Lion pictures and videos

[Sully]

Dinaka Safari Lodge Lion Kill Central Kalahari Botswana
By garryvv, on April 16th, 2012
 

*This image is copyright of its original author

*This image is copyright of its original author

We had just arrived at the waterhole for breakfast, to find 2 lionesses lying at the water. They suddenly perked up and we saw kudu coming in to drink. The one female moved into cover carefully and lay in wait. The pregnant female crouched at the waterhole. A young kudu cow walked straight up to where they were lying and in a couple of strides, she was caught. She fought, but did not manage to get away. The second female joined in to pull the kudu down, and they lay for ages until the kudu stopped kicking. After a long while the one female dragged the carcass into the shade of a nearby tree, and then they both lay down and ignored it!! Next we saw a warthog trotting down the road further up. One lioness got up and circled the pig, then ambushed her. She managed to get away. Next came her 3 little piglets a little way behind her. The lionesses pounced and caught one, much squealing and it managed to get away. The chase was on. The piglet ran into a thick thorn bush, and the lioness tried to dig her out. We watched in amazement as the small piglet then kept launching herself at the lioness from the bush!!
This went on for quite some time, with the lioness jumping back each time, until finally she caught the little pig in mid jump. Lots of squealing and then silence.
We had 5 guests here, and the cameras were clicking madly! Some fabulous photos all round. Breakfast was almost ignored, tea went cold – far too much excitement!!
The guests stayed to watch for some time and finally the lionesses opened up the kudu stomach, and pulled out a foetus. So sad, but nature at its best.
They did not eat much at all – they just were not hungry – pure opportunistic kills!
I will send the picture of the warthog when I get it off Dave’s camera.
Turned out the little thing had a deformed foot, which shows clearly in the photos.
Some of the guests saw a leopard at the top waterhole yesterday afternoon, and a wildcat, so great sightings all round. The rest are going up there now, so I hope they are just as lucky.
What a day at Dinaka!!
Mel George & Dave
Team Dinaka

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