Alpha female wild dog female waits patiently for pack members to return from morning hunt to feed pups in den. (Credit: Alexandra George)
As we celebrate Christmas, a time of goodwill and kindness, generosity and giving, I could not but reminisce about my myriad wildlife encounters on my nine-day mobile safari to the Okavango Delta, Botswana. In our divided societies of today, what better time than Christmas to recall the many cherished moments of family bonding, cooperation, tender-heartedness I witnessed on my journey through the Okavango in June 2023.
My 17 Photo Tales in Nine Days in Eden are filled with social interactions and collective communing – among African wild dogs; hyena matriarchal clan members with their cubs; tableaux of brotherly affection among black-maned lion brothers; the careful rearing by the mother leopard of her offspring; the strong bonds among elephants and their extended families as they wallowed in the Delta waters next to my tent…
(Credit: Jenny Brennan)
The wild dog pack at their den in Moremi Game Reserve represents Family, Altruism, Togetherness. I remember the Alpha mom dog’s selflessness as she was waiting anxiously at the den for a few hours for her pack mates to return from the early morning hunt to feed her 15 pups in the den. Alpha Mom’s manifest growing anxiety as time passed, with eventually, one, two four, five dogs returned in what had been an unsuccessful hunt, reflected her concern for her pups. In the afternoon all the pack members rested together, some in piles on top of each other, highlighting their collective spirit.
Then, on a night drive the young leopard princeling we encountered was feasting on an impala his mother had hunted earlier that day. The young leopard with emerald eyes looked magnificent thanks to his highly nurturing mother leopard displaying an Emotional and Protective bond. Yes, leopards are solitary but they exhibit a close relationship with their cubs, sometimes lasting up to two years.
(Credit: Dani Free)
The three black-maned lion brothers were another magical encounter during an early morning drive. After lying together and nuzzling each other in the long grass, they got up and the formidable coalition set out on their morning beat. Exhibiting a remarkable level of Cooperation and Camaraderie, this portrait was a fascinating example of strong social bonds and emotional ties in the animal kingdom.
(Credit: Alexandra George)
Another unforgettable scene of family and togetherness, of Community and Belonging – was the communal gathering at the spotted hyena den. In a daily routine, as if driven by some primeval instinct, mother hyena and her two cubs emerge daily from the den at dusk. At that same instant, other female hyenas from the matriarchal clan converge from the forest around to socialize with their sister and her cubs.
(Credit: Shutterstock)
Another memorable encounter was with a pride of 8 young lions, 4 males, 4 females, who embodied Family and Togetherness. I watched the tableau of the eight young lions deep in slumber in the grass– the lions were sprawled across each other, lying prostrate together, bodies intertwined as if some invisible cord bound them. For me, lion clanship was defined in that vision of the inseparableness of the whole, the social cohesion of the pride.
(Credit: Jenny Brennan)
With such wonderful memories of Botswana’s animals and birds and the feeling of peace and harmony as one listened to the cacophony of birds during a mokoro, or dug-out canoe, ride – in the Christmas spirit, I would ask that readers show kindness during the festive season by making a donation to one of the wildlife conservation groups below whose work has been featured in my blogs:
Desert Lion Foundation, Namibia. Dr. Philip Stander, renowned Namibian researcher, has been studying the desert lions of the Skeleton Coast for over 30 years. The desert lions need our help with only around 450 remaining thanks to Dr. Stander’s efforts.
https://www.desertlion.info/support/donate.html
Giraffe Conservation Foundation, Namibia. The graceful majestic giraffe is in trouble and is classified as threatened. The GCF is the only NGO dedicated entirely to the giraffe.
Make a donation:
https://give.giraffeconservation.org/
Adopt a giraffe:
https://give.giraffeconservation.org/adopt/
Botswana Predator Conservation Trust Wild Dog Project, Botswana, is dedicated to the conservation of the African wild dog in the Okavango Delta and has been monitoring wild dog packs there since 1989. https://www.wildentrust.org/donate
African Parks, Johannesburg, South Africa, is rehoming 2,000 rhinos over the next decade and manages 23 African national parks across 13 countries in Africa.