Encounter with a Wild Boar Family🐗 / Glad I Had the M.ZD40-150mm F2.8 PRO / OM SYSTEM

I have introduced the benefits of OM SYSTEM cameras many times in my note articles. I recently had an experience where I could truly appreciate those benefits. Here it is ⬇⬇

Yes, it's a

wild boar🐗

.

Before I tell you about this, I would like to explain some precautions to everyone.This is very important, so please be sure to read it..

⚠ This is not intended to encourage actively approaching and photographing wild animals. Excessive proximity can provoke wild animals and lead to the danger of being attacked, so please do not imitate this. ⚠

■ Precautions when encountering a wild boar

• Do not provoke them

• Back away quietly

• Be especially careful with mothers with young

■ Things you must not do

• Make noise, shout, or try to drive them away by yelling

• Run away suddenly (there is a possibility they will chase you)

• Get too absorbed in taking photos (it is dangerous to get close)

• Block the wild boar's path

■ If you are charged at

• Hide behind something (a tree, rock, utility pole, etc.)

• Escape to a high place (if there are stairs, steps, etc.)

• Use your bag or clothes to guard yourself and avoid fatal injuries

■ Things you can do in advance to avoid encounters

• When walking on mountain paths or through brush,make noise (bells, radio, conversation, etc.)

• Be especially careful at dawn and dusk (when they are most active)

• Do not leave food odors (trash, leftover lunch, etc., are strictly prohibited)

• In areas with many wild boars, avoid traveling alone if possible

■ If you become a victim

• Contact the police or local authorities immediately (depending on the region, this may be the public health center or a local hunters' association)

• If you sustain an injury, consult a hospital abouttetanus prevention as well

Encounter with a Wild Boar (Extremely Close Range)

On this day, I went to the forest I usually visit for birdwatching, and I had just gotten into my car to head home. Shortly after, I heard several heavy sounds coming from the bushes, and to my surprise,a family of wild boars appeared.

I wondered why a wild boar in the child-rearing stage—which has a sharp sense of smell, is highly vigilant, and is even more nervous than usual—would come to a place that smells so much like humans. Then, I heard a crunching sound coming from a boar that was looking down and rummaging around. It seemed to be eating red berries that had fallen on the ground.

It seems the boars had come to eat these "yamamomo (bayberry)" fruits. Many of them had fallen right next to where I had parked my car.

The boars would occasionally glance at me inside the car, but they showed no signs of fear or aggression. They were happily wagging their tails and were all engrossed in eating the many bayberries that had fallen on the ground.

Fortunately, I realized that since I was inside the car and they weren't wary of me, this was my chance. I took out the
OM SYSTEM OM-1 MARK II
and the
M.ZUIKO DIGITAL ED 40-150mm F2.8 PRO
that I had brought for birdwatching and decided to take some photos.

Since I was there for birdwatching, my main lens was the 300mm f/4 (M.ZD 300mm F4 PRO), but I always made sure to carry the compact and unobtrusiveM.ZD 40-150mm F2.8 PRO as a set so I could immediately respond if a photo opportunity arose for something other than wild birds.

It is an excellent lens that is lightweight and compact, yet capable of shooting at a constant f2.8 aperture with a 35mm equivalent focal length of 80-300mm. Moreover, its image quality is so beautiful that it rivals that of a prime lens✨

When taking the photos, of course,I turned off the car engine, did not stick my face, hands, or lens out of the window (I did not use the lens hood), set my smartphone to silent mode, used the camera's silent shutter, made sure not to make any stimulating noises, avoided any actions that would startle them, and ultimately stayed quietly in the car until the boars left the area on their own.

Actually, this isn't my first time encountering wild boars; I've encountered them at close range many times in the past. It seems that during bayberry season, they tend to show themselves without caring about the presence of people. Everyone, please be careful.

Just because I've encountered them many times doesn't mean it's okay to take pictures up close. If you let your guard down, you could end up in a terrible situation, so the first priority is basically to keep your distance and not provoke them. Given the situation, I chose to watch quietly to prioritize the wild boars' natural behavior rather than starting the car engine and leaving the scene. The photography was just a side effect... Yes, just a side effect... 🤐mumble mumble

As they get full, the piglets start to play. They seem to be full of curiosity, but they don't stray far from their mother.

And then, after this...

It seems they are full and getting sleepy.

As the other siblings also started to get sleepy...

They all started lying down at once.

Even though I am inside the car, they probably view me as 'part of the scenery.' They look very relaxed.

And the cuteness of these sleeping positions is just...🤤

While wild boars are disliked as pests that destroy crops, I just can't bring myself to hate this sight. These are some cute little butts that I wouldn't have been able to see if I hadn't stayed perfectly still and kept watch (lol).

A relaxing 5 to 7 minutes passed just like this, and during that time, the mother must have eaten enough bayberries to be full, as she started heading back into the bushes with a rustling sound. The piglets, who had been sleeping, also hurried to wake up and followed their mother, disappearing deep into the forest.

From the moment the boar family appeared until they returned deep into the forest, about 30 minutes had passed. It was a peaceful moment, even with the rare sense of tension I experienced.

I just happened to encounter gentle (?) individuals, but there are significant differences depending on the region and the individual animal, so please be aware that not all wild boars are like this.

With that, everyone, please be very careful and enjoy your photography activities in the mountains (･ω･)ﾉｼ

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