African lions (panthera leo) are formidable hunters, targeting medium-sized mammals such as blue wildebeest, zebra and African buffalo, although they will take smaller prey too.

Male lions, often brothers, frequently associate and hunt together, sharing kills and defending them from scavengers such as hyenas and vultures.

These mature males had a successful hunt near the Mooiplaas Waterhole in Kruger National Park on the previous night. (January 30, 2020)

They dragged the carcass, probably a Blue Wildebeest, under mopane shrubs and had consumed it completely by the morning.

The lions stayed with the skeletal remains of their kill, lying in the shade with full bellies, panting as the temperature rose during the day. A flock of white-backed Vultures (Gyps africanus) and a couple of smaller hooded vultures (necrosyrtes monarchus) waited nearby for the lions to abandon the remains of their kill.

African Lions (Panthera leo) are formidable hunters, targeting medium-sized mammals such as Blue Wildebeest, Zebra and African Buffalo, although they will take smaller prey too. Male Lions, often brothers, often associate and hunt together, sharing kills and defending them from scavengers such as hyaenas and vultures. These mature males had a successful hunt near the Mooiplaas Waterhole in Kruger National Park on the previous night. They dragged the carcass, probably a Blue Wildebeest, under mopane shrubs and had consumed it completely by the morning. The Lions stayed with the skeletal remains of their kill, lying in the shade with full bellies, panting as the temperature rose during the day. A flock of White-backed Vultures (Gyps africanus) and a couple of smaller Hooded Vultures (Necrosyrtes monarchus) waited nearby for the Lions to abandon the remains of their kill.