A pair between two
22nd July 2023
It's not very often that I choose to photograph injured animals or certainly ones that have some form of physical disability. From time to time I do see a hare with injuries usually sustained from bouts of boxing and fighting, it's heartbreaking to see but not necessarily life shortening.
Hares are fully equipped with sharp incisors and a powerful neck should they wishing to bite down on another in battle. Cheek teeth in the lower jaw can be used for vicious biting and tearing of tender ear lobes. A powerful punch or kick from big feet often cause eye injuries. Brambles and wire fencing also causes horrific injuries to wildlife during high speed chases.
But here is a story of a happy bonding between two injured hares I have been enchanted to observe over the last couple of weeks: Male 1 obviously has at some point lost its right eye completely. The wound has healed and the hare seems strong and fit.
Male 2 has suffered a serious blow to its left eye. Again able to feed, forage and fend for itself and seems fine.
Nature and maybe a little sprinkling of fate has somehow enabled these two one eyed hares to find each other. They have bonded to become a pair of hares with one working pair of eyes between them. Time and time again I have seen them running up the field towards me, working in partnership, ensuring that one has its good eye to the left, the other to the right.
They must obviously use their other strong senses of smell and hearing to make up for having a blind side to danger but isn't that remarkable that two hares have become a carer for each other.
Hares are fully equipped with sharp incisors and a powerful neck should they wishing to bite down on another in battle. Cheek teeth in the lower jaw can be used for vicious biting and tearing of tender ear lobes. A powerful punch or kick from big feet often cause eye injuries. Brambles and wire fencing also causes horrific injuries to wildlife during high speed chases.
But here is a story of a happy bonding between two injured hares I have been enchanted to observe over the last couple of weeks: Male 1 obviously has at some point lost its right eye completely. The wound has healed and the hare seems strong and fit.
Male 2 has suffered a serious blow to its left eye. Again able to feed, forage and fend for itself and seems fine.
Nature and maybe a little sprinkling of fate has somehow enabled these two one eyed hares to find each other. They have bonded to become a pair of hares with one working pair of eyes between them. Time and time again I have seen them running up the field towards me, working in partnership, ensuring that one has its good eye to the left, the other to the right.
They must obviously use their other strong senses of smell and hearing to make up for having a blind side to danger but isn't that remarkable that two hares have become a carer for each other.