When food is abundant, lions expand their diet. We hope this has been useful in understanding what lions eat on a daily basis. There are currently only 4 out of the big five in Etosha with lions and the African elephant being the most commonly seen. Some of the cookies we use are essential for the site to work. Until I see the way that the elephants run the last 50 metres to the waterhole and then throw themselves into the water and begin splashing each other like a pool party. Usually, lions stalk their prey to observe the movement and figure out how best to attack. Afr J Ecol 43:220224, Trinkel M, Fleischmann PH, Steindorfer AF, Kastberger G (2004) Spotted Hyenas (Crocuta crocuta) follow migratory prey. There are also no fields of tall grass so you can also easily see whats on the ground. Get Lion stalking his prey at Etosha National Park, Namibia photos and images from Picfair. Please click on this logo for more information. Every day, the animals here on the dry savannah of Namibia have to make the journey to a waterhole in order to survive. The feeding ecology of the spotted hyena Crocuta crocuta was studied in the central and eastern part of the Etosha National Park, Namibia. OUR STORY. Nature has made lions an apex predator, which means it, of course, hunt most other animals, and while there are animals that the lion would be wary of, such as adult elephants and other lions, these animals mostly have no desire or need to fight with or eat lions. Michael Turtle is the founder of Time Travel Turtle. The pan becomes a breeding ground for thousands of flamingos, and great white pelicans a spectacle of pink that varies depending on rainfall and reaches its zenith around January and February. Wildebeest: these are a common sight within the National Park being seen at almost every waterhole. White dust and clay which makes up the Etosha Pan turns to a reddish brown soil during this time which may lead you to believe you have entered an entirely new park when you visit. But despite this, the tradition continues, and its still the male lion whos the one that gets to dine on the spoils first. if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[336,280],'rangerplanet_com-banner-1','ezslot_4',164,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-rangerplanet_com-banner-1-0');Lions are so greedy that they may even hunt for food when they dont feel hungry. Etosha Lion Projectconducts African lion research and conservationin one of thelast wild lion strongholds: Namibia's iconic Etosha landscape. (US) +1 (786) 655-4040, *Call costs: Local rates apply from South Africa, UK and US otherwise international rates apply, newsletter@africageographic.com For those for whom a trip will be a once-off treat, it is essential to visit during the dry season, when the waterholes are critical to the life of the park and wildlife viewing is at its best. Regular visitors to the park naturally develop a preference for certain waterholes, and each has something unique to recommend it whether it is the surrounding scenery, positioning for the best morning or afternoon light, or even the repeated visits of a resident leopard. They can be found at Ombika near the springbokfontein. Available for both RF and RM licensing. The drier months which run from July to October leave the National Park completely dry and dusty and the only available water source is found at the waterholes. As obligate carnivores, this means that around 70% of their diet consists of meat. The park is home to 114 species of mammals. When the lions come, anything that considers itself as prey will stay far away. With my G Adventures group, we head out on safaris all day long, with a local guide driving and spotting. But in real terms, lions do not have the ability to digest any vegetation. White Rhinos: the white Rhino has just currently been reintroduced into Etosha National park from Kruger National Park in South Africa. An example of data being processed may be a unique identifier stored in a cookie. 2022 Etoshanationalpark.org| All Rights Reserved |. Monitoring lionsacross large areas is a difficult task. And this is what makes them so vulnerable. I see a moment when one of them gets scared by a movement in the distance and starts to run, and all the others instinctively follow. The various accommodation options in Etosha National Park are well equipped with restaurants, shops, curios, swimming pools and petrol stations. The alternating dry and winter months that are experienced in Etosha National Park throughout the year have enabled tourists to view the different animal species that are found in the Park. The best part about viewing the hartebeest is during the mating season when the male keeps on following the female red hartebeest until it is wooed. Zebra and gemsbok were taken in proportion to their abundance, whereas wildebeest and springbok seemed to be rather avoided. Overall Etosha National Park is a place marked by extreme contrasts during the different seasons, with each season having plenty to offer depending on your preferences. And with good reason, unlike other apex predators like wolf packs and what wolves eat, these carnivores will hunt and eat humans. Provided by the Springer Nature SharedIt content-sharing initiative, Over 10 million scientific documents at your fingertips, Not logged in The word Etosha is said to have originated from the Ndonga word for great white place, an accurate description of the chalky and desolate landscape. You might be lucky enough to see lion, elephant and rhino all drinking side by side at the waters edge. In such cases, a male lion can eat up to 43 kg of meat in a day, where a lioness can eat up to 25 kg for a day. if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'rangerplanet_com-narrow-sky-1','ezslot_20',174,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-rangerplanet_com-narrow-sky-1-0');As shocking it may seem, its usually observed that the lioness or the female lions are the ones who do most of the hunting. lioness, panthera leo, attacking and killing kudu prey. This involves a good amount of time, stalking, and waiting. Your email address will not be published. Long-limbed giraffes assume their awkward straddle, reflected in the shimmering pan, and the imposing figure of a statuesque white elephant looms large, dwarfing the slight springbok in comparison. They also do not hesitate to hunt the young ones of larger animals like elephants and rhinos. This happens for a few reasons. Both a lion and a lioness can eat up to 15% of their own body weight in just one meal thats how much they eat. Etosha Lion Project (ELP) is a collaboration between academic researchers, conservationists, and park staff with 40+ years of collective experience in the Etosha landscape. There are other private lodges throughout Etosha but this is where the main park administration is and it has great facilities. Hi Michael, Many of these are fed by natural artesian springs, but others are manmade, and it is for good reason that the road network in the park is centred around these pivotal features. When they want to drink, they just go and drink! In this situation, the. Ethology 88:223235, Henschel JR, Tilson RL (1988) How much does a spotted hyaena eat? Our projects range from population and disease monitoring to analyzing theenvironmental and social pressures related to retaliatory lion killings. if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[250,250],'rangerplanet_com-leader-1','ezslot_11',166,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-rangerplanet_com-leader-1-0');They also do not hesitate to hunt the young ones of larger animals like elephants and rhinos. It is also one of the few countries where animals still roam freely mostly unrestricted by human influence. Every day, the animals here on the dry savannah of Namibia have to make the journey to a waterhole in order to survive. And I see so many right here rhinos, elephants, giraffes, and hundreds of other animals. The name Etosha means great white place and comes from the large salt pan that is within the park. doi:10.1111/j.1469-7998.2006.000184.x, Hayward MW, OBrien J, Hofmeyr M, Kerley GIH (2006c) Prey preferences of the African wild dog Lycaon pictus (Canidae: Carnivora): ecological requirements for conservation. J Zool (Lond) 242:115, Hner OP, Wachter B, East ML, Hofer H (2002) The response of spotted hyaenas to long-term changes in prey populations: functional response and interspecific kleptoparasitism. Lions are carnivores, and apex predators, and will mainly eat small animals when food is scarce. All travel bookings booked via Trust my Travel are financially protected by them. Even if theyre already feeding on a hunted prey and another animal should get too close. Life in arid Etosha revolves around the waterholes dotted throughout the park. S Afr J Bot 54:110, Mills MGL (1994) Kalahari hyenas: the comparative behavioural ecology of two species. The lake dried eventually, but the salt of her tears remained. One of the best birding spots is Fishers Pan. They can depend on a number of factors, such as wind speed, or maneuvering while at speed. To comment on this story: To protect you against trolls & misinformation, we only permit comments in our app. After the hunt, the male lion is given the privilege of rank and will be the first to start the meal. Behav Ecol 12(5):558568, Frank LG (1986) Social organisation of the spotted hyena (Crocuta crocuta).I. The summers are ideal for birding in Etosha National Park. At the same time Etosha National Park is one of the most accessible game reserves in Namibia and Southern Africa. For the animals of Namibias Etosha National Park, theres a hierarchy to the waterhole that can mean the difference between life and death. Etosha offers that iconic image of Africa: a waterhole surrounded by animals, the very epitome of an oasis teeming with life beneath the merciless sun. There are, however, major differences in prey preferences and prey selection of spotted hyenas within the national park. Oryx: these can occasionally be seen in the National Park and their distinctive feature from the other antelope species is their long thin horns and black faces. Thousands of hooves of every shape and size scrabble over the rocky ground as their owners seek out the life-giving water, while opportunistic predators eye the crowds in anticipation. The elephant information centre bears testament to its history as an elephant abattoir during the 1980s, when elephants were culled by managers concerned about the destruction of biodiversity. Waterholes are extremely essential for game viewing during the dry season since many animal species converge around the different waterholes when the heat becomes unbearable. Covering a whopping 20,000 square km, Etosha National Park is home to 4 of the big 5 including the endangered black rhino, 114 species of mammals and 340 species of birds. Another perhaps equally interesting fact about a lion and what they eat, is that theyre greedy animals. The black Rhino is rare but can still b tracked and as usual, the leopard is extremely hard to see since it blends in well with its surrounding environment. Home to savannah animals and desert specialists, Etosha is where elephant, giraffe and zebra mix with springbok, black rhino and the scimitar-horned gemsbok antelope. We and our partners use data for Personalised ads and content, ad and content measurement, audience insights and product development. For example, Natukanaoka Pan translates roughly as you need to take long strides to walk here, or Gobaub which comes from the Hai//om word for a loincloth, supposedly after a man who lost his while beating a hasty retreat from an angry elephant. The entrance gates are the Anderson Gate in the south, the Von Lindequist Gate in the east, the King Nehale Gate in the north and the Galton Gate in the west. As is so often the case in Africas treasured protected areas, Etoshas animals are a testament to natural resilience. Namutoni Camp situated in the eastern half of Etosha, this camp offers chalet accommodation and camping, and there is a raised walkway around its waterhole. All the opinions expressed are my own I truly believe G Adventures is one of the best tour companies that you can use for a trip to Namibia. These waterholes have been open for several years now and have recently been revamped, ensuring that the wildlife becomes more prolific in these areas. Afr J Ecol 26:247255, Holekamp KE, Smale L, Berg R, Cooper SM (1997) Hunting rates and hunting success in the spotted hyena (Crocuta crocuta). And as you sit there relaxing (perhaps with a drink in the evening, if you like), you can watch as the animals all come in for their own drink. And then there are the other animals we spot along the way. Correspondence to Browse 8,244 lion hunting prey stock photos and images available, or start a new search to explore more stock photos and . I dont have any particular expectations of what to see but if I did, they would have been exceeded. Heres how it appears to work at the waterholes in Etosha National Park. Many European migratory birds come south to enjoy the new life that has been washed into the vegetation. The Etosha National Park is located in the north of Namibia. Famously myopic and short-tempered, the park is a stronghold of the worlds black rhino population. namibia. Learn more about Institutional subscriptions, Cooper SM (1990) The hunting behaviour of spotted hyaenas (Crocuta crocuta) in a region containing both sedentary and migratory populations of herbivores. 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available prey in etosha