The wild dogs moved den this week. Packed up and shifted 400 metres east, as if the old place had simply run its course. We caught up with them at the new den where the five pups were tumbling around the new entrance. I couldn’t believe how much they’ve grown.
A wildebeest carcass. Two big males. Eight cubs. And two prides who share blood but haven’t shared much else in a long time, all converging on the same clearing.
And to round off the week, something I wasn’t even there for. An impala with nowhere left to run, took a bold leap of faith and trusted that instinct would take over.
How that one plays out still has me shaking my head.
Press play. See you on the other side.
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Wow, that was a powerful ending to this week’s virtual safari. That leap of faith was doomed from the beginning but but given the split second timing to make a decision, the young ram had to do it. Terrific video by Greg!
The pups have grown so much since the last videos of them. I love seeing the “pup pile-ups”, five rambunctious bodies climbing over, under each other as they play. A couple seemed t0 be very curious of you, gazing with their deep brown eyes into your lens, wondering what you are. I certainly hope that the four adults can keep them reined in as they continue to grow and begin to travel with the pack on hunts. I suspect this is when they will become the most vulnerable.
Once the Lion segment began, I was anticipating that something very tragic was about the happen and much to my relief, all pride members maintained some decorum, save for the naive and curious cubs who wanted a better look at the visitors. After the one cub received a swat from a Ntsevu lioness, I would have thought that all of the cubs would have kept away from those five strange lionesses, but kids will be kids. I suppose that neither the Gijimas nor the Kambulas were bothered by the presence of the Ntsevus ,given the Wildebeest they had brought down was almost gone, s0 there was really nothing to fight over. Also, two huge males plus two females with cubs are not worth approaching, even if you’re a party of five. So it was very smart of the Ntsevus’ to keep their distance.
This episode did not appear in my emails as usual, but rather I had to go to my search engine to find Londolozi blogs. Not sure why…..
Thank you, Denise. That really was a split-second gamble, and you could see the ram had no better option in the moment. The pup pile-ups are the best, aren’t they? The real test comes once they start travelling with the pack, indeed. That is interesting that you had to go looking for the blog, I will look into it.
Hi Sean, the wild dogs are so cute and have grown up so quickly. Moving to a new den is exciting to see and I am sure the pups enjoy a new home. The lion dynamics are quite intriguing to watch. I was so scared that Ntsevu lioness was going to kill that little cub, although she did hit the cub with her paw. The Gijima were so busy stuffing their faces, but I am sure they would defended their cubs if need be. Shame the poor impala try to get away from the wild dogs and ended up being caught by the crocodile. So heartbreaking to see. The bush never disappoints and never sleeps.
Thank you Valmai. They’ve shot up, haven’t they? That moment with the Ntsevu lioness had me holding my breath too. Watching the impala get caught by the crocodile after all that effort to escape was tough.
The ability of wild dogs to den in an area Rich with rival predators is just amazing. They are truly special creatures.
The Kambula-Ntsevu dynamic is intriguing, especially considering the interaction the Ntsevu females had with the northern sub-group of Kambulas and four sub-adults some time back. Perhaps one or two of the Southern Kambulas are offspring of the two older Ntsevu females or they have just associated with them more often since their split to retain a degree of civility, whatever that might be for a lion. That the two sub-adult lionesses of the Ntsevu Pride have no familial relationship with the two Kambulas would certainly explain to a degree their particular interest in the cubs, unlike their mothers, who didn’t seem to pay the cubs’ approach much attention at all. As you say in the video Sean, the Gijimas’ presence would have probably factored in to some degree as well
Thank you Michael. The Kambula and Ntsevu relationship is interesting; they most certainly have crossed paths before, and that these females are closely related would have also played a part. And yes, with the Gijimas right there, that would have weighed on any decision to push things.