Notch Coalition Male Lineage

[Pckts]

I found an old article from 2008 about the marsh pride and Notch.
The Marsh Lion: September 2008
September 11th, 2008

*This image is copyright of its original author

The Marsh Lions are in fine form with three big males ruling the Marsh Pride territory since successfully banishing Notch from the area last June. Notch is still alive and increasingly being given a hard time by the four younger male relatives he has been hanging out with to try and stay out of harms way and find food; Tamu the Marsh lioness raised her two surving cubs from her litter of 2006 (both males) and may even have new cubs by now. But the big story this September is that along with the nine surviving cubs born to the four oldest lionesses in the pride (White Eye and Mama Lugga (Red), Khali’s Daughter (Bibi) and another lioness – possibly Lispy or the Blonde Sister), the three younger lionesses in the pride (all daughters of the older lionesses and 3 to 4 years old) produced a single surviving cub from their first attempts to breed (lionesses often struggle to raise their first litter – they often need time to gain the experience to keep their cubs safe).

*This image is copyright of its original author

*This image is copyright of its original author

*This image is copyright of its original author

This tiny cub was abandoned by the three younger females on one of their infrequent visits to the rest of the pride. Lionesses without cubs often prefer to spend time away from lionesses in their pride that have formed a crèche, looking for some peace and quiet and the opportunity to feast alone. The single cub is a real survivor – a plucky little female of about 8 to 10 weeks old who is undersized for her age due to being abandoned and with little opportunity to suckle. Visitors to Governor’s Camp/Musiara area have been fascinated by the little cubs battle for survival. While we were in the area we watched as the brave little cub fought for her share of an ostrich that the pride had killed. The nine older cubs are 5 to 7 months old and constantly play with their younger cousin/relative, dragging her along by the scruff of her neck, pulling her by the tail and generally mauling her in a not always playful manner. But each day the little female remains alive the other cubs become more bonded to her – and the greater her chances of survival. She is definitely the tail-end-Charlie whenever he pride decides to make a pilgrimage across its territory. One can only hold ones breath at the thoughts of the dangers that lie ahead – but rather like Solo, a previous star of Big Cat Diary, who survived to adulthood and was marked out by his courage and will to survive, the little female is witness to the miracle of life that we all find so fascinating.

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