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Caught on BeetleCam! Lions, elephants and buffalo pictured by ingenious crawling camera in African savannahThe cameras are used by Londoner Will Burrard-Lucas to capture imagesThe 29-year-old moved to Zambia for a year with his doctor wifeHas recently captured a leopard for the first time using BeetleCam
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UPDATED:
15:33 GMT, 23 December 2012
Lazing about in the African sun, these lions have no idea their actions are being caught on BeetelCam.
Because the remote-controlled camouflaged cameras is allowing Will Burrard-Lucas to capture intimate snaps of some of the continents most fearsome animals, without the risk of being savaged.
The 29-year-old, from London, stands about 55 yards away before using a model aeroplane remote to deploy the homemade roving machines into the paths of lions, elephants and buffalo roaming on the plains of the South Luangwa National Park, in Zambia.
Captured: A female lion is intrigued by the camera as it crawls along the savannah floor
Up close: A female lion seems quite happy with BeetleCam taking her picture from within touching distance
Camouflaged: Will Burrard-Lucas has moved to Zambia from his home in London to grab the pictures using his ingenious cameras
Family life: Mr Burrard-Lucas has been able to capture impressive images of a range of animals including this baby elephant with one of its parents
Will, who has moved to the country for a year with his doctor wife Natalie, said: 'It is the dry season so a lot of the animals have to come to the river to drink.
'It means there's an high concentration of wildlife around the water, it is a real hive of activity.
'Because I'm living in Africa now I can spend more time working on getting close to shier creatures who otherwise would never come near the camera.
'It has enabled me to capture a leopard with the BeetleCam for the first time.” Will took the photos in South Luangwa National Park.
He added: 'Most of the animals are very inquisitive, they will come and check the camera out but others are more wary, so photographing them takes a lot more patience.
'Three years ago I didn't have any armour on the camera and a curious lioness completely destroyed it.
Unaware: A lone elephant wanders through foliage on the savannah in Zambia without realising it has company
Intrigued: A female lion makes her way to the camera after spotting it from further away
Teamwork: The lioness is joined by another as they investigate the camera making its way across the floor of the African plain
Personal: BeetleCam captures an intimate moment as one of the female lion lets out a yawn
'So now on the fourth-generation of the buggy I've reinforced the camera so it stands up to attention of most animals.'
While Will is taking candid photographs of wild animals, Natalie is working in a rural Zambian hospital and is writing a blog about her experiences.
View it at www.drnat.co.uk. You can also view Will's latest photographs on his Facebook page at www.facebook.com/BLphotography.
Spotted: A leopard approaches BeetleCam with a curious look in its eye
Alert: The camera captures the leopard looking into the distance as it keeps its eye open for other dangers
Relaxed: BeetleCam has been able to capture its first pictures of leopards since Mr Burrard-Smith relocated
Danger: BeetleCam risks being trampled as it grabs a picture of a herd of buffalo
VIDEO See Will's brilliant insight into the world of Beetlecam here…
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