Amidst this terrible drought, the lions have done great! Together with the other predators, they are probably the only animals to have benefited from the arid conditions. The Koitogor pride came together a few months ago and started bringing down larger animals – giraffes, buffalo, zebra – which became their main prey. Nashipai and Nabo’s cubs have grown and often leave their mothers, hunting alone. I have been fortunate to have a number of great sightings of them; feasting on giraffe, climbing trees, or sleeping and playing out in the open.
One of the cubs on a fallen Acacia tree
The pride in Ngare Mara have also done well. The two young females in that area, Jabdu and Korti, have not ventured far from Ngare Mara River and the swamps. A few weeks ago, Jabdu gave birth! I saw her the day after she gave birth – she had blood all over her legs and she was quite nervous. It will be weeks before we see her cubs as she has them hidden well. Kofafeti and her 2 cubs have also done well over the past few months, and Loirish and Lguret, the 2 resident males, have been moving between the 2 prides.
Loirish and Lguret feast on a giraffe
Lastly, Magilani. I have not seen her since August. There is no sign of her at all. I haven’t seen any tracks or heard of any sightings from either the community or the scouts. It has been long and I worry about her safety. With lion numbers in Kenya declining in most areas, each and every individual lion is so important. I have monitored Magilani for months as she wanders through West Gate Community Conservancy alone. I hope she is still alive.
The rains have now begun and things will begin to change for the lions and other predators. They have had an easy year so far, however this will now change as the prey moves away from the Ewaso Nyiro river and into the hills. The lions will follow and leave the safe confines of the reserves. I hope they survive this crucial period.
