocated in hopes of a life in freedom, the return of biodiversity, and the creation of jobs for local people. This area is not accessible for tourists, accordingly relaxed the animals live here - wild and pristine. When I saw Khumba for the first time, my blood shot through my veins, I was so excited. He was lying completely relaxed in the shade of a bush to escape the afternoon sun. When Nick and I stopped and I watched through the camera, he raised his head for a second before he disappeared in the thicket. What a sublime king you are!