Surprising camera-trap images reveal carnivorous warthogs

Unusual behaviour recorded on film as warthogs eat meat
- Courtesy of the Maasai Preservation Trust

When the Maasai Preservation Trust set up some camera-traps by the carcass of a Fringe-Eared Oryx with the goal of capturing photographs of our local hyena clan, and to build up an idea of the numbers and home ranges of our local hyena population, they had some very surprising results.

There are often some very surprising shots captures when a camera-trap is employed, and this was no exception. This carcass was near a waterhole so was visited by many species; firstly, a Tawny Eagle visited and fed from the carcass.

Then it was visited by some beautiful Superb and Blue-Eared Starlings that came to presumably feed on the insects attracted to the carcass.

Shortly after this, the eagle returned but was soon driven off by a lone male warthog that, to all of our surprise, started to feed on the carcass! We had heard reports that during a time of drought that warthogs feed of carrion but this behaviour is thought to be quite uncommon.

Rain at last

Thankfully we have been getting a little more rain here and last night we received the heaviest downpour yet with 22mm falling in 24 hours! So fingers crossed that the drought is coming to an end!