Wildcast

On their travels after sunset the dogs had a successful hunt returning to the den bloodstained. And the good news is the adults went straight to the den to feed BB’s pups. But the pups didn’t always score from these moves as the alpha pups were hanging around like vultures waiting for any scraps off the dinner table and would steal anything they could out the little ones mouths.

The good news for me is that it is now clear that these other adults do care about these little pups. I was worried they would neglect them and only feed the alpha pups.

And now as the little ones are slowly weaned, it’s going to be a real challenge for them to survive as they’ll continuously be battling against the bigger alpha pups to score food from the adults. On bad days it’s going to be BB’s pups that will take the strain.

Only time will tell how they’re going to survive. They’ve already surprised me surviving this far after the major harassment they got as day old pups.

The Alpha female continued her intimidation of BB. But today when she threw her on her side, she actually looked like she was suckling from BB. Is this the ultimate in submission?

It was a very cold dawn and all the alpha pups were huddled up together in a tight ball. But they couldn’t decide whether to stay all snug and warm or whether to run off and play. Hearing the adults a short way off they couldn’t resist the temptation to run off and play. They found some old unused burrows that linked underground and had a great time running in one hole and out some other exit, always surprising each other coming out a different hole.

Doby’s body still lay in the same place untouched but this afternoon there were a lot more vultures in the trees above her. They were probably not going to risk it going down as the dogs were all scattered sleeping in the area.

Before sunset there was the usual crazy greeting and social bonding with all pack members, big and small. And it is usually at these times that the Alpha female will intimidate BB. She did this again and BB moved off. But now BB’s pups were swarming around the Alpha female. She lay down, nuzzled AND then suckled them for a short while, even though her milk has all but dried up. Might she come into milk again if she continues this sort of behaviour trying to adopt BB’s pups?

Again at dusk the adults headed out to hunt. Well sort of. They really didn’t look like they had much urge to do so. Slowly they headed east. The pups lagged behind early and went back to the den accompanied by several adults.

The Alpha male and female and a few dogs continued east on the hunt. They came across a group of giraffe with youngsters. The Alpha male and female paid them no attention and kept going east. But the yearling adults couldn’t resist the giraffe calves and had to try their luck. Again just a snort and slightest movement towards them by a mother and they backed off very quickly.

The hunt continued east. Initially the going was fine. Then the bush closed in on us. The Grewia thickets got denser and we were battling to keep up with the dogs. Trying to race through this bush has its hazards. The vehicles take a pounding and need continuous maintenance, and puncture repairs. But we also have to protect ourselves as the vehicles are completely open. Because of this I wear protective eyewear which has saved my eyes on many occasions. And again tonight, as a bent branch came back and smashed the side of my face. Well ofcourse all my choice words came pouring out and I proceeded to attack and break the guilty branch. That at least cooled me down slightly. But we had lost the dogs and it was now dark. AND then I had a puncture. Not going well…..

We made our way back to the den and were soon joined by several dogs that came running in to feed the pups.

Well at least the dogs are doing well.

My car and I limped home with our injuries.