I drove out of camp at dawn slap bang into the Nduna pride strolling down the road.

Road patrol
These guys have been on a big walk-about and now seem to rule most of Malilangwe. Their only opposition is the Banyini pride, but they seem to be spending most of their time next door on Hippo Valley.
The lions continued south along the road from camp through the hills. As they popped over the first rise, baboons scattered and took refuge in trees. They were safe, but only if they stayed there.

Watching
But when the lions walked under a tree with some youngsters in it, the little guys lost their nerve and bailed. They had no chance and were instantly in the jaws of 2 lions, which rushed off to feed on their own before having to compete with the rest of the pride.

Sentinel
It was quite a disturbing sight to see this little baboon dangling from the jaws of this big cat AND still alive screaming. But luckily it was killed pretty quickly.
The 2 baboons didn’t provide much sustenance for the pride.

Striding out
The kept moving around the hills hoping to get other baboons to lose it, but they were now truly entrenched up in their trees.
Eventually the lions headed on south and out of the hills. But this lower lying country in some areas where it’s been heavily grazed, is covered in the devil thorn Tribulus. These tough thorns wreck havoc with the lion’s paws and in some areas play an important role in deterring lions.

Removing thorns
I would have thought though that lions would have come to recognise not only these areas but also possibly the plants that are responsible. But there was none of that. In the one specific area they walked through today, they would have been fine if they’d moved 1m (3ft) to either side of where they did walk, but no chance of that.
Of course they are just LIONS!


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5 Responses to “Lions Hunting Baboons: Video”

  1. Gravatar Icon 1 Mark Homann

    Hi Kim

    Looks like the Nduna pride has grown! How many cats are there now? Do you ever see the pride in the South, they used to come in and out of the Park, there was a very very big male with them? How many cats are in the Bunyini pride?

    Cheers
    Mark

  2. Gravatar Icon 2 Wildcaster

    Hi Mark. Nduna pride now 12 individuals. 1 adult male. Don’t know how many in Banyini pride. haven’t seen them for ages. And the guys in the south also scarce. Don’t know when they were last seen. Nduna pride seem to be roaming the whole place.

  3. Gravatar Icon 3 Kevin

    I saw a nature show once (I think “Eye Of The Leopard”) a baboon actually attacked a leopard. Are baboons really this strong that they can take on a big cat? The baboon was killed but they made it seem like that was “an upset”.

  4. Gravatar Icon 4 Cryson

    Hi Mark,

    The big,big male was last reported some time ago within the Tsatsawalani area by himself and he was having the interest of going in and out to Chizvirizvi, maybe he met the Campfire guys or had gone into the N/Parks.

    Cheers
    Cryson (A1)

  5. Gravatar Icon 5 Wildcaster

    Hi Kevin. Yes baboons can kill a leopard especially when they attack in force. leopards generally give baboons a wide berth. Male leopards may stand their ground but not a female. Especially if she has small cubs. She moves away at the sound of baboons. Baboons are strong and have very long canines. Longer than the leopards.
    Hey Cryson. Great to have your input.

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