As usual our days start at 5:30 in the morning. They actually start at 4:30 when the alarm rings, but at 5:30 we leave the camp for the morning drive. And there was no difference here in Mashatu, but in the meantime I am so used to it that it does not bother me any more.
While we were out on our first drive, we got a call from one of the other instructors. “Tau” was what came out of the radio and our instructors got excited. “Tau” is the word for lion. But it was not only a lion, it was a lion kill. Whohooo! So we turned and made our way to the location.
On our way I was just hoping that the scene was not too cruel. I mean, a lion kill to me sounds like blood, flesh and bloody meat. Luckily, I found out that it was not a fresh kill one but from the previous day. Still I was not too sure if this is something I want to see. But then, all those thoughts were gone. I got into a mode of excitement, interest and curiosity instead of sadness and disgust.
When we arrived at the crime scene, we saw not only a lion, no, it was a little lion family. A mommy with her four cubs had been feeding on the victim, which was an eland, and they now made their way towards a shady spot to rest after the good breakfast. In the distance we could spot some jackals coming closer to the carcass as the lions left. They have been just waiting for their moment to also get a bit of the prey but had to wait until the lions were done. And they were, as the bellies clearly indicate. Mommy was having a look back from time to time, but she was obviously satisfied with breakfast so did not fight for her prey and left it to the others.
Once the lioness and her cubs walked along our car towards a shady spot under the bush, we noticed their bad skin condition. Not sure what it was but it looked very unhealthy and we think it might be some sort of mange. They lions have not even settled, when the jackals smelled their chance and one by come approached the eland.
And not only the jackals had a good meal, also the Tawny eagles came along to get their piece of the steak.
This was such a special sighting! We were all speechless and overwhelmed.
What I found interesting was to see the carcass so close. The claw marks on the shoulder are clearly visible as well as the bite-marks on the throat. A typical scenario of a lion kill, when they either jump on the shoulder or the side of the animal, biting it in the throat to suffocate them and to finally bring them down on the ground.
From the other side of the carcass, the feeding signs are seen. Predators start eating at the belly or between the legs as the skin in those areas is softer and easier to penetrate. When successfully done, the intestines are the first to be eaten. They are easily accessible and contain a lot of nutrients. By eating from the inside out, the meat also stays free of soil and dirt, which a lot of animal prefer. Later that day, we saw a herd of living elands. For me those antelopes are still a bit weird, I don´t know why.
To me they look like cattle but when you see the dung, it looks like a giraffe dung, small brown pellets, not even roughly like a cow´s heap. And what fascinates me most is the fact that these animals can jump nearly 3 metres. How is that possible? Sorry, I must see this with my own eyes before I believe, my imagination is not strong enough to picture this.
In the afternoon we came back to the kill. Unfortunately we did not see the lions again, but the cleaning staff of the bush was just arriving. More and more vultures were coming and finishing what the lions and jackals started.
Of course, it is sad for the eland or any animal that gets killed. But this is the circle of life. Predators have to hunt for their food. But they never waste. Nature does not waste. Once the lions have eaten, other carnivores like hyenas or jackals will come, then the eagles and vultures and finally the decomposers, such as bacteria or beetles, will break down the last pieces of organic material and waste products and bring it back into the nutrient cycle, feeding the soil with nutrients and the air with CO2 which again is needed by the trees to photosynthesise. Is nature not incredible?
In case I cannot sleep tonight, I probably try counting elands jumping over a fence 😊
Good night,
Sininho
Sininho´s World 
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