Predator turned Protector

An Great Phenomenon : In January 2002, Kenyan officials came accross a lioness and a baby oryx living together like mother and baby in the Samburu Game Reserve. This is a great phenomenon as by nature, oryx being apart of the antelope family is on top of the lion menu. Upon witnessing this truly remarkable incident, Samburu park officials named this young lioness (2-3 years old) Kamunyak or The Blessed One. It was learned that Kamunyak had adopted the oryx when it was just a few weeks old. Therefore, as it was in a stage where mother's milk was much needed, Kamunyak would occasionally allow the oryx mother to feed the baby before scaring it away. Like a true protective mother, Kamunyak would even forgo hunting in order stand watch over her baby oryx. As this bond between lioness and oryx grew stronger with each passing day, lion experts began to investigate this unusual yet touching behaviour. For 16 days Kamunyak protected the baby oryx from hunting cheetahs and other predators of the Samburu. However, worn out and hungry Kamunyak finally lost her adopted baby oryx to a male lion while she let the baby out of sight for a few seconds.

Kamunyak went on to adopt 5 more baby oryx in 3 years and stayed watch over them until death or escape seperated them. Whether it was maternal instinct, the fact that the lioness had lost her pride or something else unrelated that caused this beahviour remains a mystery to date. But Kamunyak lives in many lives as a true legend who dared break the rules of nature..

Source: Animal Planet