Last November, a Uganda-based guide captured a striking image showing an enormous, prehistoric-looking shoebill after it had landed on a tour boat.
The rarely observed "dinosaur bird" was photographed such at an angle that it appeared to dwarf tourists standing just outside the vessel.
Innocent Muhumuza’s image went viral and tourism increased among folks who wanted to experience shoebill encounters of their own. (Shoebills inhabit swamps in East and Central Africa and are declining in number, with only an estimated 3,300 to 5,000 remaining.)
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On Sunday, Muhumuza shared the accompanying image as part of a video showing a shoebill in flight over Mabamba Swamp. (Most encounters
involve stationary birds waiting to strike fish and small reptiles.)
The image is unique in that it shows a shoebill in flight above guides and tourists.
The tourists are not armed with fancy cameras, but they appear to be mesmerized as they attempt to immortalize the experience with cellphones.
Shoebill fun facts: The predatory birds, which can stand 5 feet tall and boast 8-foot wingspans, have been known to decapitate baby crocodiles with their razor-sharp bills. But they are not considered dangerous to humans.
This article originally appeared on For The Win: Uganda tourists in awe as giant 'dinosaur bird' soars over boat
