Sub Adult Male Lion (Panthera leo)

Okavango Delta

Botswana

Southern Africa

 

This sub adult male lion was one of two brothers that hung out together.

 

Lions are commonly seen in most parts of Botswana. Even though lions don't like water, sightings of lions in the northern Okavango Delta are spectacular. The lions have learned to thrive there - mainly due to the large buffalo population.

 

The Lions of Botswana have torn up the rule book as we know it. Lions don't like water, lions seldom, if ever, hunt elephants, hippos and lions need water to survive - these are some of the ideas that we have learnt over the years. In Botswana lions take to the water regularly, lions do hunt elephant and hippo and in some areas of the country lions can go for months without drinking water.

 

Home ranges of the lions vary in size for the same reasons - availability of food. In the arid areas the home ranges will be much larger and a great deal of overlapping with neighboring prides occurs.

 

Lions in the Okavango Delta are adept at negotiating the channels and floodplains in order to hunt. Prey moves between the islands and lions have to cross the water to follow. Because of this water activity the front quarters of the Okavango Delta lions are more developed than those of other lions. From buffalo to hippo and even adult elephant. there are prides that have adapted to preying on all.

Done