MalaMala Diary Entry: 14 July 1998 This week saw the death of a young male white rhino, probably the result of injuries sustained from a fight with another rhino. As tragic as this 
death was, the carcass was not wasted and four lionesses and two male
lions soon completed eating most of it - the remaining bits were consumed
by hyaenas. As with many other carnivores, lions are as opportunistic as
they come and will eat even some of the most rotten meat. This week's
lion viewing at Mala Mala saw a continuation of the establishment of the
four male lions in the territory from which they have ousted the three
Manyelethi males. The focus has been on the domination of the females,
probably resulting in the killing of the cubs of the Marthly pride. The
Styx pride have not been a major presence, staying to the north of the
range of these four lions. However, other prides, including the Eyrefield
and Marthly prides, have probably now fallen to their power. One amusing
incident this week entailed watching two of these male lions attempting to attack a large herd of buffalo - there was certainly no lack of enthusiasm but they lacked the necessary co-ordination and were routed by the buffalo.
El Leopard viewing at Mala Mala has been superb, with the White Cloth female and her cub providing some of the finest viewing. This week drag marks were followed to a tree where both leopards were feeding on not one but two kills, the
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ephant sightings have been plentiful with large numbers of breeding herds as well as bulls. One group of at least half a dozen males has been encountered on a regular basis. Elephants of this number and size are able to do some serious
modification to the environment, particularly to the trees at this time
of year when the grass is of low quality. Trees are pushed over not only
to reach potentially green shoots, but also to access the roots which may
house stored reserves.
one being a young
bushbuck, the other an adult female duiker. Leopards are opportunists
and the female probably killed one of the antelope, secured it in the tree and then returned to where she had left her cub. Upon returning she could have seen the other antelope and killed it too. As with some other carnivores such as lions and hyaenas, leopards do not seem to mind rotting meat and have been known to have a "larder" of kills - each kill is secured from competing predators, usually by hoisting it up a tree to be eaten at leisure.
he rutting season is now at an end and peace is the order of the day - the bachelor herds of males are starting to integrate with the groups of females. From now until the breeding season all can focus on getting sufficient water and food and looking out for the multitude of predators which feast on them.
