Sad day in the Masai mara
I thought long before I decided to tell this story so please for give me if it disturbs you but this is the harsh reality of nature .
The day started out with coffee and rusks and we jumped onto our game viewing vehicle at 645am and headed out with an unexplainable feeling ,something of a mixture of excitement ,expectation and adventure . As we drove out of the Lodge and entered the Mara reserve I wondered what this vast expanse of land would yield today.
With in a half an hour we picked up the jackal family ,mom, dad and the three pups.
Jackal family
Just in time as it appeared that they were moving den today . we followed at a safe distance and watched the cubs run and play as they followed mom and dad to there new home . Finally it looked as if they had reached a suitable termite mound and this was to be there new home . the pups stood on the mound and made loud yelping sounds (much to their determent as it turned out)
jackal pups on the mound
Although mom and dad were moving from their old den site to protect the young from other predators ,it turns out that the termite mound they had chosen was 50m away from a tree which happened to have a leopard in.
The yelping sound were a sure giveaway for the leopard who did not waist any time and climbed down the tree. the mom and dad went ballistic and tried to warn the pups to take cover in the mound they also tried to distract the leopard by running in its way but the leopard headed straight for the mound the pups had gone down a hole but sadly the leopard was to fast and dug into the hole and got one of the jackal pups .The leopard run off into the bush with mom and dad barking and yelping in the hope that they could get the leopard to drop the pup, but all was lost the pup was dead on impact .
leopard digging into the mound
leopard with jackal pup
The story has a sad ending but this is how nature balances numbers and controls itself it is the law of nature and is not affected or altered by our human emotions
September 4th, 2009 at 7:42 am
Amazing sighting and images very well done H!!!!!
September 4th, 2009 at 8:32 am
good stuff mr f. harsh but very real … that is this wonderful thing called nature that has captivated us! nice pics!
September 4th, 2009 at 10:06 pm
Very nice pictures Hilton,it is a great privilege being so close to nature,enjoy every moment.
September 11th, 2009 at 4:17 pm
Incredible pictures!! You captured the moment perfectly!
September 15th, 2009 at 4:08 am
Wow, amazing photos. What a catch!
September 18th, 2009 at 12:39 pm
Oh amazing photos. Poor pup, but brilliant pics!
September 20th, 2009 at 2:00 pm
Off to the Masai Mara on the 24th Sept. Our first visit to Kenya and our first safari. Your photo’s and words have inspired us and any concerns we may have on being novices have been tempered! Thanks