We don’t need a World Lion Day to celebrate, talk about, or post about lions, because we’re obsessed like that, but today brings attention to these epic creatures like no other day of the year. One of the most terrifying thoughts in the world is the idea of an earth without lions. Aside from the sadness of future generations not knowing lions like we do, the absence of lions on the earth is a dangerous and life-altering reality.
Conflict with humans, trophy hunting, and loss of habitat are the top three biggest killers of lions in Africa, and the population of lions has declined by a gut-wrenching 95% over the last 60 years. From 450 000 in the 1960s to only around 20 000 today – this is a genocide of one of the world’d most iconic species. Be aware, and most importantly, only support legitimate, ecotourism operations whose goal it is to uplift and conserve the lives of lions and other wildlife.
Our favourite pair of lionesses at Africa on Foot and nThambo Tree Camp have welcomed a third lioness to their small group and the 3 females have been feeding and resting together, alongside a pair of big Trilogy male. This is exciting not only because we have been able to watch the behaviour of a new lioness and the relationship between all the lions, but because the formation of a new pride means strength and prosperity for them. Lions are social animals and rely on the pride in order to succeed. At the moment, one of our resident Ross breakaway lionesses is heavily pregnant, as we have pointed out in our recent sightings, and we can become more hopeful about the survival of her cubs because she has more than just one other lioness to depend on.
The force of 3 lions is vastly greater than 2 when it comes to hunting and the chances of successfully taking down prey. If these lionesses are constantly eating, our new mother will constantly be able to feed her cubs, and will have to spend less time away from them to hunt. All in all, more lions the merrier! This is a video clip taken over the weekend when we found the 3 newly allied lionesses feasting on a warthog.
The old warthog had died after getting stuck in the mud and then violently removed by a rhino who wanted to mud wallow to himself. We’d been watching the carcass for a few days to see which lucky meat-eater would stumble across this easy meal, and eventually we arrived at the scene as the 3 lionesses were each tucking in to a portion.
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