Life Between the Lion Tracks

Often we get our blinkers on and forget that the world keeps turning while we are deep in the middle of the lion census. We become so focused on reading tracks and searching for lions that we forget to pause and notice the incredible life unfolding around us.

During a recent 24 hour period, the census offered more than just data and observations. Moments like these remind us that even while immersed in the details of our work, the bush is alive with stories playing out in every direction. When we slow down, we are rewarded with some truly remarkable sights.

Over the course of the day we witnessed tortoises mating, a striking purple moorhen strutting out of the water and showing off its impressively long toes, a baboon stealing a baby vervet monkey, and a rare glimpse of a secretive serval moving through the grass. To top it all off, the Safari Rally added an unexpected burst of dust to the landscape.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The lion census is, of course, about understanding and protecting lions, but it also gives us a front row seat to the wider ecosystem they depend on. Every hour brings something new, surprising, and unforgettable.

Some days remind us that conservation is not only about the species we count, but about appreciating the rich and ever changing world that surrounds them.