They must have done it again last night, killing a female impala in the bright moon. And I wasn’t there to witness it. They’re not supposed to be nocturnal animals, but with the moon big and the nights being cooler they seem to prefer hunting at night.
The pups again had a few great toys to run around with and chase each other until there really wasn’t any meat left on those bones.
The adults generally don’t mix and play with the pups, but today Puzzles came back a couple of times to hassle, intimidate or actually play with them. But very briefly.
I only managed to get to Malilangwe dam for a short while this afternoon and not much happening down there. The hippo carcass has been blown around into a bay and is rotting away madly.
The shorelines are full of water birds and the white-faced ducks are back. They often come in big flocks to hang out on Malilangwe dam at this time of year.
And a pair of Blacksmith Plovers were madly dive bombing a Slender Mongoose. No doubt they have a nest right there. The mongoose wasn’t taking the attack lightly and ducked for cover whenever it could.
The dogs must have got lucky last night as all had bulging tummies this morning and weren’t too interested in doing much. Of course the pups just had to fool around.
And today they spent ages chewing on this mopanie stump, which always scares me, as chewing branches is a typical symptom of rabies. Thankfully today the pups were just after the burny taste from the tannins and resin.
While these little guys go wild at play the adults lay a ways off just listening and hopefully keeping an ear on the situation as the pups attention is only focussed on their play and not any potential danger. I wonder if they even know what danger is? It really doesn’t look like it.
I did some searching again for Manyari and even went climbing around in the hills, but no joy.
I was back down at Malilangwe dam to check on the Goliath Heron and their chicks. The adults weren’t on the nest when I arrived and it was a really hot day. I was seriously worried my presence might have disturbed them yesterday and they’d abandoned the nest. But on leaving I saw an adult back.
A couple of elephant bulls came down to swim and drink. But before swimming they cooled themselves off with a mud bath. I always wonder why they do this, when they’re just going to swim afterwards and off comes all the mud?
The hippo carcass had drifted into deeper water and several crocs were lying around the area, obviously having fed. But while I was there, all that was feeding on the now very rotten carcass were terrapins and barbel (catfish).
In my normal routine I again joined the dogs in the afternoon, but they had no plans on going anywhere. As it cooled off just before sunset the pups were playing but the adults were still passed out. Another night of hunting by the moon?
I think today must be the first time that I’ve seen the wild dog puppies with lean tummies. They’re usually bulging.
And dad again was bloodstained. So had he killed again and not taken the family to the kill? He might be regurgitating meat for the pups but it’s not enough to sustain all of them.
(I also had reports today from the scouts that they’ve been finding impala carcasses with only a small amount eaten and were baffled as to what it might be. I’m pretty sure it’s the male’s kills.)
When I found the dogs this morning they were all huddled up together and I was sure they’d already hunted and were well fed.
Not at all. It was so cold this morning they weren’t about to leave their spot all snuggled up together. Only once the sun was up did they get going heading east along the northern boundary.
But with no prey around and after taking me bashing through some of the thickest of bush, they called it off and rested up.
I went to look for Manyari but had no joy. Instead I found this buffalo bull. He sure had that look – that look where he reckons you owe him money!
On to Malilangwe dam I checked out the Goliath Heron nest I’d found a few days ago. Today I was able to see there were 3 chicks. I’m hoping to get a hide up there to spend some time with them in the middle of the day when I’m not with the wild dogs.
And just below the nest was a dead hippo. It had been dead some time floating in the water. It was probably a young bull killed by a territorial bull.
I was so excited too to see the Egyptian Geese and their little ones. I’m pretty sure it’s the same pair from Sosigi dam as they still have 12 goslings and were pretty relaxed with my vehicle. So the little guys had walked all that way, 3 to 4kms. AND survived.
Then a small herd of elephant came striding across the grasslands in a hurry to get to water to cool off and drink. And this little girl just couldn’t get enough of the mud.
Back with the dogs in the afternoon. They didn’t get active till sunset as they headed back west. No doubt again they’ll be hunting into the night with the moon pretty full.
All I seem to be seeing of the wild dogs is them playing.
They were on the move when I found them at dawn but really just milling around. The adults were with them but then the male disappeared. Puzzles was resting up a short ways off while the pups ran around playing.
Sometime later the male returned bloodstained and regurgitated meat for pups. And then again he just rested up, not taking the pups to the kill. This should be instinctive to him but he doesn’t get it. Maybe he’s too exhausted to go all the way back there?
And again it shows how capable these dogs are at killing on their own. Something I’m seeing so much more of in this thick bushveld.
What is Puzzles doing about feeding? She’s not getting any meat from the male and not even trying to follow up on his trail to see where he came from. Are they maybe also killing at night with the moon really bright now?
With the pups chasing each other around over the anthill for an hour they were soon passed out for the day.
Heading down the Chiredzi River I found male lion tracks heading south. This must have been the dude I heard calling yesterday. He was still calling this morning but I didn’t get to see him.
I found this massive nest in a very tall Rain Tree. And just peeping out the very top I could see the face of a Giant Eagle Owl. But the nest was huge, about 1.5m high and 1m wide. Must be the biggest nest I’ve ever seen. And perched at the top of the tree was a White-backed Vulture in its relatively tiny nest.
A herd of buffalo were feeding in the Acacia woodlands along the river and of course curious or nervous with my approach.
I searched for Manyari today but didn’t pick up a signal in the hills. She could be out hunting.
Zebra were taking advantage of the green flush in the middle of Banyini pan, but when I arrived they panicked about being caught in the mud and bolted out of there.
Now it was time to get back to the dogs. As I drove in to where they were resting the pups came running to the car. They seem to be doing this every afternoon. It just feels so good when they do this. Almost like coming home to the dogs.
Actually that’s next. Some day I hope to walk and even run with the pack. I know I won’t keep up on the hunt when they’re at full sprint, but when they’re jogging it’ll be brilliant to jog alongside them.
This afternoon the pups played and adults lay around.
As the full moon rose they all settled down.
On the way to look for the dogs I came across the small hyaena cubs and their mom on the move. They were some distance from the den and heading south. I think they’re moving den as I’ve repeatedly seen hyaenas heading in the direction of the hills just south of Manyuchi. They must have den up there somewhere.
The wild dogs are doing just fine. I found them at dawn with a sub-adult male impala kill to the north of Nhoro pan.
They lay around chewing on bits and pieces for a couple of hours before passing out for the day.
I moved on to check on Manyari. I still don’t know for sure if she has cubs.
She was in the hills near Chinzwini eyeing out a herd of impala, but with the winds swirling in the hills her cover was soon blown and she gave up moving deeper into the hills. I couldn’t follow. But her 2 teats still look swollen and the fact that she’s hanging out in the hills must surely mean she has cubs. I don’t plan to risk following her on foot but hopefully in time I’ll be able to find her den. I might actually have to fly to do that. A lot safer.
The dogs didn’t move all day and were still passed out when I got back to them.
They did get active towards sunset and the pups were back on the skin and bone of their impala carcass. While they fidgeted around the adults moved off. One pup noticed and started following but soon gave up.
A lion roared about a km to the south. This is not good news for the dogs, as lions will kill them if they encounter them. The pups didn’t seem concerned but Puzzles soon returned and they all headed north. But not far.
While milling around and waiting, presumably for the male, the pups found a dead squirrel. They were rather nervous to approach it, but once their courage was up, one of the pups grabbed it and suddenly the tug-of-war was on. They all wanted in.
Even with them tugging it in all directions they weren’t able to tear it apart.
Something spooked them and they bolted. Turning back they saw dad was back. At break neck speed they took off to him and he regurgitated food for them. But it’s not much to go around 9 big puppies.
Surprisingly dad then just lay around while the pups were searching for scraps and then were back tugging at their squirrel. Why is dad not taking them back to the kill again?
As it got dark Puzzles headed out and seemed to be tracking. Possibly trying to follow up on where the male had come from. Unfortunately I lost them in the dark.
I’ve been travelling the last couple of days to the big city of Harare, where today turned out to be history in the making. (Not the reason why I was there.) An agreement was reached and signed by all parties to form a coalition government. This is great news and we look forward to a happy and prosperous Zimbabwe.
This wild dog video I shot a few days ago. The pups were exhausted after running around all morning and this little girl just couldn’t settle down.
I’ll be following up on them first thing tomorrow morning.
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