A lion amongst buffalo

Lasanya and Nokya were on the Gomoti earlier this week so I took the opportunity to go out and get some population dynamics data from the herds. Nokya turned out to be in an inaccessble area, but we came across a different small herd of around 50 that we counted in addition to the herd that Lasanya was in. That herd was rather large, to say the least. We tracked the collar and saw some buff on an island so drove around it to get a better look, only to realise that there were buff all around the edge of the next island as well. We spotted a young male lion strolling amongst the buff, hoping to snatch a calf I presume, although the buffalo did not seem too concerned by his presence.

We drove around the next island and saw a large group on the other side, but managed to age and sex 239 individuals as they crossed a small patch of water. The lion then crossed behind them and we continued to follow them.

We saw large numbers of buffalo crossing another, much deeper channel that we were not able to cross, though watching them cross was an impressive sight! They were heading across towards the other side of the Gomoti so we crossed back over to our side and drove up to see if we could find them from that side. We found them, but it was starting to get dark.

I just got back from Maun, where I chatted to pilots who have seen the herd that I was with, and they all estimated its size at close to 1,000 animals. I think that we saw about 600 - 700 animals, but there were likely to be more. A herd of that size is almost impossible to count from the ground, and the estimates from several pilots agree, so I think it is safe to stay with that number.

Lasanya has now moved south on the Gomoti and is close to the fence. Nokya is on the other side of the Gomoti, a bit north of the cutline. Chanel is on a large island to the west of Mboma. Bianca decided to return to the Stanley's areas after her foray into Chitabe. She appears to have followed the road at Chitabe for a few days, then turned around and headed back to places that she knows. I intend to go out this week to samples sites that she walked through and see what habitats she was in before deciding to turn around.