July 2009 : Kruger National Park, South Africa

What a month. We have had more leopard sightings this month than for the whole year combined. Lions have hardly left our concession, and there are elephants by the hundreds. At the center of all activity is the Nwanetsi River… The last remaining pools are attracting animals from far and wide. Lion and leopard have little need to leave these areas, as they are almost guaranteed success with prey species being drawn to the scarce water resources. Even if their first attempts fail, the next herd is never far behind. The color of the bush is changing as moisture is sapped from the trees - we are well and truly in the grip of winter and the dry season. A period of cleansing and challenge heightens due to the competition over dwindling resources.  Regardless of this, we are in for an epic time and the next few months will provide endless entertainment and drama.

THE DEATH OF A PRINCE

Stretched out next to the river lay the bruised and battered body of this young royal. Every move amplified the pain in his spine, injured from a fight with his own kind. His body is riddled with wounds from tooth and claw, his condition pitiful. Even breathing appeared painfully difficult. His lion heart was as strong as ever, but his body weak. It would not allow him the power to walk. His immobility rendered him with little chance of gaining nutrition which would be his only life-line in healing his battered body. The days were long and hot and the nights were cold and lonely. He endured many an onslaught from hyenas, standing his ground as best he could. He spent 4 days in the same place. Even walking 20 yards for life-giving water became too difficult. Every night he could hear his brothers calling to him, barely a mile away.  He mustered up the last of his strength and walked up the steep embankment of the N’wanetsi River. He did not make it very far. Every inch asked too much of his weakened body. After barely two hundred yards he gave it up. He collapsed in the shade of a small bush. He knew what was coming, he could feel it. He placed his magnificent paws onto a solid branch, and as his claws dug into wood and earth he proudly embraced his fate. The earth will never again feel the touch of his soft paws. The N’wanetsi will never again quench his thirst. This Prince of Kruger will be missed, but his legacy lives on in the form of his brothers. They will call for him every night, and he will answer them in the echo of the Lebombo’s. He was characterized by a distinctive spot pattern on his nose and a prominent notch in his left ear.

TIMES SPENT THE MOST MARVELOUS OF CATS…

We have been treated to a number of spectacular leopard sightings this month, sometimes even two or three different sightings per day. The male pictured here is one of our younger resident males. His territory encompasses a section of the N’wanetsi river system which holds the most water through winter. He spends much time in and around this area, knowing that animals will be drawn to the waters of these last remaining pools. Leopards are extremely opportunistic, and given the current situation with water levels dropping, they will stay close by and wait for opportunity. He will be challenged as other males seek to expand their territories during the dry season, but his youthful enthusiasm and bold nature will hopefully withstand the pressure. Clashes between leopards are rare, but when it occurs it can be brutal. Females are also a major draw card for males, and this female falls directly within this stunning male’s heartland.  The impala did not know what hit them. As they were crossing a dry river bed a flash of dappled yellow burst in amongst them. The impala instantly took flight, bounding up the river bank with hooves ripping through the undergrowth in desperation to escape this alley of death.  Once far enough they all stopped and peered back. Daylight pierced the settling dust and revealed a sinister shape, a shape that the impala knew all too well. A large female leopard straddling her prize - an adult female impala. The leopard had been lying patiently in wait, calculating the impala’s every move. She instinctively knew they were going to cross the river bed and positioned herself directly in their path. She waited patiently, muscles trembling with excitement whilst her white-tipped tail slowly moved from side to side. At exactly the right moment she took off with blinding speed. They never had a chance. Within second she had her jaws clamped shut around the struggling impala’s neck.

MOUNTAIN PRIDE CONQUERS A GIANT…

Leopards are phenomenal hunters. Unlike lions, leopards are not social. They are found mostly by themselves, except for female and her offspring or mating leopards. They depend on their individual skills to survive, and have to be extremely careful of injury, as this could render them useless for future hunting. When they do make a kill, they usually drag the carcass to the base of a large tree and start feeding. They will eat as much here as they can before hoisting their prize high up into its branches, a remarkable feat of strength and agility.

What exactly happened here we are not sure, but judging by the surroundings it must have been a battle of epic proportions. Fourteen lions versus one white rhino. Many of the smaller surrounding trees were broken by the battle. This rhino fought till the bitter end, but it was not enough. This simply goes to show what lions are capable of and the huge success they attain through team work. By killing something the size of a rhino, they secure themselves food for at least three days. This minimizes their workload, and ensures all the members of the pride get a chance to eat as much as they can. It is uncommon for lions to tackle prey this size, but on the other hand they are extremely opportunistic. Sometimes these hunts start out as curiosity, and it is as if something changes in their mind-sets, and playful curiosity turns in to menacing boldness. Perhaps this is a new era for the Mountain pride, the rhino hunters of the Lebombo’s. As per conservation requirements, the Kruger National Park authorities removed the horns as soon as they could. This is done with rhino as well as with the tusks of elephants to prevent these getting into the wrong hands and further stimulating the grotesque trade that fuels the poaching of these magnificent animals.

XHIROMBE PRIDE

Once again this beautiful pride has provided endless hours of excitement. They still roam around our south and eastern areas, and also often venture right in to the heart of the Mountain pride’s domain. Pictured here, the only remaining cub of three is growing strong. She keeps to herself within the pride, and is able to fend for herself around kills, often a very difficult thing to do for young lions. As long as she stays in good shape she will grow to become a core member of her pride. These photographs give a good indication of the size of this beautiful wilderness, and the place that this pride calls home. With the Southern pride completely diminished, they will undoubtedly enlarge their territory.

GREY GIANTS

We have had a sensational month for elephants. If you consider that the average sized elephant can drink between 120 to 160 liters per day, it gives you some kind of idea what impact they have on the remaining waterholes. Then they have the appetite to match. A big bull can easily eat 220kg of fodder par day. Since they spend such a large amount of time close to water, the vegetation surrounding the Nwanetsi is greatly impacted. This happens yearly though, and it will recover as soon as the first rains come. Regardless, it is great to see these huge families of elephants around. Hopefully the water supply in the Nwanetsi and Sweni rivers last the full length of winter.

PREHISTORIC

“Prehistoric” is probably the best word to describe a rhino. At first glance, you would think that you have taken a step back in time. These animals are huge, weighing up to and over two tons. We are very fortunate to have a healthy population of these beautiful creatures. There were also a number of Black rhino sightings this month, but unfortunately no pictures were taken. There’s a cow and calf that are moving further and further south, presumably after water. There are very few waterholes left in the north, and we find that Black rhino are spending much more time in the central regions. Buffalo have come and gone this month. Larger perennial river systems have drawn most of the large herds away, but we still had a few quality sightings this month. They are such impressive animals. They can appear to be extremely intimidating, and such in true. They have a fierce reputation throughout Africa for being the most dangerous animals out there, and when a large herd looks at you with those heads lifted high, you’d be inclined to agree.

 

HUGE NUMBERS OF GAME…

A massive herd of impala congregating together close to a waterhole. Huge herds of impala and zebra seen together, also close to a waterhole. Zebra, Impala and wildebeest can be seen as far as the eye can see. Food and water are major draw cards for these huge herds.

FIGHTING OVER SCRAPS

Organized chaos best describes fifteen vultures fighting over a piece of meet. Believe it or not, but there actually is a hierarchy between different species of vultures.  Pictured here are White-backed Vultures, the most common in our area. These vultures arrive en-masse at the sight of a carcass. They have special adaptations for feeding. The have barbed tongues, almost like that of a cat, enabling them to swallow meet at a rapid pace. They have no feathers on their neck, since they stick their head right in to the carcass. Feathers would get dirty, messy and be in the way! They are also capable of storing up to three pounds of meat in their crops. All of this helps when there are many more vultures around competing for the same piece of meat, and at the end of the day whoever eats the fastest has the fuller belly. They have incredible eye-sight, and are able spot other vultures descending to a kill from many kilometers away Vultures are also very clean. They bathe regularly, especially after feeding. These pictures give a good indication of how much they compete. This behavior often leaves them bloody and covered in dust. All in all, these are phenomenal birds, deserving much more credit that what is usually shown to them.

 

WALKING ON WATER

The African Jacana is well known for its long toes. It is able to stride across lily-pads with the greatest of ease, and often gives the appearance that it is walking on water. They are found along all major water sources and are extremely beautiful, with stunning colors. Interesting about these birds is the fact that they are polyandrous, meaning the female mates with male, lays the eggs, and then leaves him to look after the eggs and subsequent brood. She then finds another mate. In the animal kingdom, this is definitely a reversal of roles. This jacana sat peacefully on top of this hippo, when all of a sudden, the huge beast let out a loud exhalation. The poor bird got caught up in the spray, and thanks to some deft maneuvering landed safely.