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Photo Details: A pair of lion cubs (Panthera leo) striding out boldly with their mother following in the background, Mashatu Game Reserve, Tuli Block, Botswana.
Camera: Canon EOS 400D Digital; Lens: Canon EF70-300mm f/4-5.6 IS USM; Focal Length: 180mm; Shutter speed: 1/800; Aperture: f5.6; ISO: 400.

Additional Info: Most people now accept that global warming is a reality. Ancients like me probably won't be around to see the worst effects of climate change. But for the coming generations, it's a reality that will have possibly devastating consequences.

So I thought it appropriate to feature an image of youngsters going boldly forward, under the watchful but diminishing influence of the older generation. Unfortunately for the lions and other animals of the planet, both young and old, they can't make a difference.

But people can. Earth Hour is a worldwide campaign to raise awareness of global warming by encouraging people to switch off their lights for one hour - from 8.30pm to 9.30pm - local time on Saturday 28 March.

According to the Earth Hour website, "2,848 cities, towns and municipalities in 84 countries have already committed to VOTE EARTH for Earth Hour 2009, as part of the world's first global election between Earth and global warming."

The Vote Earth! website says: "This year, Earth Hour has been transformed into the world’s first global election, between Earth and global warming. For the first time in history, people of all ages, nationalities, race and background have the opportunity to use their light switch as their vote – Switching off your lights is a vote for Earth, or leaving them on is a vote for global warming. WWF are urging the world to VOTE EARTH and reach the target of 1 billion votes, which will be presented to world leaders at the Global Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen 2009."

Photo Details: Hippopotamus (Hippopotamus amphibius) yawning, side view showing the long, sharp tusks in the lower jaw, Elephant Plains Game Reserve, Sabi Sand, South Africa.
Camera: Canon EOS 400D; Lens: Canon 100-400 IS Zoom; Focal Length: 400mm; Shutter speed: 1/160; Aperture: f5.6; ISO: 200.

Additional Info: The hippo's yawning display is a means of showing off its huge jaws and large incisor and canine teeth to competitors and intruders. The lower canines or tusks are kept razor sharp by honing against the shorter, upper canines. Armed with such dangerous weapons, adult male hippos when fighting can cause each other serious, sometimes fatal, injuries.

Photo Details: Male lion (Panthera leo) performing scuffing ceremony to mark his territory, Mashatu Game Reserve, Tuli Block, Botswana.
Camera: Canon EOS 400D (Canon Rebel XS 10.1MP); Lens: Canon 70-300 F4-5.6 IS USM; Focal Length: 240mm; Shutter speed: 1/500; Aperture: f5.6; ISO: 400.

Additional Info: Male lions within a pride regularly mark the boundaries of their defended territory by spraying urine on bushes and other landmarks. This is often followed by the scuffing ceremony where the lion rakes the ground with his back feet a number of times, as in the picture above.

Photo Details: Redheaded Weaver (Anaplectes rubriceps) in bright breeding plumage uses its beak to strip a twig while gathering building material for a new nest, Kruger National Park, South Africa.
Camera: Canon EOS Digital Rebel; Lens: Canon 100-400 IS zoom; Focal Length: 390mm; Shutter speed: 1/400; Aperture: f5.6; ISO: 400.