News from the Maasai Mara, Kenya 11th August 2005

There is only one adjective to describe the Mara at the moment, wildebeest. The migrating herds are now almost spread out across the whole reserve. The Serengeti herds have in the past week been streaming in from the south, crossing the Mara River at Look Out Hill. The leading herds are pushing further north wards and west wards into the Mara triangle.

The herbivores in the Mara ecosystem have come to associate the burning with fresh grass. However, this is only if there is some rain soon after the burning. Most of the Mara plains are still a wash with a sea of over grown red oat grass. To the herbivores, this is quite tough and rough for their digestive systems, and it explains why the herds have just been rushing through the reserve despite the abundant grass. The recently burnt grasslands on the Mara triangle are more alluring, attracting more herds.

It was a week full of excitement for our guests, some of whom have stayed whole days to witness the biggest natural phenomenon. The Paradise Crossing point has been busy over the last seven days as the Loita herds cross over from north east around Musiara Gate, to the west of the Mara River. They have been moving en masse across Paradise plain. Many have been dying from predation by crocodiles and others from trampling as they stampede in the river. Nature’s wonder is now with us!

PREDATORS
It has also been a week full of activities for the predators, with more lion kills witnessed now than in the past months. There wildebeest carcasses litter the plains, especially in pride territories. So much so, it appears even the proverbial greedy Hyenas have had enough, as carcasses remained untouched for long periods! Vultures have become selective, only eating the fresh carcasses.

Cheetah kills have been witnessed throughout the last seven days Bella the leopard, and her son were also spotted severally. Her son, now at two years and still with the mother, will excite some wildlife researchers since male leopards are known to be independent by the first year.

OTHER BIG SIGHTINGS.
The python mentioned in the previous update was seen again. It killed a male gazelle but again could not eat after it was harassed by a pair of jackals. This is a sighting of some note, especially coming barely a week after the last one. Pythons are known to feed once in a very long period, sometimes running to months.

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