Governors' Camp Game Report, Masai Mara, May 2012

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1 Governors' Camp Game Report, Masai Mara, May 2012 Weather and Grasslands Generally it was wet and with frequent rainfall for the first half of May. The Latter half has brought clearer skies and cool mornings. Early morning temps average 18 C midday 28 C with evening temps at 20 C. A sea of grass growth prevails all within Bila Shaka, Paradise Plains, and some areas of the Topi Plains, Emarti and Musiara Marsh grasslands. The Musiara Marsh water level has dropped dramatically with evident open and gouged out channels in the banks probably left by the many Hippos. The Mara River level has dropped to a reasonable level. The rainfall at Main Governors for this month was 152 mm; much of this rain was in the first two weeks. At Little Governors the rainfall was 132.4mm. General Game Lion and Elephant are being seen daily within the Musiara Marsh and Bila Shaka plains. Short Lived New Arrival: Charm the young Lioness had one cub that was one month old; she was seen carrying her cub from the Marsh grasslands to Bila Shaka frequently, this is quite a long way. Unfortunately the cub did not survive long and was either killed or abandoned in the last days of May. Charm is now mating with Sikio, one of the Muskateers in the Marsh Pride. Let us hope she is successful with the next litter.

2 Elephant with many small calves can be seen on the open grassland plains of Bila Shaka and also with the Musiara marsh and grassland plains, some of these Elephant calves are literally months and weeks old. The large herd of Cape Buffalo can be seen along the Bila Shaka river bed there are also some young calves in this herd. Lion from the Marsh pride have killed and eaten some of the cows and young calves. Olive Baboons are well spread out and will be seen between the camps with the long grass that is prevalent they are spending more time within the woodland and roadside verges, much of their diet seemingly is young grass shoots, seeds and insects. Recently on the 22 nd two male baboons caught an Impala fawn near to main Governors, they consumed much of their quarry alone, not caring to share. Cokes Hartebeest can still be seen in small pockets throughout Paradise Plains; Rhino Ridge and Bila Shaka plains, there always appears to be a dozen females close by Private Camp. Topi have been spotted in good numbers on Topi Plains to the east of Rhino Ridge and on Paradise Plains. Near the main crossing points there is a flat area of short grass where Topi enjoy congregating in good numbers. Impala breeding herds with young fawns within the riverine woodlands and woodland fringes; there are some shorter grasses in these habitats, also Impala are varied feeders and will readily browse. There is a group of 8 Bachelors near the junction to IL Moran and Little Governors. Many of the Defassa Waterbuck that always inhabited the marsh grassland areas between Il Moran and Main Camp have moved to the North West area of the Marsh. A few Thompsons Gazelles, males and females with their young fawns will be seen more apparently on the shorter grass plains, a few will be seen on top of Rhino Ridge and in some areas of Paradise Plains. Warthog sows with two or three piglets will still be seen throughout the grassland plains of Bila Shaka and Musiara although the shorter grass plains areas of the reserve and in the conservation areas are better places to see them. Lion in inhabiting long grass territories depend on Warthog for sustenance.

3 Giraffe are more apparent in the acacia woodlands outside of the reserve although the riverine woodlands you will see pockets of them, there is one very dark (chocolate) male that moves between the camps. Groups of males have also been seen in between the camps, dominant male Giraffe will walk great distances looking for females in estrus. Small breeding herds of Eland will be seen near Paradise Plains, Topi Plains and in the Emarti area, generally speaking after a good rains they are well scattered due to the abundance of long grass. In an oxbow lake near IL Moran camp a large Crocodile was killed by another

4 on the 24 th due probably to a dispute over territory from another male; it certainly bloated and was floating for some time, the other resident crocodile in this waterway had eaten all of his competition by the 30 th. Female Crocodile lay eggs and the eggs hatch in approximately days. The average is about 80 days. Crocodiles have a strict social hierarchy. Males will fight aggressively to govern territories with; many females, ideal sun basking spots, and access points for their prey items coming for water or to cross. Spotted Hyenas are being herd more than seen, although there are a few scattered sightings, the long grass does not help. Two male Black Rhino have been seen near the crossing points on Paradise Plains. White Storks are still evident in the Marsh. Cats Lion Marsh Pride - There are up to 23 lion in this pride to include the four males. There are the four older females Bibi, White-Eye, Joy and Half Tail. The four Marsh Males (Musketeers) will move between Musiara marsh, Bila

5 Shaka and Topi plains. The four young females are also being seen spread out. With the recent rains and long grass they have all been seen recently between the Marsh and Topi plains. They have been feeding off Warthog and Topi. On the 20 th they killed a male Buffalo near the windmill area of Musiara Marsh and ate off it for three days. On the 28 th early in the morning the four males and four females had killed a male Buffalo on the eastern side of Bila Shaka, by 4.00pm they had eaten all of it and Hyenas were left squabbling for the remains. Charm one of the young females had a single cub that was born in the Bila Shaka river bed in the last week of April. She has carried this cub to the marsh and back again to Bila Shaka on two separate occasions. With the long grass it is difficult to hunt so a single female with cubs needs assistance and good prey value close by. She is with two other lionesses, one of whom is still quite thin. They have killed two warthog near the Marsh and were also part of the Buffalo kill on the 20 th of this month. Two of the Musketeers Hunter and Morani got in on this buffalo kill so for a few days there was plenty of food available. Notch and the four males are being seen on the Talek river area near Emarti hill. The lone lioness that is often seen on her own between Bila Shaka and also on Topi plains has not been seen this month, she is part of the Marsh Pride and broke away in early The Lioness Nyota (initially known as Tamu) with one male cub called Moja can be seen between Rhino Ridge and Talek, this cub is about 4 months old. She was being filmed by the BBC and seemed to be mainly feeding off warthog which for a lioness on its own supporting a cub subsistent prey is the only way forward and warthog are relatively easy to hunt. On the 27 th and 28 th Nyota was seen on the west side of Rhino ridge at a place called Miti ya Nyuki. Joy and her 5 older cubs were being seen on Topi plains she also used to cross over in to the conservation areas adjacent to the reserve to the East, recently she has not been seen, and the last good sighting was on Topi plains on the 22 nd at am. Two of the older male adult cubs have moved away and Joy is now left with two females and a male. Bibi and Half-Tail were for some time being seen in west side of the Musiara marsh and are now being seen in the north east side of Bila Shaka. Siena and 7 other females are being seen in the west side of the Marsh, listening to guides and the resident Maasai these lion cross over into the northern conservation area at night and have been seen feeding on the few Zebra here, they have been seen walking back into the reserve in the early hours of the morning. With long grass in the reserve lion are struggling to feed themselves when their main prey species is well dispersed. The Ridge Pride of 12 lion including their 3 cubs which are 4-5 months old are being seen on the south bank of the Talek River, lastly on the 25 th, the one young cub that has look malnourished is much improved.

6 The two males at Paradise Pride have been seen a few times on Paradise Plains and good sightings of them were on the 22 nd and 27 th near Topi flats which is close to the main crossing points; 6 lionesses of the Paradise pride have been seen off and on in the same area. There are many warthog here in this area of Paradise plains, these lion have been feeding off these warthog and Topi. Cheetah: Sightings have been poor this month. Three males were seen east of Bila Shaka on 24 th and 25 th and we understand they were again seen in the conservation area on the 26 th due to the short grass plains here. Cheetah generally struggle in long grass areas and prefer the shorter grass plains where their favourite gazelles the Thomson and grants are more prevalent. A female again was seen near the double crossing are on the 28 th at 10.30am. Leopard: Olive and her two cubs that are 8 weeks old have been seen on the Talek River area briefly this month. Sightings of Leopard have been slim this month. The male Leopard near the croton thickets at Paradise was seen on the 20 th.

7 There are many impala here so these would support leopard. A shy male has also been seen near the Little Governors crossing point on the Mara River. Another male has also been seen briefly on the 25 th near private camp. The male that habituates between the Il Moran and Little governors was seen on the 24 th in the woodlands by the Hippo pools.

8 Walking in the Mara North Conservancy. There have been no walks this month due to the onset of the rains. Driving through here there are good numbers of Elephant throughout the acacia woodlands, on the plains above the Flyover there is a large herd of 120 Buffalo with young calves. Also on these plains a female Cheetah with a young 6 month old cub has been seen twice near the fly over plains and she has been feeding off Impala and Thompson s Gazelle. She was last being monitored on the 28 th near Lone Tree Hill in the conservancy.