Members of the Hollywood pride in South Luangwa. It's a medium/large pride, that was exhibiting some strange behaviour when I was out there. The pride had embarked on what can only be described as a killing spree.
First, we watched them take on a wounded buffalo for a couple of hours one evening. The badly wounded buffalo managed to get into the river and hold them at bay. And then the lions simply walked away, as if they couldn't be bothered to finish what they'd started.
The following morning, we found them on another buffalo kill, and then during the next few hours they took down another two buffalo and a warthog. The warthog and second buffalo were killed but hardly eaten at all.
The pride had a number of cubs with them, and it seemed likely to me that school was in session and the cubs were being taught how to kill. Our guide, however, thought that it was simple bloodlust - lions get pretty charged up when they hunt and feed. There's a degree of mob mentality and adrenaline overload and during this period, they may have just been in the mood to kill anything that passed by.
The shots were taken at sunset, while the lions rested up before the coming night. Lions are normally pretty dull subjects while they're resting, but the light and scenery was so good, and the pride so charismatic, that I couldn't resist rattling off a few shots.
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