I started my day again with the normal ritual. Another puncture!
Luckily the dogs were still chilling out when I got there later than usual. They had no plans on moving for a while, all looking really well fed. They must have killed twice last night, and so there was no need, no urge to go hunting.
They sauntered off east a while later before resting up in the main road for some time. Then continued on east resting up near a small pan.
Dogs done, we headed north to Chiloveka dam. Arriving there we saw huge croc swimming across the dam. Thinking nothing of it we continued. On the northern bank we suddenly realised what was happening. Lions had killed and were feeding on a young zebra on the shores of the dam and the croc was heading that way.
Alas he didn’t have it in him to chase the lions off and lurked nearby all the while, while the lions finished off the kill. These 5 lions are the youngsters that broke away from the Nduna pride with Manyari.
The lions went to drink at the dam after feeding but were not happy with that big croc lurking and hissed their displeasures at it before resting in the shade.
At the same time lone elephant bull arrived on the far side of the dam to drink and bathe.
It sure was all happening in this one small spot.
Of course I was hoping for full on action, wanting the croc to challenge the lions and then the elephant breaking up the whole party. Nobody’s been reading the script again!
Back with the dogs, they were back to their normal afternoon routine. 5pm – greeting ceremony. 6pm – head off hunting.
Heading east they were soon along the fenceline that forms the border with Gona-Re-Zhou National Park. I always get nervous seeing them along any fence, just not wanting them to move out. The pups were curious with fence but thankfully Puzzles soon moved them away, when suddenly the chase was on. We of course couldn’t keep up but eventually did find the pack on the remains of an eland calf. It would appear that the pups had killed it. It was still small, and had probably been stashed in the long grass by its mother when the dogs surprised it.
Puzzles wasn’t at the kill but arrived some time later with bloodstains on her face. She didn’t feed, but once the eland carcass was finished she led the pack north to her kill.
Another good evening’s hunting for the pack.
Tag Archive for 'crocodile'
Missing wild dog.
The wild dogs had me on the trot this morning. I knew they were around Banyini but just couldn’t get to grips with them. Eventually I got a report from the scouts that they’d seen them at Chikwete Cliffs on the Chiredzi river which was many kilometres away. And they’d travelled there in half an hour. They sure have amazing stamina.
In that half hour though I’d been filming this group of giraffe bulls all sparring with each other on the airstrip. Luckily nobody had plans of landing right then.
It was another of those hot steamy days, but as I write it is now raining. What a relief! And the bush will be happy too!
Lots of the smaller pans had already dried up in the veld but the bigger ones like Chekwa were still going strong and the elephant were right there.
This dry spell hasn’t had any impact on the animals. There is plenty of food around and water too. But the grasses in most areas all but died back and dried out.
No doubt they will all be sprouting again tomorrow.
The dogs were taking flack in the heat and many were lying in the mud in a pan near the Chiredzi river. But towards sunset storm clouds built up obliterating the sun and the pack were on the move early.
It was only now that I was able to do a proper count – one dog is missing! I still can’t work out who it is. With so many to check and with them not standing still for me it’s not easy.
But all our key players are there, including all BB’s pups. So I’m not sure if it’s an adult or one of the Alpha pups missing.
The dogs definitely present – Alpha male and female, BB, Sash, Ntombi, One-eye, Toffee, Skrik, Brownie, Floppy, Split, Half-split, Cracker-Jack.
Come to think of it, I didn’t see Whisky and I’m sure I would have picked him up.
I’m going to have to check on them again but I left the dogs in the Chiredzi river. I was worried they might cross, but thankfully they are nervous of the water and crocodiles. So they should be in the area in the morning but depending on how much rain has fallen I might not be able to get down there tomorrow.
THE ‘MARABOU WALTZ’ VIDEO CLIP FROM 2 DAYS AGO, IS NOW WORKING.
Water and vultures continue to keep wild dogs on their toes and to tread lightly. Will they ever overcome this fear?
This is obviously a good thing for when the time comes and they do encounter croc infested waters. It’s amazing too how the pups have this instinctive fear and are even more weary than the adults around water.
It’s for this reason that I don’t think the pack will cross the Chiredzi river, unless it actually dries up. But it doesn’t look like that will happen soon. Especially if the rains are back in the next month as expected.
The dogs moved den again.
Hunting this morning I think they were successful, but with the bush being so dense there was just no way of me getting in there. And then their signal headed up into Sosigi hill. This rocky hill is scattered in Baobabs and in the past the dogs have denned here.
Having spent the day on Sosigi they moved west at sunset. Luckily most of this was following them along one of our tracks. By night fall, hot and exhausted the dogs rested up in the mopanie.
Any idea what this is? Marshmallows?
It’s hyaena dung made up of almost solid calcium from all the bones they crunch. Only sometimes will you see lion dung white like this but not often. The only other animal that has exrement similar to this is the crocodile. But it’s a different shape and very hard.
By the way hyaena dung makes great chalk when you want to write on dad’s car.
Four-toed elephant shrew
It seemed like the alpha pups had seen water for the first time today. Even with the adults drinking they still weren’t prepared to test it out.
At dawn when on the search for the dogs I came across this female leopard. She was lying next to the road and was very chilled out with me being there.
Then all the dogs arrived at Manyuchi and the pups really didn’t know what to make of the water. Even having the adults lying in the water and drinking, they still didn’t want to go closer. They’re obviously getting enough moisture from their meals. While they were lying around at the waterhole this giraffe came wandering in and then wondered what all the dogs were doing there.
But the dogs didn’t hang around for long and the animals came to drink freely.
Down on Malilangwe dam this afternoon I came across this huge crocodile skull. Who knows how huge this monster was in its day.
Stumbled across a huge herd of buffalo today plus lots of other interesting stuff - enjoy the video
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