DipNovel Chapter 104 Reticulated Python vs. Komodo Dragon
Chapter 104 Reticulated Python vs. Komodo Dragon
Chapter 104 Reticulated Python vs. Komodo Dragon
After all, even if this Komodo dragon bites the reticulated python, it doesn't need to worry about dying from the poison, because this reticulated python has a strong immune system.
When the Komodo dragon saw a huge reticulated python attacking it, it was somewhat dumbfounded. After all, Komodo dragons are quite afraid of reticulated pythons.
At this moment, Chu Ye felt somewhat pleased. With this enormous reticulated python attacking the Komodo dragon, Chu Ye and the two lionesses wouldn't have to worry about their prey being stolen by the Komodo dragon.
However, this Komodo dragon was also enormous, and it was unwilling to give up its prey that was already within its grasp.
So, when the reticulated python began to attack the Komodo dragon, the Komodo dragon did not back down and fought back.
But how could this Komodo dragon be a match for this reticulated python? Soon, the reticulated python defeated the Komodo dragon.
The reticulated python quickly coiled around the Komodo dragon. It seemed the Komodo dragon was about to be subdued by the reticulated python.
However, to the reticulated python's surprise, the Komodo dragon's body was incredibly smooth. When the python coiled around it, it miraculously escaped its grasp.
Although the Komodo dragon escaped from the reticulated python's grasp, the python showed no intention of letting it go.
After freeing itself from the reticulated python's coils, the Komodo dragon quickly ran into the nearby bushes.
Seeing this situation, Chu Ye wondered what to do. If the reticulated python didn't chase after the Komodo dragon, would it then try to compete with the three lions for the okapi?
But what pleased Chu Ye was that this reticulated python seemed extremely excited about the Komodo dragon. It seemed completely uninterested in the prey hunted by the three lions. It completely ignored the dead okapi not far away and instead chased after the Komodo dragon in the direction it had fled.
Chu Ye felt relieved when he saw the reticulated python begin to chase after the Komodo dragon.
The two lionesses were also very scared. They were afraid that the reticulated python would stop chasing the Komodo dragon and come back to compete with the three lions for food.
Fortunately, this reticulated python seemed to have a special fondness for that Komodo dragon, and it actually chased after it directly.
Watching the reticulated python disappear into the distance, Chu Ye felt reassured and began to eat the meat.
Chu Ye and the two lionesses ate a lot of okapi meat in this spot. Then they carried the rest of the food back to their camp.
Meanwhile, the other seven lion cubs were waiting for the two lionesses to return from their hunt. This time, led by Chu Ye, the two lionesses had a very successful hunt, managing to catch an okapi weighing five or six hundred kilograms.
Although Chu Ye and the two lionesses had already eaten over 100 kilograms of meat, Huo Jiapi still had a lot of meat left on his body.
The two lionesses then placed the food they had hunted in front of their seven cubs. Upon seeing the food, the seven cubs immediately gathered around and began to eat.
Just as the lion cubs were enjoying their meal, the male lion Jike suddenly ran over from a distance.
When Jike arrived, it unceremoniously chased away the other seven lion cubs. Chu Ye then began to enjoy the meat of the Huo family's hide all to himself, even though the seven lion cubs were also very hungry and wanted to eat more meat.
But when the male lion enjoys the food all to himself, the other lions can only watch from the sidelines. They dare not compete with the male lion for the food.
Fortunately, this Huo family pelt weighed five or six hundred kilograms. Even though Chu Ye and the two lionesses ate some meat, there was still plenty left.
Now the male lion has also started to enjoy the food all to himself, but no matter what, the male lion can't possibly finish all the remaining meat; he will always have a lot left over.
So the seven lion cubs could only wait on the sidelines, their mouths watering, but they dared not compete with their male lion father for food.
Chu Ye and the two lionesses had already eaten their fill, and the three lions were simply resting to one side. They were all used to the male lion's behavior.
Chu Ye merely glanced at the lion's domineering behavior before continuing to rest. He had frequently encountered situations like lions fighting over food with their cubs.
Chu Ye knew that if the lion cubs waited patiently, they would soon have food. After all, there was still plenty of meat on this okapi. Even if a male lion had a large appetite, it would only eat 20 or 30 kilograms of meat at most, leaving more than 100 kilograms of meat, enough for the lion cubs to eat.
And so, Chu Ye and the two lionesses worked together, and finally their pride had a full meal that day.
However, the dry season continues, and going hungry is a common occurrence for a pride of lions.
This Huo family pelt allowed the Jike lion pride to enjoy a few days of plenty, but soon they faced hunger again.
However, Chu Ye knew that regardless of whether the other lions in his pride could find food, he didn't need to worry about his own. Even if he couldn't catch large prey, he could still catch some smaller ones.
Chu Ye has already eaten many kinds of animals from the vast grasslands. However, there are many different kinds of animals on the grasslands that Chu Ye has never eaten before.
One morning, Chu Ye was resting under a big tree. He glanced up at the sky and saw more than a dozen large birds circling in the distance.
Upon seeing this large bird, Chu Ye knew it was the vulture, the most famous scavenger on the grasslands.
Vulture: A large bird of prey belonging to the order Falconiformes and family Accipitridae, measuring 108-120 cm in length. It is entirely dark brown, with a bare head covered only with short, dark brown downy feathers. The back of the neck is completely bare, with long, black or pale brownish-white tufts forming ruffles at the base. Juveniles are lighter in color and have more bare heads than adults, making them easier to identify.
They mainly inhabit barren grasslands, valley streams, and forest edges in low hills, high mountain wastelands, and forests. They are usually solitary, but occasionally form small groups, especially in areas with abundant food. They feed on the carcasses of large animals and often soar over open, relatively bare mountainous and plain areas to spy on animal carcasses.
Occasionally, it flies low over mountains, actively attacking small and medium-sized mammals, amphibians, reptiles, and birds, and sometimes livestock. It is distributed in northwestern Africa and southern Europe.
Among birds of prey, vultures have relatively weak flying abilities, employing an energy-saving mode of flight called "gliding." These large-winged birds leisurely roam the skies above desolate mountains and wilderness, using their unique senses to detect the invisible rising warm air currents.
They rely on rising warm air currents to comfortably continue ascending, so they can fly to farther places. When flying, their wings are stretched out in a straight line, and they rarely flap their wings. Instead, they can use the air currents to soar in the air for a long time. When they find a carcass on the ground, they fly to the vicinity to feed.
They usually live alone, but occasionally form small groups of 3-5 individuals, with the largest groups reaching more than 10 individuals, especially in places where food is plentiful.
Active during the day, they often soar and glide leisurely at high altitudes, sometimes flying at low altitudes as well. When soaring and gliding, their wings are outstretched, with the primary flight feathers spread out like fingers and the wingtips drooping slightly downwards. When resting, they often perch on protruding rocks, telephone poles, or dead branches at the top of trees.
Vultures primarily feed on the carcasses of mammals. Mammals typically gather together when resting on plains or grasslands.
Having learned this pattern, vultures pay special attention to animals lying alone on the ground. Once they spot a target, they carefully observe its movements. If the target remains motionless, they continue to circle and observe from the air.
This observation period is quite long, at least two days. During this time, if the animal remains motionless, it will fly lower to observe from close range whether the animal's abdomen is rising and falling and whether its eyes are moving.
If there is still no movement, the vultures will begin to land near the corpse and silently approach it.
At this moment, it hesitated, eager to take action but also afraid of being tricked and ambushed. It opened its mouth, stretched its neck, and spread its wings, ready to take off at any moment.
The vulture approached a little closer, making a "cooing" sound. Seeing that the other party did not react, it pecked at the corpse with its beak and immediately jumped away.
Then it examined the corpse again. If the corpse still did not move, the vulture felt relieved and pounced on it, devouring it greedily.
Sometimes, vultures fly very high and may not be able to spot animal carcasses on the ground. The activity of other scavengers, such as crows, jackals, and hyenas, can provide targets for these birds of prey.
If the vultures discover that the carcass is being devoured, they will lower their altitude to conduct further reconnaissance. If they do find food, they will quickly descend.
At this time, vultures from tens of kilometers away will also flock to the delicacy at speeds of over 100 kilometers per hour.
Primarily feeding on the carcasses of large animals and other decaying matter, it is known as the "cleaner of the grasslands." It often soars over open, relatively bare mountains and plains, spying on animal carcasses. Occasionally, it also flies low over mountains, actively attacking small and medium-sized mammals, amphibians, reptiles, and birds, and sometimes even livestock.
When vultures are fighting for food, their body color undergoes some interesting changes. Normally, their faces are dark brown and their necks are leaden blue. But when they are pecking at animal carcasses, their faces and necks turn a bright red. This is a warning to other vultures: run away and don't get close.
A strong vulture came aggressively to steal the food. Unable to withstand the attack, it had no choice but to retreat and leave its original position. At that moment, its face and neck immediately turned from red to white.
The victor triumphantly seized the food, its face and neck turning a fiery red; the loser calmed down, gradually returning to its original color. Based on these changes in color, one could determine the vulture's physical strength.
When Chu Ye saw these vultures, he thought, "Hey, aren't these vultures the food indicators of the grasslands? If I keep observing them, I can find food by following their signals."
Chu Ye knew that on the vast grasslands, vultures served as beacons for many animals searching for food. Animals like hyenas, for example, loved to observe vultures in the sky. When they saw a vulture circling over a certain area, they knew there might be food there.
In particular, when hyenas see some vultures circling in the sky for a while and then suddenly swooping down to the ground, it means they have spotted food.
Looking at the vultures circling in the sky not far away, Chu Ye felt that they must have found some food.
"Hey! If hyenas can find food through vultures, why can't I, a little lion, find food through vultures too!"
Thinking this, Chu Ye left its pride. Although two lionesses and a male lion were resting nearby, Chu Ye boldly left the pride and began walking towards the distant grass.
Soon, Chu Ye arrived at the place where the vultures had found food.
This is a thicket of bushes, and there's a warthog that's been dead for a long time. It was probably prey for some kind of predator. But it's puzzling that this predator didn't eat the warthog; it just left it there.
The warthog was already rotting, but there was still a lot of meat to eat. The vultures fed on this carrion.
Upon seeing the rotting warthog carcass, Chu Ye naturally lost his appetite. He wouldn't eat rotten flesh; although it was the dry season and food was scarce, he still wanted fresh food and absolutely refused to eat carrion.
But these vultures weren't so picky; they started fighting over the food in front of them. Although it was just some rotten warthog meat, it was still a delicacy for these vultures.
"Damn, it's just a rotting warthog. What a waste of my time getting here. Looks like I'll have to find food somewhere else."
Chu Ye absolutely refused to eat rotten food; he only wanted fresh food. So, he thought of trying his luck elsewhere.
But then Chu Ye wondered if he should just hunt a vulture and try it! He didn't think he'd ever eaten such a big bird before!
Chu Ye was filled with curiosity about every creature on the grassland. He wanted to try any food he had never eaten before.
Even among these vultures, Chu Ye wanted to kill one and taste what it was like. After all, Chu Ye had never eaten vulture meat before!