Manyari looked a lot more upbeat last night.
When I got back to Manyari at sunset her cubs were back with her and she looked a lot happier having them there.
Her cubs had left the other 3 youngsters they had been travelling with since Manyari was injured. We heard those youngsters calling a long ways to the south. They must be looking for the rest of the pride now that their team leader, Manyari, is out of action.
Manyari’s cubs seemed oblivious of her condition still wanting to roll and tumble with her, which only hurt more.
Soon after dark she slowly got on the move but once going she moved at a good pace, the cubs trailing way behind at times.
She took them straight to Lojaan dam where she drank for ages. The cubs didn’t drink, probably having drunk the day before.
Having settled her thirst Manyari’s family rested up at the dam all night, while the other lions were calling way off in the distance.
At dawn Manyari took her family away from the dam to rest up a few hundred meters away. A good idea as elephant and other animal activity could have been dangerous for her in her state.
Her wounds look terrible but at least she seems to be able to keep them clean and at this time of year there aren’t that many bugs around.
On my travels home some Sable were drinking at Bandama pan when this elephant bull arrived and for no apparent reason chased them well our of the area.
I was happy to see my first Lichtenstein’s Hartebeest calves of the season at Hwata pan. These little guys are very new, only a day or two old.
14th September 2000
What was that about last night being so hot? This weather sure has got it all screwed up. 2 days ago it was cold, yesterday it was already 36 degrees C and now again it’s that cold that all winter clothes were on early in the evening.
Tjololo started an idle motion slowly heading east from the river. He seemed be getting himself into hunting mode. At least he was now moving away from his boundaries and looking at using the central part of his territory. This is where the game is, but it seems over the last couple of weeks for some reason he has concentrated on marking and claiming his boundaries, possibly feeling some sort of threat following his 2 day showdown to the southeast.
The wind suddenly picked up and was really gusting, trees swaying and grass rustling. It seemed Tjololo knew he had to take advantage of it. The noise would muffle his approach. He suddenly picked up his pace considerably and was very alert. Seeing some impala about a hundred metres away he didn’t even hesitate, knowing he had the wind covering up for him he charged in and took them unawares killing an adult female. Luckily with the wind too it’s death cries were muffled and he had a peaceful night with no disturbance from any hyaena.
Again he’d caught a pregnant female and without hesitating he fed from the rear end removing the foetus to feed on first. Presumably he can smell she’s pregnant. He doesn’t feed first before discovering the foetus. It seems very intentional the way he will feed on it first.
He had treed the carcass before feeding not wanting to relinquish his prize after so many hungry days. On his second feed early in the morning he dropped the carcass, fed on the ground and then treed it again. Not taking any chances that his spotted counter part might be lurking in the area.
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