Tag Archive for 'hyaena cubs'

Pin the Tail: Video


I was standing on top of a rocky hill where the hyenas had crept into overlooking the northern section of the reserve and some ominous looking clouds blanketed the sky as I enjoyed the toposcope view.

Malilangwe Dam Sunset

I was just thinking how quickly the year has gone and how it’s so important to savor every moment. “Do what you love… and you’ll never work another day in your life,” my friend always said to me, today I’m in agreement.. But I also say, “do what you love and love what you do, “ that way you’re never disappointed.

Elephant stretch

I’ve been trying to track down where the older cubs have been disappearing to with a few of the other adults. They always come in to Manuchi from the Southern side of the pan, while the others from the old den in the North. I had finally found their secret den in the hills and while nobody was home, I heard some shuffling off as I found the den site.

Tripped Up

This is an old den they’ve used before and one the wild dogs have use also. I climbed down the hill side to get back to Manuchi before I missed out on the sunset sports, but none of the hyenas were there. They were all at the old den carrying on with the usual social activities. The younger cubs are both competing for a medal in bravery going on walk about and also all over my car. The one cub has a nice nature about it, but the other looks as if it will be a spirited one.

Meaty Treats

I’ve been out with Kim on the dogs during the last two afternoons, they are doing well and starting to stretch their legs again. With the pups growing fast , they are moving greater distances and also killing Impalas by the half dozen. The other day they killed five in one hunt! They had a festive morning with hyenas at Forma Danga pan. The dogs got the better of them and chased them off, but never underestimate those spotties. We are making headway on the film side, but as one project draws to a close so it marks the birth of a new idea and project – exciting times.

Tanga Sunset

Throw a Hippo a Bone: Video


Kim and I have had a few intensive days of filming a list of sequences for the wild dog film. Our days start in the dark and end way after dark – I’m loving it! Heaven forbid we skip a day on Wildcast, but I think we had good reason, so apologies all round. I’ve been making a habit of spending the mornings up on the hill to provide light for the wild dog den.

Out of the shadows

The afternoon sun shines directly into the den, and provided the dogs are around, it makes for perfect lighting conditions. I’ve also been heading to the den at sunset to be there when the dogs get back from hunting; they’ve been leaving late afternoon and coming back long after dark. Last night they hadn’t killed, but this morning they hunted really early and involuntarily regurgitated for puzzles when she performed her screaming parade. The pups came out into that sunlight today; they seem to be a lot more mobile now.

Cutie

After being out the entire day, I still like to find time on my way home from the wild dogs to pop into the hyena cubs, who are finding my tyres a welcome play toy in the evenings – I worry they might make light work of my tyres when they’re older. For now I can’t stay away from the little guys, even though they’re really fowl smelling at the moment. It is so bad you can smell them before you actually have them in sight, it’s a small price to pay though.

Getting big

I think I connected with one of the mothers last night. When I was heading away from the den she was lying in the road, I stopped next to her and made some hyena type sounds - the best that I knew how. She immediately responded and weighted forward. I was a little surprised when she moved up to sniff my arm sticking off the side of the vehicle, she is fairly used to me coming and going all the time, but she seemed content that she had finally checked out this human sharing their den space.

Cub Compare: Video

I arrived back on Malilangwe with an icy cold tail wind blowing me all the way from Mutare. My vehicle was still on the hill lighting up the wild dog den, so first things first, I caught a ride with Kim to the den. I ended up doing the lights while Kim was filming; I was quite excited as this was my first visual of the pups.

King of the hill

Strange little guys - as good looking as little bulldogs I would say. I spent most of the morning on the hill catching up with Kim and exchanging stories. I was dying to check up on the hyena cubs so that was the obvious next stop. I saw two of the little guys as I arrived at the den; actually, they are not that little anymore.

Squirrel Scurry

They didn’t hang around and I thought they had forgotten the sound of my vehicle – I was a little disappointed. I drove around later in the afternoon until the sun was setting, then went back to the wild dog den to deliver some light. The dogs had left late to hunt and we stayed waiting long after dark. They hadn’t returned and I was again keen to get back to the hyenas.

Poser

As I had hoped, they were all back at the old den and lively as ever! Six cubs headed straight for my vehicle and proceeded to bite anything they could get their teeth into. The video I’ve posted is from before I left, this will help us see their progress; that is, as soon as I produce a clip of the footage I got this evening. It’s good to be back!