Lion Kill at Lion Camp

Last night at around 7pm the plains animals where restless and wheezing off warning whistles to each other; a sign that a predator on the hunt was nearby. This went on for about 10 minutes, I thought it was a false alarm, that they were just skittish because of the full moon so I walked off and left the guys playing with the spotlight wishing they would stop horsing around and get back to setting up the table for dinner. I hadn't gone 10 steps when I heard a blood curdling wail, like an inflated balloon slowly losing air through a tiny controlled opening or a kitten that has been stepped on by a large foot. This was followed by growls and grunts and a lot of activity involving antelope and Puku scurrying about dissapearing into the long grass and big yellow bodies scampering towards the dead Puku for a piece of the action. The guests missed all of this but were able to witness the quiet aftermath as the lions relaxed and casually feasted on their catch for the rest of the night. Full moon nights are a time for nervous tension for the plains animals, they are more exposed and in full illuminated view, so much pitted against their survival. Full moon nights are an optimum opportunity for the lions, one of the few nights they can pick and choose their meal, with the moon on their side, hunting becomes a flawless successful exercise and with no scavengers daring to sneak up on them, they can casually dine in peace.