Lions were today’s focus.
At dawn the collared lioness had joined up with her 3 cubs and the adult male near Makeche. The lioness was calling softly but there was no sign of the rest of the pride. I left them in the shade lying up near a couple of pans, which have seen a lot of buffalo activity recently.
We were back in the afternoon for the drugs course. The lions had moved a couple of kilometres south and but there was no sign of the male. Just the lioness and her cubs.
All went according to plan and the lioness was darted. Her cubs were more interested in the dart than in their mother’s well being. Before she even went down the cubs had pulled the dart out and chewed it up.
With mom down, the cubs scattered when we went to attend to her. No doubt they watched the whole proceedings from the bush close by.
A small incision was made in the lioness stomach and the radio transmitter inserted and she was sewn up again.
By now it had got dark and we all boarded our vehicles waiting for her to wake. Just then the male came swaggering in wondering what all the disturbance was. He saw his mate in the spotlight, but didn’t venture any closer and lay down waiting.
She woke when hearing his approach and groggily staggered towards him falling all over the place. He must have thought she was high on something.
Having greeted and lain down next to him, we left them in peace.
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