I’m having trouble knowing where to begin today, there has been a lot on the go since yesterday. While Kim is joined at the hip with those wild dogs, I’ve got a little freedom to move around and catch up with other areas on the reserve. From the sable antelope in the east, to tracking down those black rhinos, which are still eluding me. I drove past Banyini Pan area and landed up amongst a herd of twenty four giraffe yesterday. There are also herds of zebra coming out of the woodwork, they are spread out amongst every grass plain I come across.
Last night at Nyari Pan I witnessed the most amazing sequence of events I’ve seen so far. Our old elephant bull, named George, was up to his old circus tricks again. He gave me a lesson on how to toss a two ton rhino without breaking a sweat! An adult rhino and a sub-adult were drinking at Nyari, minding their own business. I was quite enjoying their roaming around the pan with this huge elephant bull in the foreground. The elephant proceeded to circle the entire pan then pretended to scratch up against a tree near the rhinos. The rhinos were looking a little on edge when suddenly the elephant turned on the taps and broke into a full charge. I won’t lie, he tossed the poor rhino like he was a monkey jumping from a tree. The rhino squeeled like a baby, then turned and charged full taps into the trunk of the elephant. Old George has had a few more confrontations than this rhino, so he knew how to bush fight and ended up tossing the rhino a second time with his tusk. It was an intense few seconds, but the rhinos tucked tail and bolted. I was left in the direct line of an angry elephant, I started up, banged on the door, backed up a little and he was fine. He just walked off calmly and I followed him into the hills.
I’ve also had a chance to spend some quality time at the hyena den. The cubs are doing well, all four of them are at the den again and are as playful as those wild dogs of late.
I watched an interesting cerimony of the matriarch pulling rank. She was giving one the of the cubs a hard time and just wouldn’t allow it to suckle its mother.
The cubs have been out of control, they are all over the show and there’s permanently an adult trying to round them up. It’s great fun hanging around the den, I just hope I don’t start to woop.
How very strange. I almost got the impression she was jealous. Or perhaps her teats were too full and she wanted the cub to ease her pain? Very interesting.
I could see it being like her “stamping her matriarch” sign on the cub. It’s my understanding that the head hyena is usually the one that has the cubs (I could be wrong).
If that is normally the case, but in this clan the matriarch isn’t capable, or inclined to produce a litter, she has to show the cubs who’s boss.
If it was a kill that they were all feeding on, no one else in the clan would be able to eat that unless she let them. So it kinda makes sense that she’s trying to show she’s in charge by not letting the cub eat until she finally says it’s okay.
But, I’m not psychic! Maybe she’s just cantankerous. Very interesting to see. And hearing about that bull was scary! Poor rhino!
Hello,
I love my lessons on behaviour.
Did you by any chance take more photos of George giving the Rhino a beating?
*laughing at Ivanova!*
sorry just had a giggle when i read the last line of your comment!!!
Julie8 - I think there are 2 mothers in the clan , I dunno if the Matriarch is one such mother ????
Either way , she did “handle with care” when administering the lesson !
I did notice that the cubs looked like a right handful , the wee rascals had run rings around their babysitter in “hyena Den” video at the end of April ….
Just wait till your mother gets home !
Great Video but a bit strange of the Matriarch Hyena. Guess she wants to approve of all the meals.
Would have loved to see old George toss the 2 ton Rhino. That must have been something to see. Don’t mess with old George!!
Ivanova, we should have a video clip coming soon - hanging on with baited breath!
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