- Title: KENYA: Lioness adopts baby oryx
- Date: 1st April 2002
- Summary: (L!3) SAMBURU, KENYA (APRIL 2, 2002) (REUTERS) VARIOUS LIONESS WITH THIRD ADOPTED BABY ORYX RESTING IN THE JUNGLE (3 SHOTS) SCU BABY ORYX SLV LIONESS WALKING AWAY TO LET ORYX MOTHER FEED THE CALF SLV ORYX MOTHER FEEDING THE CALF VARIOUS, KENYA WILDLIFE SERVICE, (KWS) PERSONNEL GUARDING LIONESS AND ADOPTED CALF (4 SHOTS) SCU (SOUNDBITE) (English) SENIOR WARDEN KWS SIMON LA
- Embargoed: 16th April 2002 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Kenya
- Country: Kenya
- Topics: Light / Amusing / Unusual / Quirky
- Reuters ID: LVACQ3JTANPNULX83CKFS512YCMW
- Story Text: A Kenyan lioness has defied nature by adopting a baby oryx, an antelope Africa's top predator usually likes to eat. But it's not the first time this lioness has had strange maternal urges, this is the third baby oryx she's adopted this year.
A sleepy lioness lazes in the shade at Kenya's Samburu National Park. But on closer inspection this big cat has chosen a strange bedfellow with which to pass the time.
The lioness has adopted a five-day-old oryx, an animal she's probably more used to eating than mothering.
Game wardens at Samburu National Park said they found the lioness with the young oryx over the Easter holidays. The calf was appropriately called 'Easter'.
This African predator previously adopted two other new born oryxes on illustrious days -- New Year and on Valentine's day.
She gives the calves affection, protection from other lions, and even allows their natural mothers to come and feed them.
Here the lioness can be seen checking out the oryx's antelope mother. When she comes to suckle her baby the lioness leaves them alone.
Park wardens are watching this unusual duo round the clock to make sure the oryx isn't hunted by other animals.
'Easter', the latest adoptee, looks well and strong.
But oryx number two was taken away from the lioness after its condition deteriorated from lack of food.
Oryx number one was not so lucky. The lioness managed to protect it for two weeks before a hungry male lion with a traditional diet seized the baby while the lioness was napping.
"We don't want to separate them, we want the group to stay together. The first adoption the baby was eaten by a lion.
The second one it was taken by people so this third one we would like to let nature take its course with them staying together so that we can find the message. What message does this lioness have? It's because these adoptions always occur during holidays. "The lioness adopts during the holidays, Christmas, Valentine's day and Easter." says Simon Lairana, a senior warden with the Kenya Wildlife Service.
Tourists on safari in Kenya are fascinated by the strange sight.
"Interesting, it has never happened before, I mean it's rather spectacular and it's just very very interesting to see them," said one holidaymaker.
Let's hope it's third time lucky for 'Easter'. A leopard may not be able to change its spots but perhaps this time the lioness can manage to keep hold of her young charge. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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