SKNP Wildlife Journal December 2017

WILDLIFE REPORT SINGITA KRUGER NATIONAL PARK, SOUTH AFRICA For the month of December, Two Thousand and Seventeen Photo: Jacques Briam Temperature Rainfall Recorded Sunrise & Sunset Average minimum: 20°C (68°F) For the period: 58 mm Sunrise: 05h08 Average maximum: 33°C (91°F) For the year to date: 464 mm Sunset: 18h44 Minimum recorded: 14°C (57°F) Maximum recorded: 40°C (104°F) In the final month of 2017, we experienced warmer days and the increased promise of rain. The summer sun in the early morning brought with it the call of a multitude of bird species, that were in full song throughout the month. It also got hot very quickly, and the shortage of standing water early in the month meant that a late morning drives back along the N’wanetsi River would lead to regular sightings of zebra, giraffe, wildebeest, impala and elephants coming down to the riverine area for food, water and shade. Impala lambing season is still in full swing, but the young lambs have also now been joined by many young blue wildebeest. We have also had sightings of the odd sounder of warthog piglets. Most of the migrant bird species had arrived by the end of the month, particularly after some rain that fell in the latter parts of December. With the increased amount of standing water, there has been a boom in frog and insect activity, which has in turn, brought locally nomadic bird species from near and far. We are now seeing large amounts of lesser spotted eagles, and white stork, as they feast on insects and most notably, termites as they erupt after rain. The colour scheme of the N’wanetsi Concession has now turned to a palate of greens and richer browns as the nutrients flow through the leaves of the multitude of plant species that have been watered by the rain. It is also a great time of year for flowers as they pop up within a few days or even hours after rain. As always, the game viewing has been excellent in general, with a few animals being seen in different areas and densities as their movements change with the growth of the vegetation, and the filling of the pans. Photo: Sean Bisset Buffalos Changes in grazing and water has a direct effect on the distribution of Cape buffaloes. This month, this has been the only high- profile animal that we have struggled to find, with eleven sightings over the course of the month. The large herds of the grasslands had not returned at the time of the writing of this report, and the Shishangaan Pride Photo: Jacques Briam has almost systematically picked off the bachelor groups that we had been viewing along Dumbana Loop that would drink at the pools. A longer drive up the eastern sections of the concession would reward one with a sighting of a small breeding herd, or a bachelor herd with one or two cows around the eastern half of the concession. The larger herds remain south of us, around the Tshokwane area of the Kruger National Park, where they are seen on road transfers and by staff going on leave. We hope that with the increased amount of standing water in the north of our concession and the ever-increased grazing mass, they will return to us. Spotted Hyenas There were twelve sightings of spotted hyenas this month, of which most were chance encounters at night on the way back to the lodge after afternoon game drive. On one occasion, Solomon was able to find three spotted hyenas interacting over the carcass of an impala lamb. As one would expect, the impala lamb was finished within the minute. There have been no sightings of the spotted hyenas at the Xinkelengane den this month, though track and sign indicate that the hyenas are still active there. We think that the youngsters are now a little older and spend very little time in the actual den, though they do occasionally return to it. This also means that the adults are less likely to be anchored to the den and may be travelling much further within the territory of the clan. Once again, there have been sporadic sightings of spotted hyenas up in the mountains, but we have not been able to put a finger on where these hyenas are denning - if indeed they do have cubs. Photo: Jacques Briam Elephants Elephant viewing this month has been very interesting, as the arrival of the earliest rains has brought the herds back. Halfway through the month, almost all on one day, they returned, sometimes in massive numbers. On one occasion, some of the guides witnessed more than one hundred of these majestic animals crossing the open areas around the massive game path known as the N4, near Gudzane Dam. About half an hour later, as the sun began to climb, more than three separate herds joined each other at the water, in an awesome vocal display. By all accounts, it was quite something to behold. Sightings of elephant herds means sightings of elephant calves, and everyone loves an elephant calf. We have been much entertained by what we have been seeing, and the playful nature of these young giants has put a smile on many a face. Photo: Sean Bisset Lions As is the case more often than not in this area, we are proud to report that the lion sightings have been regular and high quality yet again. No kills were viewed this month by guide or guest, but lions were seen feeding on kills on at least four occasions. The reason we are seeing kills and feeding sessions a little less than usual we attribute to the fact that until late in the month, most of the large herbivores were still on the rich grasses growing west of the concession, on the previously burned areas. This means that the smaller prey is eaten before we find the lions in the morning, with the only evidence being pinkish jowls and full bellies. The Shishangaan Pride is in many regards the flagship pride of this area, not only because of the massive number of lions in the pride (as many as 19), but also because the pride contains a young male white lion. Sadly, we have not seen this pride many times this month, as there have been few buffaloes to follow onto the concession. Towards the end of the month, they were seen a few times out on the H6 public road. Interestingly, the young males in the pride, who are now older than three-and-a-half-years-old, continue to live in the relative lap of luxury of life in their natal pride. They have now passed the usual age for male lions to be removed from the area of their birth, and with each month it will become more difficult for the Shish Males and lionesses to remove them, as they are becoming a force to be reckoned with in their own right. Photo: Sean Bisset Sightings of the Mountain Pride has been very regular this month, as much effort is made to find them in the absence of the Shish Pride. The young lioness in the pride continues to grow from strength to strength and it is not long now before we will begin to see her actively taking part in hunts. For the most part, the unusual pattern of a fully grown male lion spending nearly all of his time with this pride continued throughout the month. In the last week, however, one of the mountain pride lionesses split off from the group with the Shish Male that has a limp, giving the pride some respite from his presence. Whenever a lion and lioness split off in such a fashion, the assumption is that the lions are mating, during which the separation period from the rest of the pride can last for more than a week. At the time of writing, the lioness had not yet re-joined the Mountain Pride. The Shish Males seem to have had an interesting time of it in December 2017. One of the older males in the coalition of four who has a bad leg, spent most of the month with the Mountain Pride, as mentioned above. His direct brother, with only one eye, has not been seen for more than a month now, and we fear that he has been killed. Adding weight to this assumption is the fact that the younger pair of males in the Shish Coalition were seen on the concession near the beginning of the month bearing severe and fresh wounds from a fight. These wounds included a clear bite mark on the shoulder blades of one of them, and the only time that lions get bitten on the back is when they are outnumbered. It is too early for confirmation, because the resilience of lions is legendary. Also, knowing the character of that individual, we would not be surprised if he walked onto the concession bearing a few new scars, but otherwise none the worse for wear. Interestingly enough, there have been no sightings of the Southern Males at all in December. They have, however been heard from the lodges on a few occasions, adding to the chorus of the night. Cheetahs The mouth-watering attraction of hundreds of baby impala once again brought many cheetah onto the concession this month. Of the nineteen cheetah sightings this month, there were a few individuals that we did not recognise. There were also some particular individuals that we saw on a relatively regular basis.

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