The early starts at the den are now habit and it seems to be habit for the little guys too.
For at least half an hour they were out and the light was too low for me to shoot anything.
Then mom arrived but she had nothing to offer them and moved off again.
She kept coming in for some reason and was snapping at the pups.
The pups then followed her to the back of the den. They were gone some time when I heard a lost pup calling a long way to the east in the hills. Were they moving den?
Not long afterwards all the pups arrived back at the den. So what was that all about?
While they were gone, a black mamba came slithering around the den and disappeared into the rocks. These are one of the world deadliest snakes. But they aren’t a threat to the puppies unless the puppies harass it. I didn’t see it again.
About mid morning the male arrived and I heard him greeting the female and it sounded like she was whining for food. The pups were quick to pick up on the sound and joined them. Some of them returned with chunks of meat. So dad had obviously been successful.
Then all went quiet and there was no sign of any of the dogs for nearly 2 hours. I was sure they were moving den. So I packed up and went in search of the new den. I went east presuming they went the same way as this morning.
Then I heard a lost pup calling. They were probably about 400m east of the den. Eventually I found the pups milling around but seeming to be heading slowly back west. The adults were doing their own thing and slowly following after the pups. That was until the female smelt me and then saw me. She ran off barking and chauffeured the pups straight back to the den.
With all that disturbance I left them in peace only returning in the afternoon.
The alpha female came in before sunset and suckled the pups behind the bushes. Typical!
She obviously had nothing else to offer the pups and felt they needed something. But then why wasn’t she out hunting? Maybe she’ll go tonight or early in the morning.
But generally the dogs are diurnal hunters.
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