A picture a day.

[Alex The Lion]

In this image, the sun had already set, and due to Botswana's flat landscape and the earth's curvature, these last few storm clouds were being illuminated to the east

 

[africapurohit]

White-Browed Robin-Chat, taken in Jao, Botswana.

 

[africapurohit]

Portrait of a member of the Lagoon Pack after playing in rain water - Kwando, Botswana.

 

[africapurohit]

Portrait of the infamous Silver Eye - Duba Plains, Botswana

 

[AKR1]

Ma di Tau, Duba Plains, 2012

 

[michael-ibk]

@@africapurohit :

 

What´s the story behind Silver Eye´s ...ehm, eye? And why is she infamous?

[africapurohit]

@@michael-ibk Silver Eye was a member of the Tsaro pride in Duba Plains. Depsite being the dominant pride in the area, they had shocking statistics when it came to raising cubs. From what I was told, only one cub (Junior) reached 12 months in age from more than 100 born between 2004 and 2009. The number of adult females in the Tsaro pride always remained constant.

 

The reason was Silver Eye - she was identified as a ruthless cub killer. She usually stayed behind to do her dirty work when the other lionesses went on a hunt. Quite chilling......the documentary "Relentless Enemies" by the Jouberts also reveals this dark side of Silver Eye.

 

I have some photos of Junior and the guides at the time thought he was quite special, considering the odds stacked against him.

 

The reason for her "silver eye" was thought to have occurred during a hunt - most likely a kick from a buffalo.

Edited May 21, 2013 by africapurohit

[africapurohit]

Taken in Chitabe, Botswana

 

[marg]

getting back to Junior....he was about 18 months old in early September 2007. We were told that Silver Eye was not his mother. There were two other females who were either his mother and/or aunt. Junior, Silver Eye and another female made a kill on our last day. He was quite handsome. When we were there in 2010, he was gone and she was still there. We found her on our last day after our guide went looking for a place for me to take a break. She did not look great. But, I have not heard that she is no longer alive. Attached photo of Junior with his care takers (aunt/mother).

[AKR1]

Pride playing around, just prior to starting a hunt, dusk, Duba Plains, 2012

 

[Sharifa]

Portrait of the infamous Silver Eye - Duba Plains, Botswana

 

Silver Eye.jpg

 

In Kruger we have met a lioness near the Timbavati Picnic site, we have named her One Eye. I thought the loss of one eye would hamper her but she was in prime condition.

 

 

 

 

 

We have seen her around the Timbavati area on several trips and have heard from other visitors that she is doing well and has had cubs recently.

[africapurohit]

@@Sharifa that eye looks quite painful - good to know she hasn't become homicidal!

[africapurohit]

Relaxed young male leopard posing for the camera in Chitabe, Botswana

 

 

[africapurohit]

A female leopard where the setting sun produced an orange/red glow around her - Chitabe, Botswana

 

[africapurohit]

Another Chitabe cat - a beautiful female cheetah seen as the light was fading.

 

[madaboutcheetah]

Ndutu - March 2013

[AKR1]

Verreaux eagle owl with a decapitated hare, Grumeti, Serengeti, 2010

 

[africapurohit]

And another Chitabe cat....this time a large male leopard demonstrating his balancing skills on the smaller branches of a tree.

 

[AKR1]

Black Rhino, Ngorongoro, 2010

 

[Panthera Pardus]

There is a Ramsar Wetland Site an hours drive from where we live called Marievale Bird Sanctaury, and excellent place for water birds. Got this Cape Shoveler there today

 

 

[africapurohit]

@@Panthera Pardus that's an amazingly clear reflection you've captured there - great stuff

[africapurohit]

A lioness who was distracted by some birds in the tree above whilst guarding her kill - Chitabe, Botswana

 

[africapurohit]

"I don't need eyes in the back of my head" - taken in Chitabe, Botswana.

 

[PCNW]

Londolozi August 2012

[africapurohit]

"I could really do with a pillow right now" - taken in Chitabe, Botswana