Behind the Shot
There are only seven "master trackers" in the entire world– and three of them are in Kruger National Park, one of Africa’s largest game reserves. As the name suggests, master trackers track wildlife on foot through the African bush and are the most skilled and knowledgeable people on Earth when it comes to wildlife.
Pierson was on safari in Kruger, when he was led by a master tracker to “the coolest animal” he’s ever seen up close. The master tracker was “a genius” when it came to exploring the bush and finding the leopard. “He looked at the dirt and grass to see how it was broken and the direction of the paw prints,” Pierson recalls of the day. After six hours of tracking on foot, he finally stood only 10 feet away from the elusive animal. The image he captured shows the leopard in all its green- eyed glory, looking proudly into the distance.
This striking print brings a bit of that safari adventure home. It also serves as a reminder that these animals are magnificent and should be treated with the respect they deserve.
