![Panama-8813 Panama-8813](https://wildsidenaturetours.com/wp-content/plugins/bb-plugin/img/pixel.png)
KENYA – Samburu : ….. and Life
Mar 3, 2009 | by Adrian Binns
What we did not know yesterday was that the reason, in all likelihood, that the lioness dragged her kill into that particular bush was because that is where she had hidden her cubs. She knew that at some stage many animals would head down to the watering hole and all she had to do was wait it out.
![](https://notesfromthewildside.com/wp-content/uploads/images/lioness-and-4-cubs-BINNS-IMG_1088-copy.jpg)
Driving the maze of tracks that intertwine through the riverine habitat Peter and I stumbled upon the same old lioness, worn incisors and all, this time with 4 adorable 7 week old cubs. The youngest cub was still heavily spotted. They all took turns napping with one of two walking about but never too far before returning to casually play with their siblings. She must have felt very safe being exposed, though I would have thought that that Martial Eagle, given half a chance, would take a cub with little problem. The cubs stayed very close to their mother, often nuzzling her and even suckling.
![](https://notesfromthewildside.com/wp-content/uploads/images/lion-cubs-BINNS-IMG_1153-copy.jpg)
Through the radio chatter we heard that there were Somali Ostriches with chicks amongst the saltbush. Once we got into the area it was easy enough to pick out a towering 8 foot bird above the low vegetation! The Somali race differs from the Common Ostrich in that the males have a greyish-blue neck and thighs.
![](https://notesfromthewildside.com/wp-content/uploads/images/ostrich-chicks-BINNS-IMG_1620-copy.jpg)
At one stage the female (below) noticed a rival female and proceeded to chase her away (they are the fastest running birds capable of at least 40mph), at which point the chicks instinctively all hid at
the base of a bush until she returned, even though the male was less than 30 feet away.
![](https://notesfromthewildside.com/wp-content/uploads/images/somali-ostrich-female-running-BINNS-IMG_1586-copy.jpg)
![](https://notesfromthewildside.com/wp-content/uploads/images/somali-ostrich-at-nest-BINNS-IMG_1607-copy.jpg)
Not too far away another male was clearly visible so we drove to see him. He was standing over the remaining 9 eggs of his clutch, with 4 day-old chicks by his side! We stayed and watched for a while seeing life being exposed to the world for the first time. There was one chick that must have hatched within the last hour as she was still wet, could barely lift her head and with shear exhaustion only able to crawl a few inches at a time. This was remarkable timing.
The older chicks looked so awkward laying down together occasionally lifting their heads. Every once in a while one would stand up on very short stubby and wobbly legs. Barely able to put together 3 or 4 steps before falling over. If one would manage to venture to the edge of the males reach, he would peck at the chick in no uncertain terms. We even saw it once flick, with its bill, the chick back into the ‘zone’. The male stood in the same spot never moving his feet. He knew that the chicks and eggs would be far too vulnerable if he moved and this way he was in full control.
all photos © adrian binns