Mysterious Lioness Adopts Another Oryx (Baby No. 4)

Daily Nation (Kenya) ^ | May 24, 2002

[Shermy]

The strange lioness that has thrice baffled the world by adopting Beisa oryx calves has done it again.

The lioness - which has been named by Samburu villagers "Kamuniak'' or the (Blessed One), was seen with another calf yesterday morning by game lovers in the Samburu Game Reserve.

The two were spotted near Larsens Camp at the foot of Koitogor Hills, several hundred metres from where Kamuniak had adopted the other three oryxes.

A senior warder said the oryx, which is a few days old, was strong unlike its predecessors.

The lioness first grabbed the headlines around Christmas last year when it adopted its first oryx.

It puzzled game watchers, Samburu villagers and wildlife experts by escorting and protecting the baby oryx for 16 days.

The story was exclusively broken by the Nation on January 6.

A day later, the frail brown oryx calf was mauled to death by a lion as the foster mother went down the nearby Uaso Nyiro river for a drink.

And, on Valentines Day, the same lioness went for its second oryx but the relationship was cut short by Kenya Wildlife Service officials took away the calf, arguing that it was too weak to survive on its own.

The vet doctors said that by the time the second calf was adopted, it had not suckled sufficiently and was too weak to survive on its own. The second calf is still alive and well at the Nairobi animal orphanage.

The lioness drew attention to the world yet again on Easter this year when it adopted the third Oryx. After several days of startling friendship, the third calf took off on its own volition.

This unexpected escape has left the lioness stressed and observers rightly expected it to adopt yet another but no explanation from animal behaviour experts has been given to date.

[Shermy]

This is the fourth oryx adopted by the lioness. Previous stories, links and pics at my March 31 thread:

Kenyan Lioness adopts yet another oryx (#3) [Baby Oryx christened "Easter"]

Old pic...

[Shermy]

Pingrrrrrr.

[HairOfTheDog]

What does the lioness eat? - she is so confused she won't know whether to graze for forage, or bring back meat for her confused baby! - heh heh

[RightWhale]

This story is beginning to become eerie.

[Shermy]

Update.

This is becoming like a Tom Ridge alert.

[El Sordo]

Maybe tonight there will be a voice from the sky speaking to the lioness: "All right, for the last time, I said go find a lamb...."

[Tymesup]

I saw one documentary where a lioness picked up some other young cat, but eventually abandoned it. This case is much stranger.

Isn't there something in the Bible about the lion laying with the lamb?

[BJClinton]

"Lambs will lie down with lions..." or something like that.

[dr_who]

Animals are wierd. Next thing they're going to tell us is that the lioness is a lesbian who likes dancing with the leg of one of the zookeepers.

[BJClinton]

Dang, beat me by 2 minutes.

[Shermy]

Next thing they're going to tell us is that the lioness is a lesbian who likes dancing with the leg of one of the zookeepers.

Leg? An arm can be quite tasty.

Lion Bites Arm of off Female Employee at Busch Gardens in Florida

[Shermy]

First adoption about the 12th day of xmas. 2nd St. Valentines Day. Third Easter. Can't figure out this one...

[another cricket]

Wolf and lamb, lion and calf I believe but I will check. If all four show up with a human child watch out!

a.cricket

[Shermy]

I meant xmas, not 12th day.

[another cricket]

6"The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, The leopard shall lie down with the young goat, The calf and the young lion and the fatling together; And a little child shall lead them.

7The cow and the bear shall graze; Their young ones shall lie down together; And the lion shall eat straw like the ox.

Isaiah 11:6-7

a.cricket

[Shooter 2.5]

And the lion will lay down with the lamb. But the lamb won't get any sleep.

[blam]

I wonder what the lioness would do if they placed a baby lion with her?

[Canticle_of_Deborah]

Well what is up with this lioness?? Is she unable to have cubs of her own? Is she like those women who go into maternity wards trying to kidnap newborns?

I think it's time to call in the animal psychologists here....lol!!

[Wrigley]

What do you make of this?

[BJClinton]

Man, was he off. He didn't say a thing about an Oryx and Lioness.