April 11, 2009
The Okavango Delta is known for its abundance of lions and lionesses. These oversized cats have acclimated to and now thrive in a wetland environment. All species of lions are obligatory carnivorous, with prey consisting of zebra, wildebeest and antelopes. Males do not hunt, while females hunt in packs by stalking herds and tracking down the weakest members. Scavenging is also very common among this species. Lions are social animals and form a “pride” with female lionesses.
Leopards are another species that are one of the “five big cats.” Despite being closely related to lions, they are very different physically and behaviorally. Leopards are nocturnal and are very active at night. Another significant difference is their social structure. Labeled as solitary animals, leopards only spend time with others while mating or raising cubs. Leopards ambush their prey; by crouching low, stalking and pouncing, their prey has no time to react.
