Lo'mon LeHeritage: June 2015

29 June, 2015

Strange Lion Behaviour In The Mara

The last few weeks in the Mara can only be described as wet! It's not been all bad, because that rain is what attracts the migrants - wildebai, zebras and antelopes - back into the Mara ecosystem.

But what it means for the rest of the animals is soggy, uncomfortable ground. The cats are usually forced to move to higher ground to rest and get some vantage points to scan the plains.

However, a new phenomenon that our scouts have observed makes for an interesting study. Normally, leopards are the only cats that climb up trees in the Mara. Once in rare occasion, cheetahs (see video below) will be seen scampering up a low tree to scan over the tall grass.

But the photos below are nothing short of amazing - the tree climbing lions in the Mara. Observed over a couple of weeks by our guides, this will be an interesting adaptation to study in the coming years.

Take a look.

What's going on down there?

Ok, I've heard enough. Time to go.

Oops, this isn't as easy as it looks!

E-e-asy...

O-o-oh!

Have to jump!

Thump!

As you can see from above, even though these sub-adults are not heavy, they do not have the grace of a leopard when it comes to carrying their weight. She had to jump from over 2.5 metres above the ground. The difference is, leopards long claws are adapted for tree climbing - up and down - and can take the weight of both the cat and a carcass.

Now, compare the grace with which this leopard is climbing down the tree.

Just graceful!

Hope you enjoyed it.

Report and pictures by John Parmasau – Head Safari Guide, Mara Intrepids and Mara Explorer Camps.

©Heritage Hotels Ltd, Kenya. http://www.heritage-eastafrica.com/

The Wildebai Are Coming!

WEATHER

Beautiful clear days and clear skies at night - dazzling for star gazing.

Watch the fantastic race of the planets – brilliant Venus and bold Jupiter - as they draw closer together each night. Venus will pass Jupiter in late June/early July 2015. On the nights of June 30^th and July 1^st they will be the closest until August 27^th.

LANDSCAPE

There’s golden grass and red oat grass relished by the grazers.

Temperatures

14^0c morning

26^0cat midday

18^0c after sunset

LOITA WILDEBEEST AND ZEBRAS MIGRATION (DOMESTIC)

The migration of the Loita wildebeest and zebras is on. At this point, it’s at the Topi plains together with the topis and gazelles. The herds are moving south to meet the Serengeti migration which is not far from the Mara.

THE GREAT MIGRATION OF WILDEBEEST AND ZEBRAS

As usual the scouting wildebeest is the first indication of the annual migration.

After crossing Sand River into the Mara from Serengeti, the animals did not stay for long but crossed the border back into Serengeti. This could be because the grass is very tall in the Mara for the migratory herds.

The herds have started approaching the Sand River again and we hope that in the next two days, they will cross over into the Mara.

PREDATORS

LIONS

The lion families are scattered all over.

Some lionesses, like those of the Ridge pride have even abandoned their cubs because there is not enough prey to hunt and feed them. The cubs are looking emaciated and avoid to competition while feeding. The females are in groups of two’s and not looking good. The males are not in stable prides but just hanging around females who are hunting prey.

We hope this will change in the next few days as the ‘meals on wheels’ appear – that is the wildebeest and zebra.

It will be very interesting to see the families reunite.

LEOPARDS

Leopard sightings are good.

Bahati and Siri are the stars around Mara Intrepids Camp.

CHEETAHS

Malaika is still doing well with her four cubs. They are north-east of Mara Intrepids Camp because grass is short. The short grass is the preferred choice of the gazelles, making it good hunting ground for the cheetahs. Grant gazelles are their favourite prey.