The hyaenas were back to finish off the hippo carcass. But all that remained was the hippo’s inch thick hide.
This is what hyaenas were made for, why they have such strong jaws – to slice through this skin with their carnassial shears. They are the only animal that can eat the thicker parts of the hippo skin. Even so it’s really hard work for them but the pay off must be good.
Down at the dam the bugs were excessive and the lights were soon a mass of smoke as the insects were burnt up on the hot bulbs.
We didn’t stay with the hyaenas for long as I wanted to follow up on Manyari. That became a mission again not knowing where they’d moved to in the last 24 hours.
When lions are territorial they generally have finite territories. But things are different at Malilangwe where the lion population is down to one pride. Without competition from other lions they now traverse the whole reserve, an area that once had 5 prides of lions. So obviously trying to find the Nduna pride in an area now 5 times the size becomes a massive task.
And as if I wasn’t getting it right for whatever reason, even one of their pride members couldn’t find them after searching for some 4 hours around dawn. We found her calling near Nduna dam. She called continuously while she was the move for all these hours and was no closer to finding her pride than we were.
If SHE can’t find her pride, how am I ever going to get it right?
The impala on Banyini are showing rutting behaviour, which is strange for this time of year. The rams are roaring, although not with too much enthusiasm, and also sparring. In east Africa they have 2 ruts but that’s because they have 2 rainy seasons. We only have one. This behaviour is not totally unusual although does seem more extensive than usual.
At least for now the clouds have cleared, the wind has died down and the sun is shining.
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