Savute Large Predator Update August 2008

As the hot, dry season in Savute is approaching, the natural waterholes are drying up quite fast. The holes at Disaster Pan, Harveys Pan and Poachers Pan are almost dry, with only a little bit of stagnant water and mud left. The elephants are making full use of these sites, having daily mud baths, but they are moving to the artificial water holes to have a drink.

This drying up of the natural water holes is leading to larger concentrations of prey species, such as Impala, Blue Wildebeest and Kudu concentrating around the artificial water holes. This also results in an increase in the amount of predators that we see in the area. For the period Feb – July 2008 the figures has increased as follows:

Lions
February - 3
March - 19
April - 27
May - 21
June - 15
July - 40

Leopard
February - 10
March - 18
April - 13
May - 12
June - 17
July - 31

Wilddog
February - 7
March - 13
April - 13
May - 6
June - 7
July - 17

Cheetah
February - 0
March - 5
April - 0
May - 10
June - 8
July - 24

Very interresting from these figures, is that most of the sightings have also doubled from the sightings in July. The increase in Cheetah sightings, from 8 in June to 24 in July is especially encouraging, as this means that the 2 cheetah that have moved into the area in June are settling in well, and that the two residents are still showing themselves regularly.

Another interesting occurrence is that two new packs of Wilddog are moving into the area. One group of three and another of four dogs are now regularly seen in the area. The resident pack of seven dogs are still around, although we only see six of them at this stage. We noticed in June that the Alpha Female was very heavily pregnant, and she is propably staying around the den site to look after her pups, therefore the missing dog in this group.

The Lions are also moving closer to the Lodge. Almost every night we fall asleep to a Lion chorus around camp. A new arrival in the Lion population is a huge solitary male in the prime of his life. His tracks are larger than the outstreched hand of a man. He was seen a couple of times in the area around camp. Last night (18/08) a big Lioness with two young cubs came to drink at the waterhole right in front of Savute Safari Lodge to the great delight of everybody in the camp.

As the trees are loosing their leaves, the distance we can see from the road is also increasing. This, combined with the lower water levels will result in even better sightings in Savute. I cannot wait to see what the sightings will be doing as the year progresses!

Submitted by Kobus Lubbe, Savute Safari Lodge Manager