TALL SHADOWS

Artist Simon Combes viewed these three giraffes are casually browsing the tall, yellow acacia trees. One of them is stretching to his fullest height to reach the new, green shoots with his long, blue tongue. These are reticulated giraffes, a subspecies confined to a comparatively small area of Northern Kenya, Southern Somalia and Ethiopia. They are particularly distinguishable by the rich chocolate color of their markings.

Lying replete in the shade are two male Grant’s gazelles. Normally found far out on the hot plains, they sometimes venture into more wooded country, but with great caution since there they are much more vulnerable to ambush by one of the big cats. In this instance, they are safe in close proximity to the giraffes whose superb eyesight and great height make them perfect lookouts.