There is a world somewhere between reality and fiction. Although ignored by many, it is very real and so are those living in it. This forum is about the natural world. Here, wild animals will be heard and respected. The forum offers a glimpse into an unknown world as well as a room with a view on the present and the future. Anyone able to speak on behalf of those living in the emerald forest and the deep blue sea is invited to join.
Chobe National Park, Botswana . This big guy is watching at another young male looking for his own territory. They will get closer and will try to intimidate each other. The young one will finally leave. "
Beverly Joubert:" In the Okavango, lions must learn to swim from an early age. It's a task that can be a challenge for small cubs, but thankfully mom is usually close by to help out. As the pride moves through their watery world, they'll have to negotiate countless crossings – some shallow and others deep. Wading and swimming through all that water is a good workout and it really strengthens the legs of lions in this part of the world. This tiny youngster will eventually develop into one of the largest lions found anywhere. "
Chobe National Park, Botswana. After a big meal on a buffalo kill the day before, the next morning we saw the whole pride walking in the grass to the river. This young male stayed a bit longer nearby the water, drinking and looking at red-billed francolins, and was calling the family! It rained a bit during the night, and that morning the light was really nice. "
Beverly Joubert:" Curiosity … makes for a clever cat. Cubs are explorers by nature; being inquisitive and observant (especially of their mothers) is how the youngsters learn the skills they’ll need to survive in the rough-and-tumble world that awaits them in adulthood. And getting to adulthood is by no means guaranteed–for young cubs, especially males, the odds of survival are stacked against them. Mortal threats loom both in the form of rival predators and vicious pride takeovers. There is little we can do to protect these growing lions from such natural risks–but there are a host of human-caused threats that are putting the species under increasing pressure too. It is these risks that we can–and must–control. "
Robynne Kotze: " Lions are the only social cats, and reinforce their social bonds through physical contact. Even on the hottest of days you will often see lions lying close to one another, usually with some part of their body touching, even if it’s just a paw. This social behaviour is part of why I love lions and find them so endearing! .
This photo was taken in Chobe National Park last winter when we were trying to collar lions out in the community areas for better conflict mitigation. These two were well inside the park, but were both quite young and had obviously been separated from the pride at some point in the night. The youngest cub was snuggled up to his older sibling for warmth, keeping an eye on things by resting his chin on big brother which made for adorable pictures. The eldest was also making soft contact calls in an effort to relocate the rest of the pride while they lay in the sun soaking up some warmth ❤️ "
Chobe National Park, Botswana. This male lion was actually nearby a dead elephant. He spent the night eating on the carcass and hid under a tree. As the sun was rising, he heard baboons shouting at him up in the trees. "
Chobe National Park, Botswana Another nice sighting nearby Savuti campsite in Chobe NP. The day before, we saw fresh tracks few kilometers south from the campsite and tried to follow them. All night long, we herd lions roaring where we saw the tracks. The next morning, just after a quick coffee, we drove south again and finally found this beautiful male following a female! "
Chobe National Park, Botswana Young lioness along the Chobe river after eating on a buffalo kill. The pride was sleeping and resting nearby the river, in the shade of trees."
Beverly Joubert:" A showdown at first light. In the orange haze of an Okavango dawn, a lion circles a herd of buffalo, looking to single out a young or weak animal. Lions rely on stealth to stalk within striking distance of their prey and usually enjoy a higher success rate when they hunt cooperatively. The cats sometimes flank the buffaloes, and charge from different angles disrupting the herd in the hopes that a lone animal gets lost in the ensuing chaos and runs into an ambush. It’s a bold and risky strategy. But the rewards can be huge."
Beverly Joubert:" Lions are not the most skilled tree-climbers, but they’ll take to the branches if it suits them. Young cats – with their boundless, adventurous spirits – are often more inclined than adults to explore the treetops. It’s also the sort of behaviour that can vary from pride to pride and it's possible that some lions climb more regularly than we think. In truth there is probably a lot about these big cats that we do not yet know. Their population numbers, for example, are not entirely clear. Estimates sit at around 20,000 lions left in Africa and we know that numbers are declining, but by how much exactly remains debatable. Counting cats in the wild can be difficult, and unreliable survey methods often result in inaccurate estimates. Thankfully, researchers are working on new methods of measuring lion population numbers that will hopefully yield more precise results. It’s a vital step forward in ensuring that these big cats are effectively protected."
