This unexpected find by the large male lion moved spectators’ hearts and highlighted the often times brutality of nature.
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Lions settle down for a feast
Mark explained they had arrived at the sighting fairly early in the day, at around 6:34am. The lions had just taken down the giraffe and were feeding in full view of their vehicle.
The giraffe’s lifeless form lay spreadeagled across the floor of the bushveld with the majestic beasts gathered around it. The big cats growled with satisfaction as they enjoyed the rich spread of food.
A giraffe presents a sumptuous feast, with the average height pf males ranging from 4,6 to 6 meters; and females, from 4 to 5,2 meters.
“It was one of those sightings that you knew you would have to sit it out for the day,” said Mark. “Fortunately, there was a good viewing spot where we could park that would not affect traffic flow or limit anybody else’s view of the sighting.”
Lions take turns to feed
The lions took turns to feed on the meatiest spots of the carcass, with Mark commenting how interesting it was that they allowed one another to take turns in this manner.
It was just ‘the boys’. There were no lionesses around.
“This was not the usual feeding, like a buffalo for instance, or the kind of sighting where the lionesses are around. The males seemed to be content with eating as they pleased.”
Eventually, the two dominant males arrived, adding to the excitement of the sighting.
Elephants and hyenas add spice to the viewing
It is not unusual for a kill of this magnitude to attract scavenger attention. Some hyenas were drawn to the kill, standing nearby to wait for an opportune moment to feed on the animal remains.
However, they remained low-key not willing to take any chances with the seven big male lions hanging around.
To add even more spice to the viewing, a young elephant bull spotted the hyenas and chased them off in a mighty display of trumpeting and elephant bravado.
The lions devoured the giraffe at a rapid pace. They tore at its innards and hind region, making for some heart-wrenching viewing. Nature can be brutal at times, and this was one of those moments.
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“Throughout the day, they continued to slowly eat on the giraffe and at some of the times, there were 2 or 3 lions but never the whole pride together, they all seemed very relaxed with all the cars around.”
An unexpected twist in the morning’s sighting
However, the sighting became more heartbreaking, when a male lion leaned in towards the kill and tearing through the skin and flesh, appeared to have found something.
It was only when he lifted up his head and began to walk off, that it became apparent that his jaws were gripped around a tiny giraffe. The female giraffe had been pregnant.
The lion clearly knew he was onto a good thing as he soon disappeared from sight, walking away into the bush, carrying the young giraffe. He wasn’t going to take any chances on letting the others steal his find.
“All told, it was a wonderful day and we took some very long videos and lots of pictures but the memory of the sighting will always remain on the moment that the male lion took the fetus from the giraffe and strutted off into the bush to eat on his prize! A sighting like this requires patience so be prepared to sit and absorb the day’s events.”