Don't Look Down

Rick Beldegreen's Image

Rick Beldegreen (USA) witnesses a group of puma cubs stalking their potential guanaco prey.

Rick had been tracking a puma and its three cubs for several days when he saw this scene unfold. The guanacos shifted to higher ground after seeing the puma but didn’t notice the cubs, metres from their vantage point.

The sudden appearance of the guanacos startled the cubs, but they soon switched to stalk mode. However, the guanacos spotted them and fled before the cubs could make their move.

Pumas have the largest range of any land mammal in the Americas. They can survive in almost any habitat. Following decades of conservation efforts, around 60 pumas now live in the Torres del Paine National Park and surrounding area. They mainly prey on the population of guanacos.


Behind the lens

Rick Beldegreen

Rick is a retired veterinarian and life-long wildlife photographer of more than 50 years. Since retiring, he’s been able to travel extensively to satisfy his passion for nature and wildlife. Rick will try to photograph anything that crawls, runs, swims or flies and even ventures underwater for the shot.

Image details

  • Nikon D5
  • 80-400mm f5.6-6.3 lens
  • 1/1000 at f6.3  •   ISO 800
  • Torres del Paine National Park, Chile
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