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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