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It’s been a while since I’ve had to upload on the blog and I wanted to come back with a bang. I couldn’t wait to return to the driving seat and find those hyena cubs I left behind. However, they were nowhere to be found, but after persisting with the little critters they eventually emerged near the second den site. I think they remembered me and I was able to spend some time bonding.
Three lionesses had been spotted two days ago on the Chiredzi river fighting the crocodiles off a giraffe kill. What a luck, this is not the kind of action you find every day. It was unclear who actually took the young giraffe down, it could have been a crocodile and the lions just saw the opportunity to scavenge.
Either way, the giraffe was lying half in the water and the crocs were savagely tearing the insides out of the animal. It would not be long before the whole carcass landed up in the water. The lions didn’t seem to want to take any chances with the crocodiles and rested up on the bank of the river.
To get anywhere close to the scene I had to drive up on the opposite side of the river, I was happy on the sand away from the massive crocodiles. I came back to the scene first thing the next morning and all evidence had dissolved in the Chiredzi.
The days are beginning to warm up again with temperatures hitting the thirty degree mark, even the fish are hanging around where the sun is warming up the water – this is every fisherman’s dream, perfect time to break out the rod.
We just learnt the sad news via the wires that one our heroes, Steve Irwin - The Crocodile Hunter, has been killed in a marine accident. According to the Daily Telegraph, he was diving off Port Douglas on the Queensland Coast when he was hit by a sting-ray barb that went through his chest.
This is dreadful news for the conservation community and those involved with wildlife broadcasting. Steve was an icon and loved by millions around the world for his genuineness and enthusiasm. His pioneering approach to wildlife programming won him a huge fanbase and created a whole new category for wildlife broadcasting.
He will be hugely missed and our deepest sympathies go out to his wife Terri, the kids and the rest of the Irwin family.
A few weeks ago these game scouts came across this huge 14ft crocodile lying dead on the sand in the Chiredzi River water course. Of course they were very hesitant to approach this huge beast but after some time they realised it was dead.
On closer investigation they found the croc had what looked like bite wounds on its belly and around the neck. Curious as they were they took to reading the scene like we would read a book. Checking out all the signs they could find in tracks in the sand, scrape marks on the tree, flattened grass and reeds they were able to piece together the puzzle.
A leopard had killed an impala and dragged it up a tree to get it out the way of hyaenas and lions. Well that’s the idea.
The crocodile had either heard the commotion or had smelt the kill and leaving the water tracked down the kill only to find it in a tree. At the same time a pride of lions had arrived on the scene. But now they were doubly puzzled. The kill they were after was in the tree AND there was an enormous crocodile at the base of the tree laying claim to the kill too. All the while the leopard was probably in the tree not daring to leave its place of safety.
The lions wouldn’t have cared less for the leopard but the 14 ft monster was something to think about. From the tracks in the sand the scouts were able to make out that there was quite a skirmish between the lions and the crocodile. But outnumbered the crocodile got away although it was injured and died about a 100m from the tree where the kill was.
The lions in the meantime had managed to scale the tree and steal the leopards kill. At this stage the leopard had probably climbed into the very highest branches where being lighter it would be safe from lions blundering around the tree.
This would have been quite an event to witness indeed. And just finding the croc there dead on the sand wouldn’t have told the story. But the great tracking skills of the Malilangwe game scouts was able to bring to us this incredible event.
Stay tuned for more exciting events as we venture back to the wild dogs tomorrow.
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