Kenyan Lioness Defies Nature -- Adopts Third Baby Oryx

Kenyan Lioness Defies Nature
By Adopting Third Baby Oryx
4-1-2

NAIROBI, Kenya (Reuters) - A lioness who has already defied nature twice this
year by adopting a baby oryx -- an antelope that Africa's top predator
usually likes to eat -- has done it again, adopting a third oryx.

Game wardens at Samburu National Park said Monday they had found the lioness
with a four or five-day-old oryx called Easter Saturday. She had previously
adopted new born oryxes over New Year and on Valentine's Day.

On each occasion, she has given the calves affection, protection from other
lions, and even allowed their natural mothers to come and feed them.

"Yesterday, two oryxes came (near the lion and calf), probably the mother and
father," chief warden Simon Leirana told Reuters. "The lioness left the calf
and went to sleep in the shade.

"The calf went to its mother and started suckling for about three minutes,
then the lioness ran toward them and the mother oryx ran away."

Leirana said the calf tried to follow its mother, but was pursued by the
lioness who eventually won "her" baby back.

Wardens said the latest adoptee looked well and strong. Oryx number two was
taken away from the lioness after its condition deteriorated from lack of
food.

Oryx number one was not so lucky. The lioness managed to protect it for two
weeks before a hungry male lion with a traditional diet seized the baby while
the lioness was napping.