Lion

Masai Mara National Reserve, Kenya

The lion, often called the King of Beasts, lives in a group known as a pride - a social unit centered around a male, joined by females and their cubs. Most inhabit the savanna, a vast grassland region, where it is primarily the females who take on the role of hunting.

It was just before sunrise. There I was, in the savanna, as a gentle breeze stirred the grass. I climbed into a four-wheel drive vehicle and set off in search of the wildlife that live in these plains. Looking out across the distance, I saw a single cow walking toward us. While wild relatives of cattle roam the savanna, this one seemed domesticated. Perhaps it had wandered off from one of the nearby Masai families.

As I watched, a lioness appeared, stealthily approaching from behind the cow. Then, in the next instant, she charged. Startled, the cow desperately ran with all its strength, and the lioness gave chase at full speed. Finally, she leapt - her claws extended - catching the cow’s back with her forelegs. Yet the cow continued to run powerfully, shaking her off. Still, the lioness persisted, and the two disappeared beyond the horizon. I never saw what happened after that. But later that evening, I spoke with some of the Masai people. They told me the cow had returned safely to the village.

Even for the lion - the King of Beasts - a successful hunt comes only once in four attempts. It was a fortunate outcome for the cow and Masai, but a disappointing result for the lioness. It may seem unexpected, but here in the African savanna, the lives of people and wild animals are deeply intertwined.