Beest – It’s What’s for Dinner, and Breakfast Too

The blue wildebeest, also known as the gnu because of the sound it makes. 

Beest -- it's what's for dinner. Wildebeest that is. 

Rishi and I spent a long weekend at Madikwe Game Reserve, where we saw a pride of lions dining on a wildebeest that the pride had killed several hours earlier. 

Time to digest.

While the lionesses enjoyed their meal, the male of the pride was lazily stretched out nearby, having already eaten his fill. Our guide, Israel, explained that the male usually eats first and also that this particular male is old, probably approaching the end of his life expectancy.

Still working at it the next morning.

The next morning we returned to the same spot to find that the lionesses were still at it. Shortly after our arrival, however, the last of the lionesses leisurely walked off, licking her lips and leaving behind mostly skin and bones.

Lip-licking good!

The carcass after the lions finished with it.

But enough remained of the carcass to make it good eating for scavengers. We watched as a black backed jackal cautiously prepared to move in. He watched from a distance before warily coming closer, looking about, moving away, and then coming closer again, all the while sniffing and scanning the distance to be sure the lions showed no sign of returning and that no other threats, such as hyenas, were nearby. 

Jackal, making sure if's safe to dine.

Finally, convinced it was safe to approach the carcass, the jackal began to rip at the carcass.