Animal print identification competition

The below picture, taken by Woodlore office member Steve on a trip to East Africa earlier this year, shows an animal print found in the dirt. The first person to find and correctly identify it wins, as always, a £10.00 Woodlore Voucher:

The animal print found in Eastern Africa, correctly identified as that of a hyena

Due to the angle at which the photograph was taken, this wasn’t the easiest print to identify. However, some of you got it right – it is in fact a hyena print; Steve and the group were even lucky enough to see one that day sprinting past them. Of all the comments, Zoe was the first to answer correctly, winning a £10.00 Woodlore Voucher.

If you’d like to brush up on your skills at tracking and identifying wildlife, we’d recommend taking a look at the Animal Tracks & Signs book or, even better, taking part in our Woodlore Tracking course.

About The Woodlore Team

Woodlore, School of Wilderness Buchcraft was founded in 1983, by the British Bushcraft and survival expert Ray Mears. Woodlore began as a relatively unknown company, offering a small selection of courses on bushcraft techniques. With Ray's ambition and perserverance, Woodlore has since grown into a world-renowned and highly respected school, offering in-depth courses on a wide range of bushcraft and survival subjects. In addition to training, Woodlore now also provides some of the finest outdoors equipment from around the world, carefully selected on the basis of our extensive experience.

This entry was posted on Thursday, November 18th, 2010 at 10:09 am and is filed under Competitions.

22 Responses to “Animal print identification competition” - most recent displayed first

December 20th, 2010 at 8:17 pm
mark jackson says:

Lion
November 19th, 2010 at 4:58 pm
Mark Hotson says:

Following on from the previous posting, a very generous offer by Ray !…I think the track was made by the front paw of a Leopard.
November 19th, 2010 at 3:01 pm
Peter Boucher says:

Thats a cheetah print

Peter
Ontario, Canada
November 19th, 2010 at 8:54 am
Jorrit Iepema says:

I think it’s the footprint of a Lion. Likely the East African or Massai Lion, found in east Africa,
from Ethiopia and Kenya to Tanzania and Mozambique. P. l. nubica.

Greetings,

Jorrit Iepema
November 19th, 2010 at 4:34 am
Rob says:

I think it might be an African Leopard track
November 19th, 2010 at 1:51 am
Alastair Johnston says:

i think this is a leopard track.
November 19th, 2010 at 1:08 am
Martin Shanks says:

Wow! quite a number of tracks there overlapping each other.

Well it’s a big mammalian predator, a female with young I presume. It’s hard for me with no experience.
My first instincts were a big cat, but it’s hard on the photo to get any sense of scale.
The small track upper right side seems to have 3 lobes and says cat to me.
Though the big obvious print centre right and below centre left could perhaps be hyena but I can’t distinguish any claw marks.
So I am going to go with Female leopard with cubs, perhaps two of them. I’m will not be surprised if I am wrong, but you have to try don’t you
November 19th, 2010 at 12:23 am
Mark hotson says:

I could be repeating the theme of ray’s generous gift to children in need. I think it is a leopard track.
November 18th, 2010 at 7:59 pm
russell deering says:

theres some thing there i cant make out………. is it a secretary bird???? hahahaha i give up!!!
November 18th, 2010 at 7:39 pm
russell deering says:

or i think i can make out a cheetah going from left to right???? there might even be one more in there???
November 18th, 2010 at 7:18 pm
russell deering says:

is it a lion???
November 18th, 2010 at 6:34 pm
Jorrit Iepema says:

I think it’s the footprint of a Lion!
November 18th, 2010 at 6:12 pm
Paul freebury says:

Tracks are from a leopard
November 18th, 2010 at 4:45 pm
Pierre says:

By the way, “Animal Tracks & Signs book” does not cover the big cats
November 18th, 2010 at 4:44 pm
Pierre says:

Looks round and no claw mark, 4 digits. So big cat.

The main/middle pad does not have the depressions that seems typical of the lion.

It seems the fore pad could be somewhat smaller than the rear. I would bet on leopard. It is only a better thematic continuity with the TV serie
November 18th, 2010 at 4:05 pm
Zoe Ginster says:

Hi Woodlore,

Complete guess, could it be a Hyena?
November 18th, 2010 at 4:05 pm
Peter says:

I think its a Lion footprint.
November 18th, 2010 at 2:09 pm
Alex says:

Baby lion!?
November 18th, 2010 at 1:26 pm
Sasa Matic says:

these tracks looks like adoult leopard tracks followed by baby leopard…
November 18th, 2010 at 12:54 pm
Dermott says:

Cheetah?

Regards

Dermott J Murphy
November 18th, 2010 at 12:29 pm
Anna Freebury says:

My answer is Lion

Thank you
November 18th, 2010 at 11:04 am
Alison says:

Erm – a lion?

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