Week 305 ( 26th Jun - 2nd Jul 2009 )
Coco does a spot of hunting
During the middle of the week, in the afternoon a semi-cooperative hunt led to Coco making a successful blesbuck kill. Hulooo chased the main group across the river leaving one straggler behind. He then decided to rejoin the group and took a short-cut through the bush. Sounds of distress drew Hulooo and I back to the group. Coco was gripping the buck around the throat whilst Hulooo and JenB milled around. Many times the buck stood up and each time after much difficulty Coco forced it back to the ground and eventually he lay on it to make sure that it stayed down. They all then took turns playing with it until eventually at 16:56 they began to feed.
Two days later; again in the afternoon I was gazing through the telescope and saw Coco crouching behind a bush close to where the blesbuck were grazing. As I watched he stalked closer and closer, carefully running from bush to bush and gully to gully. Neither of his brothers was around to aid him in his quest. Unfortunately he became a little too excited and the blesbuck ran off all the way to the furthest fence. He then walked around with his nose to the ground and after a while he was joined by his brothers. Rather than risk their chasing the blesbuck around too much and creating problems for Madonna It was decided to get the boys back to the 7ha camp.
Although he was unsuccessful in his latest attempt to hunt but it does prove that he knows a good opportunity when he sees one.