Mababe Lion Dynamics
When we decided to come back to the Mababe depression in the dry season in October, we were hoping to see lots of lion buffalo interaction. Where in May the grass had been lush, green and high it was now dry and being grazed and trampled down by thousands of animal hooves. In the heat of the day big swarms of quelea were flying in formation and feeding on grass seeds. Early thunderstorms and lightening were creating bushfires.
A completely different setting from the green Okavango which we had seen a few months ago. The plains were filled with big herds of zebra and tsessebe, even roan and sable antilopes. Elephant families were feeding and drinking in the marsh. The buffalos had congregated into mega herds of more than 8000 animals and were pilgering to the only remaining water source in the region every day, creating clouds of dust. Even the lion prides had moved back into the Mababe depression. Everything was happening on this big open plain, or not…Â
Nature keeps surprising. Instead of hunting for all these mammals the lions were holding back. The Mokete pride had young playful cubs and there were even newborn cubs being hidden in the marsh. Therefore the moms were not going to take unnecessary risks and seemed to stick to their warthog diet, just like we had seen in May. When the buffalo herds came their way they did look for easy catches, but decided to stay out of harms way to protect their offspring.
The Northern pride tried to stay in their own territory. The water was much more spread out this season and the buffalos did not always drink in the same spot. So there were days when the lions would wait in vain, while cooling themselves in the murky mud of the marsh. Chasing warthogs now and then. But when the mega herd did come close to their end of the plain they managed to kill three buffalos in one day.
One afternoon we found them lying under a bush with full bellies, sleeping like lions do best. But it only took three hungry youngsters to awaken the hunting spirits of the experienced ladies and they gave us the performance we had been hoping for. It was amazing to see the whole buildup of the hunt, the tactics, the futile attempts of the youngsters which resulted in the separation of the big herd. And then the final act of one experience lioness to bring the buffalo down. She did not even bother feeding on it, still full from her previous meal, but she had again done her deed to feed the pride.
