They did it again. While resting up at Nyari pan in the later afternoon some impala walking by were suddenly on Puzzles’ menu, especially as she had hardly eaten in the morning.
It was a short chase, not even 500m and Puzzles had brought down the pregnant impala. But the pups were hot on her heels and before she could hardly take a bite they’d taken over the kill. How could they? They were already gorged from this mornings kill, there was no way they had room for any more. But somehow they demolished the whole kill and any advance Puzzles made trying to get a bite, she was chased off. She eventually did get to feed but it was really only skin and bones.
We picked up on the lions at dusk.
Big action was imminent. A herd of buffalo were grazing by not even a 100m away. The lions watched. And they watched again. The buffalo kept coming on by. Until eventually the whole herd had moved on and the lions hadn’t budged!
Some time after dark they did get mobile, but it wasn’t to follow on after the buffalo, there were impala close by. In the thick mopanie woodland it was easy going and Manyari quickly had a pregnant impala in her jaws. She was immediately descended upon by the males. The 3 fed in relative peace for several minutes before the scrapping started and soon each had split off with a little prize.
The action was pretty cool as they fought over the kill and filmed backlit it turned out awesome with clouds of dust from all the action!
It was still early evening and both my filming subjects were well gorged. I was exhausted and called it a night. It was back home to sleep on a bed, which I haven’t done in the last couple of weeks.
But we were out again at dawn to find the Nyari pride in the same place we left them last night. They soon headed south to Banyini pan for a good solid drink and then passed out.
Hi Kim,
How long will the pups continue to take over the kills? Won’t they start hunting in a pack before long or will the parents continue to supply the youngsters with food? I would hope that eventually all of them would be working together and subsequently feeding together on an equal basis. It appears that the pups are old enough and big enough now to start learning to hunt on their own. I feel sorry for Puzzles and her mate. How can they get enough food to maintain themselves if the pups continuously take it all?
Junebug
only when the pups are about a year old will they all feed together. but it’s a good system in that it forces the adults to hunt when they are hungry which is more often than the pups being hungry. so pups always well fed. but adults doing just fine. they of course get to eat first on kills they make.