WEEK IN PICTURES #16
Semi-large herds of buffalo are currently moving around but typically found sleeping in the early mornings. They did loose a few members due to the lions, during the winter months the buffalo’s physical condition is not that great thus making it easier to take down. Although they do tend to turn back and face the lions when one is caught from time to time, this practice works well when it is a large herd but with smaller herds the lions are not easily intimidated.
The Kudyela Pride was seen trailing a herd of buffalo for two days, lion tracks were found one morning trailing a herds of buffalo and soon the were found enjoying their well deserved meal. Feeding quickly they managed to finish the carcass within a day and the next morning only a few hyenas and some vultures were finishing what was left. This pride has over the last few months shown that they are experts in hunting.
Elephants need to take in a large amount of vegetation every day and spend close to 16 hours of the day feeding, with food not as abundant as it is in summer herds move quickly and cover a lot of ground to look for food. Herds are also often spread out over a large area and to make the process of foraging much easier for each individual.
Chavaluthu was found relaxing one afternoon near a waterhole and later he moved into some thickets and came out dragging his impala kill. Returning to the same area the next morning he had hoisted his kill but is was that afternoon that he shared his meal with a leopardess and her 2 cubs, so in total we had four leopards in one sighting! We are continuously seeing more and more of the 2 cubs and it seems that they are getting comfortable with the vehicles moving around them.
