Kalahari Lions

The Kalahari lions are not a subspecies of their own, but just particularly well adapted to the desert ecosystem. For example, their fur is lighter than that of lions elsewhere and is an excellent camouflage.
Kalahari lions can go for weeks without drinking water and survive on very few prey. In the vast desert they must fight harder for their food than in other regions, because stalking is made more difficult by the open territory.









The Kalahari is a paradise for wildlife photographers.





Fiercely protective of his pride, or family unit, male lions patrol a vast territory normally covering about 100 square miles (260 square kilometers).

Lions are the only cats that live in groups, which are called prides. Prides are family units that may include up to three males, a dozen or so females, and their young. All of a pride's lionesses are related, and female cubs typically stay with the group as they age. Young males eventually leave and establish their own prides by taking over a group headed by another male.

Only male lions boast manes, the impressive fringe of long hair that encircles their heads. Males defend the pride's territory, which may include some 100 square miles (259 square kilometers) of grasslands, scrub, or open woodlands. These intimidating animals mark the area with urine, roar menacingly to warn intruders, and chase off animals that encroach on their turf.

Female lions are the pride's primary hunters. They often work together to prey upon antelopes, zebras, wildebeest, and other large animals of the open grasslands. Many of these animals are faster than lions, so teamwork pays off.

After the hunt, the group effort often degenerates to squabbling over the sharing of the kill, with cubs at the bottom of the pecking order. Young lions do not help to hunt until they are about a year old. Lions will hunt alone if the opportunity presents itself, and they also steal kills from hyenas or wild dogs.

Lions have been celebrated throughout history for their courage and strength. They once roamed most of Africa and parts of Asia and Europe. Today they are found only in parts of sub-Saharan Africa, except for one very small population of Asian lions that survives in India's Gir Forest.

Oryx Antelopes
in the Kalahari

Oryx antelopes, also called gemsbok, are at home everywhere in the dry savannah of southern Africa. They are well adapted to the extreme conditions of the desert. They can take the frequent high temperatures of more than 40 degrees by raising their body temperature and so avoiding loss of body fluids through perspiration. The animals mainly feed on the sparse dry desert grasses. Usually they graze at night, because then the plants contain more moisture.

       




Oryx antelopes live in small groups, but the bulls are often loners. Oryxes can become quite dangerous, if one gets too close. They don't shy away from big animals of prey. It is reported that they can even gore a lion with their pointed horns.