A lioness in central Kenya, at the Samburu Game Reserve, baffled wildlife experts by adopting a baby oryx, - a kind of small antelope normally preyed upon by big cats.

Reports say the full-grown lioness came across the oryx toward the end of December 2001, in the Samburu Game Reserve, scaring off its mother.

Instead of then attacking the defenceless calf, the lioness adopted the baby, protecting it from other predators, including a leopard.

Extraordinarily, the lioness still allowed the mother oryx occasionally to come and feed her calf before chasing her away... Saddly though, Jungle Law is still in vogue out there, and on the 5th January 2002, a male lion attacked and killed the baby oryx while the lioness was sleeping.

'Special instinct'

Mr. Mwasaghu was one of the first to spot the unlikely pair, which proved a powerful draw for tourists and game workers alike.

The lioness would lie down to rest in the afternoon and its unlikely charge would curl up beside her.

Wildlife expert Vincent Kapeen said he thought the lioness spared the oryx "because animals have a special instinct to care for the young".

Sad ending

"This is either an extraordinary case of maternal instinct or simply the eighth wonder of the world," local Herman Mwasaghu told The Nation newspaper.

According to the AFP news agency, the sad end to the story came when the lioness led the oryx to the river to drink.

"What is baffling is why the relationship has lasted so long" - Wildlife expert Vincent Kapeen

Weakened by two weeks of looking after her adopted baby, she fell asleep, failing to notice a hungry male lion in the area.

The oryx was no more. Patrick Muriungi, a receptionist at Samburu Lodge, told AFP the lioness was grief-stricken when she awoke to realise what had happened.

"She was very angry. She went around the lion about 10 times roaring, and then the lioness disappeared," he was quoted as saying.

UPDATE::: - APRIL 2002

Tourists flocked to watch the unlikely pair

Still at it.. the lioness in Kenya has adopted another baby oryx - her third in as many months, game wardens at the northern Samburu National Park have reported. The lioness is said to allow a female oryx several minutes each day to feed the new-born calf.

The last calf was killed while she was sleeping

"Lions, like all the other species, including human beings, have this kind of feelings for babies" - Conservationist Daphne Sheldrick

The oryx would normally represent a tasty meal to a lion, but this is not the first time the lioness has placed a calf under her protection.

One was seen in her company in December last year, but it was eaten by other lions after two weeks. Another calf was taken away from her in February and placed in a zoo because it showed signs of malnourishment.

Dangers

The Wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them. And the cow and the bear shall feed; their young ones shall lie down together: and the lion shall eat straw like the ox. And the sucking child shall play on the hole of the cobra, and the the weaned child shall put his hand on the vipers den. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain: for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea. - The book of Isaiah Chapter 11:6-9

The chief game warden in Samburu, Simon Leirana, said that the lioness was seen with a baby oryx no more then three days old early on Saturday.

"We are baffled. We do not know what to do with this third oryx," said Mr Leirana.

He said wildlife officials might decide to let nature take its course, leaving the calf to take its chances with starvation or other predators.

The lioness is said to be "fiercely protective" of the oryx - becoming very aggressive when any human come near.

Three adult oryxes have been seen near the unlikely duo though, one of which is believed to be the mother.

Grief stricken

When the last calf was eaten by a male lion while she slept, the lioness was said to have been stricken with grief - she went around roaring in anger.

Cases of lionesses showing maternal affection for animals they would normally see as prey are not unprecedented, conservationist Daphne Sheldrick said.

"It does happen, but it's quite unusual. Lions, like all the other species, including human beings, have this kind of feelings for babies," she said.

Local newspapers have noted that all three adoptions occurred on significant days - Christmas, Valentine's Day and Good Friday.