Samburu Lioness Now Goes for Baby Impala

The East African Standard
February 2, 2003

Mary Nzioka
Nairobi

The oryx -adopting lioness from the Samburu National Game Reserve has done it yet again, but this time it has gone for a baby impala.

The pair was spotted yesterday morning at 10.10 am between Larsens Camp and the Samburu Lodge. The Larsens Camp manager, Mr George Oluoch, together with his two colleagues, witnessed the adoption. The three were travelling from the Camp to the Samburu Lodge.

Oluoch told the Sunday Standard on the phone from the lodge that the lioness targeted the baby impala, which had been in the company of a herd of other impalas. "The lioness targeted one impala calf. My colleagues and I were baffled by this latest development," said Oluoch.

Oluoch said the impala's mother was seen hanging around but was chased away by the lioness.

The baby impala at one point tried to escape but it was over-powered by the lioness, added Oluoch. The lioness, nicknamed Kamuniak, has made headlines six times in the past by adopting baby oryxes.

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The lioness and the baby Impala it adopted at Samburu Game Reserve are still moving together at Larsen camp.

The baby was spotted on Saturday morning at around 10.15am between Samburu Lodge and Larsen camp.

The Lioness last year adopted baby Orxy at Samburu National Game Reserve.

The National Reserve Senior Warden, Mr James Lesuyai, said the lioness and the baby Impala were seen together moving around Samburu Lodge.

Lesuyai said the Lioness targeted the baby, which had been in the company of a herd of other impalas before adopting it.

Lesuyai told the East African Standard on phone the baby is feeding on shrubs and grass while the Lioness nick-named "Kamuniak" on flesh at Samburu lodge.

He said the baby's mother has been seen hanging around but was being chased away by the Lioness.

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