The dogs are still seriously on the move and poor pregnant Puzzles just tags along behind, her tummy looking ever so huge these days.
Today was interesting in that Kodak just couldn’t leave her alone, whining and hassling her the whole time, so much so that she wasn’t able to feed. Although she was really well fed as they had killed in the night with the moon and again at dawn. All the dogs looked as if they were pregnant.
I had an interesting afternoon with them a couple of days ago. The pack had moved into the hills and spent the day resting there. I joined them later in the afternoon resting with them until they got active about an hour before sunset. They did their normal greeting ceremony and moved on around a corner in the rocks when Puzzles suddenly sounded the alarm. I came round the corner to see all the dogs giving their alarm bark and rushing at this small cave in the rocks. They would all rush in then back off. Hair on their backs up and tails erect. They kept at this for some time. Then rested up close by for a few minutes before resuming their advance. I thought it was now my opportunity to score points with the pack and so made my advance peering into the cave from a few meters. I think they were impressed….. Anyway I couldn’t see anything but heard a low sort of deep breathing and their seemed to be more than one. It almost sounded like a puffadder puffing, but the sound was too big. Was it a python? It couldn’t be a cat cos it would be hissing or growling. I was baffled. Then 2 of the pups went right up to the cave with their bodies half way in. They did this a couple of times. I was now sure that if whatever was in there wasn’t going to attack them, then surely it wouldn’t attack me. So off I went peering into the cave. It was very narrow and really just a slit in the rock. I couldn’t see anything. So I pulled myself up a ledge right there and was able to peer into the cave. No more than 3ft away was this tawny flank tightly wedged in a crack in the rocks. Lion! I realised then the pack must have surprised Magwaza’s cubs and chased them into this cave. That was fine, BUT now where was Magwaza??!!!
Thankfully she never appeared and eventually the dogs moved off.
I had never seen Magwaza’s cubs before and this could hardly have counted for a sighting. Just a tawny flank?!
But then this morning I got lucky. Rushing out east to catch up with the dogs I had Manyari, Sjambok, Chahwihwi, Magwaza and her 3 cubs. They were jumping around all over her and have a fun time playing. Also with the pride was another lioness. Where did she come from? I presume she is from the group of 8 cubs that broke away from the Nduna pride with Manyari. And she might even be Manyari’s last cub.
It’s a pity I haven’t been working with the lions for some 6 months now, so really haven’t a clue what’s up with the pride.
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