Mashatu: elephants, lions and leopards

[Bush dog]

Sixth day

 

Once more a lot of elephants, one of them had a snare around one of its forelegs. Also many zebras and elands with younger ones. A bushpig was seen twice and also jackals fighting for territory. But the most particular and unusual sighting was the "falling pissing leopard". That leopard was on the top of a big tree. As soon as it spotted the car, it came down rapidly, like some leopards and also baboons do, but in this case it was very quickly , it was so terrified that it did not control its going down and literally fell down having a pee all along the way to the ground (fortunately, cats always land on their feet) and ran away.

 

[Marks]

What a funny leopard story - certainly not the elegant, poised animal to which we are accustomed.

Do you know if the elephant's snare was able to be removed?

[Bush dog]

Seventh day

 

Many elephants and elephant calves.

 

 

Also lions, particularly a female on a warthog and piglet kill. We saw our last leopard, at dusk, in the fork of a tree. The next three pictures show the damages caused by a snare when the animal manages to escape death.

 

[Game Warden]

@@Bush dog As always Mike, incredible images which really tell a story... I wonder if they ever managed to dart and treat the hyena?

[Big Andy]

That elephant calf in image number five looks like an apprentice to Boswell from Mana Pools, you need to get them in training from a young age.

 

As for that poor hyena I hope as GW says that it gets darted and treated. Even better would be to dart and treat the low life that left the snare in the first place.

[Bush dog]

@@Game Warden

@@Big Andy

 

Well, I am not sure they managed to dart and treat the hyena. It's not easy to find that kind of animal again because they are extremely mobile and in this case, the game reserve being close to human settlements, they come and go from one side to the other. The snare was probably placed outside the reserve.

[Bush dog]

Last day

 

On the last game drive, we saw a lonely cheetah that we followed until it began to stalk impalas. Not to disturb it in its attempt to hunt, we moved away not loosing sight of. It succeeded on the first try.

 

 

To close this report, some more elephants.

 

 

Thank you to all who have shown interest for this report by adding comments, « liking this » or simply having a look at it.

[Geoff]

Excellent. elephant overload.

[CDL111]

I have really enjoyed this report and also must compliment you on your photography.

[Big Andy]

As CDL111 says thanks for a great report with even better photography, very impressive just a pity it had to end which I'm sure you would agree with.

[michael-ibk]

Thanks, Mike, another wonderful report!

[Marks]

 

I have heard cheetahs compared to greyhounds before, but never has the comparison seemed more apt.

 

I have enjoyed every post and I'm sorry to see this thread come to an end!