Week 321 ( 16th - 22nd October 2009 )
Happy hunting and begging for food
During the early part of the week, the blesbuck were all bunched up and looking in the same direction and the springbuck was as always on high alert. The reason then became apparent. Madonna and King Henry were out on the hunt. I could not see Princess at that stage. Madonna was walking in plain view directly to the blesbuck while King Henry was lagging behind a little. As she got nearer to the blesbuck she used a small bush to stalk closer. She nearly out manoeuvred the blesbuck but King Henry was too eager and started running towards the Blesbuck. They made a break in the opposite direction and all Madonna could do was to try and cut them off but she was not successful. She whipped her tail from side to side in frustration. They started back for the trees and only then did I see shy Princess. They played a bit and then lay down in the shade of a small bush.
At the end of the week, they had for the moment given up trying to hunt and tried begging for food instead; which was as unsuccessful as their last hunting attempts. Madonna and King Henry came over to the fence to say hi. (Princess elected to stay where she was). After a little pacing and a chuff or two, Madonna plopped down in the shade. King Henry wandered up and down – whining. He tried to scent mark a bush but that didn’t go as planned and after standing around with his butt to a bush and his tail in the air looking stupid he packed it up. He then crossed over to his mother for some encouragement, but all he received was a deep-throated growl and a snap of teeth