The dogs haven’t returned.
It was a freezing cold night as the cloud brought in with it a cold front. Well that’s cold for us African’s. (About 10 degrees C) But being out there exposed to the cold all night, it gets right into your bones. And of course I wasn’t prepared for it. So it was a rather miserable night.
After much searching and freezing I still couldn’t find any sign of the lions. I didn’t check to the very east, which is an area they could have moved on to.
The lame buffalo cow eventually died in the early hours of the morning. It’s strange that she should have died so quickly, but maybe she had other complications.
As the ground heated up creating thermals the vultures were in the air by about 9am and were soon onto the buffalo carcass. But by midday they’d all left not having been able to penetrate the buffalo’s thick skin. They need hyaenas or lions to come and open it for them. No doubt they’ll be back.
The wild dogs are still hunting to the west of the Chiredzi river. I sure hope they come back soon.
I think this is the only known white painting on Malilangwe.
This rhino, (yes painted in white), is actually a black rhino. Did the artist purposefully paint it over the elephant so it would stand out more? Is this a more modern day painting?
(Maybe it was just someone fooling around. We hope not.)
30th April 2000
Tjololo had returned from his ventures into the untouchable lands of the government as was heading north from the southern part of his territory.
It was a happy day for us to see his friendly hyaena back with him, but not such a happy occasion for Tjololo. He rounded a corner and bumping into some impala caught one but immediately had it stolen by his ‘friend’. To add to his humiliation a second hyaena chased after Tjololo forcing him to take refuge in a tree. While the 2 hyaenas fed Tjololo could only watch from his perch.
4 or 5 times as he left the tree the one hyaena charged forcing him back up the tree.
Both hyaenas satiated, (it’s hard to believe they ever can be) rested, one lying on the carcass, the other a way off.
Tjololo left the tree and eased in closer. Next we heard a hyaena take off screaming with a lion hot on its heels. With both hyaenas fleeing and 3 young male lions after them, Tjololo raced in, stole back the carcass and treed it. A very brave move.
The lions returned to find their possible bounty high up in a tree with Tjololo guarding it. One lion climbed the tree up to the first fork, some 4m, but retreated realising it couldn’t get any further. Having lost out they all left.
Tjololo had the rest of the night and carcass to himself.
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