Pench National Park is not like the others. This teak forest, which can be found in the AVSM belt (which encompasses the Aravali, Vindhyanchal, Satpura, and Maikal Ranges), is an interesting alternative and a welcome change from the typical and picturesque parks of Kanha and Bandhavgarh. When compared to Kanha and Bandhavgarh, the tracks here are easier to navigate, the trees are denser, and there is more dense undergrowth. This could be one of the reasons why the herbivore population here is far bigger. This location is notable for its lack of sound. You begin to believe that you are the King when all of a sudden, your driver stops after noticing the pugmarks left by the real King of the area. He displays them to you, and then all of a sudden you hear an alarm call coming from one of the inhabitants of the jungle. A tiger has just crossed. You, your driver, your naturalist are all awake. Looking in the direction that the call was coming from, her eyes were much larger than normal, and her heart was beating at a rate of 120 beats per minute. You want to see the real King of Pench, the one with ears as enormous as an elephant's, don't you? As the story progresses, you realise that you are in Pench, the genuine and authentic Kipling Country.

There are approximately one hundred Bengal tigers and a great number of other species that can be discovered in the expansive, natural, and breathtaking Kanha National Park. It is generally recognised as one of India's finest national parks, has an exceptional track record of conservation, and provides tourists with the opportunity to escape into a huge environment reminiscent of The Jungle Book, in which the majestic Bengal tiger reigns supreme.

Kanha is often considered to be one of the finest national parks in all of India due to its expansive sal woodland and open grassland meadows. The location of this city may be found in the state of Madhya Pradesh. Because of the presence of Bengal tigers in the area, tourists travel from all over the world to see them. This vast wilderness is home to a wide variety of resident and migratory birds, such as peacocks and vultures, as well as leopards, Indian bison, langurs, wild boar, and jackals. Peacocks and vultures are among the resident species. In addition to the most powerful of the big cats, the Royal Bengal Tiger, numerous antelope and deer can be seen in huge numbers in Kanha's meadows. These animals include the rare hard-ground barasinga swamp deer, which is now the official state animal of Madhya Pradesh.


Explore some of our most well-known tours to the Kanha Tiger Reserve, or find out more about the Kanha national park by reading our guide to tiger safaris in the Kanha area.

Hello everyone, can you all, please, place a like on this post so I know it can be seen?

I know this was talked about a lot over the years but I ran across a post in FB and apparently by someone who is in the field. Heres what he said about that common problem of the rear hip just wasting away, some lions have a black patchy spot with no hair too. He was commenting on a pic of the Birmingham #7 sub unfortunately after his 6 bros left the area....

*This image is copyright of its original author

***If this is not in the correct area can a mod delete this thread and place this in the correct spot? Thanks!

China has a 270kg Amur tiger, measured by Professor Feng, this tiger's bust even reached 180.

I saw this lion on the internet and i was impressed by his black mane. Then i remembered a guy named nyamakunze aka big black and this guy looked very similar to him. Very similar dark mane and a little brown mane around cheeks. Is this the guy called big black or nyamakunze. I really want the pictures of big black as i saw one of his pics where i was unable to see his face.
If the picture is not posted then i apologize. I added the picture by adding attachment option as i don't know how to post picture properly because this is my first post 

Plains Camp males:

Photo credits : dianalaurapando



2 brothers born into Plains Camp pride around July 2017, they where sired by mighty Mantimahle males.

October 2017:
Photo credits : Rhino Post Safari Lodge 

As a cubs, with their sisters, they where thriving under protection of 5 mighty fathers.

April 2018 :
Photo credits : Rhino Post Safari Lodge 



Photo credits : gregory.gillespie_95

Coming into 2019, 4 out of 5 their fathers started to moving away from this area and hanging with new, bigger prides further south, leaving only 1 male behind with them, he is known as famous 5th Mantimahle, the separated brother.

5th and PC subs, February 2019:

Later around mid 2019, 2 S. Avocas took that advantage and pushed out remaining 5th Mantimahle and takeover Plains Camp pride. With subadults being only around 2 years of age, they where forced to run away and leave the pride, starting nomadic life.

Photo credits : gregory.gillespie_95



Thats where Plains Camp males where seen in Sabi Sands for the first time, in April 2020, they appeared in eastern MalaMala, in company of 2 sisters.


They moved west and hanged around Sabi Sabi for some time, eventually 2 sisters left them and prob returned back towards their natal area, leaving 2 young males alone.









But their presence didn't get unnoticed, as they also hanged in MalaMala and in Bboys territory, Bboys Tinyo caught them and beat up 1 of the males, leaving him limping. Eventually, shortly after July 2020, 2 youngsters left Sabi Sands and went back in Kruger. They where seen hanging around Skukuza and their natal area around Rhino Post.

Rhino Post, August 2020 :

Although most of us believed we wont see these 2 youngsters again in Sabi Sands, suprise happened in March 2021, 2 males where spotted in Sabi Sabi, this time significantly bigger then they once where.






They roamend almost whole Sabi Sand, although this time bigger, they where still no match for local, territorial males, so they where chased around a lot by Bboys, Avoca males and OM.

Photo credits : Londolozi 



Eventually, towards the late 2021, they settled into empty area of Singita, attracting 2 Nkuhuma females, Ridge Nose and Amber Eyes with them. They become territorial males.

Photo credits : Africa journey nature experience 



Around early 2022, Ridge Nose give birth to 2 cubs, their first offspring. 

Since they settled in Singita, they are assumed to be responsible for killing few female lions, like subs from Nkuhuma and Talamati prides, and possible Tsalala female.

2 males growed into massive and impressive specimens, prob the most impressive males in Sabi Sands already, at only 5 yrs of age. But its not only their looks, since they become territorial, their confidence and agressivnes skyrocket.

Photo credits : MalaMala 



They are actively searching for new females (seen mating with breakaway Mhangeni female) and to expand territory, pushing east and especially west, already invading west few times in the past months against Skorro Jr. Tumbela, who eventualy lost his territory to Nhenha and NK male.

But now 2 territorial males there didn't slow down PC males, just yesterday they confidentley invaded western sector and chased both males.

Its yet to be see how will this campaing west and future go for 2 impressive males.

Since those two males now firmly are establishing themselfs as one of the dominant male lion coalitions of Sabi Sands it is time they have thread of their own.

https://www.more.co.za/blog/welcome-to-the-gijima-males-of-lion-sands/?fbclid=IwAR0V4FHklGnusZJG8cdhpyNBAh4yoa8Tl6d1FrWbROoKdxM5hHWS9wyr1GM

Welcome to the Gijima males of Lion Sands

*This image is copyright of its original author

Unpredictable and dramatic at the best of times, the lion dynamics of Lion Sands were turned on their head by the unexpected arrival of three young males quietly crossing the Sabie River from the Kruger National Park and sneaking into the western reaches of our property.


At this point, the territory within Lion Sands belonged to the Ndhzenga males, an older and more experienced coalition, which thus far had fiercely defended the land and the prides within it from competing lions. Because of this, no one expected the newcomers to stay long, and when the Ndhzenga eventually killed one of the young brothers, it was assumed the remaining two would leave the area completely.

Remarkably, the two brothers chose to remain on Lion Sands, strategically avoiding any further altercations with the Ndhzenga. Being unsure of their surroundings and unaccustomed to vehicles, the young nomads would run every time we attempted to approach, making sightings challenging and giving rise to their eventual name, ‘The Gijimas’, which means ‘to run’ in the local language of Shangaan.

*This image is copyright of its original author

*This image is copyright of its original author

Under the protection of the Ndhzenga males, the Styx and Southern prides where flourishing, and any threat that the Gijimas posed to their young seemed minimal. That is, until the Ndhzenga unexpectedly abandoned their Lion Sands territory in pursuit of new land and females to the north, leaving the Styx Pride and the Southern Pride defenceless against the Gijimas.


The Styx Pride was particularly vulnerable to an assault by the Gijimas, with 11 young cubs that would be killed by the males if caught in order to mate with the females and eliminate another male’s offspring. To prevent this, the three experienced Styx lionesses moved with stealth and caution around the property until eventually, they pushed north into unfamiliar territories to protect their cubs from the Gijimas.

The situation of the lionesses of the Southern Pride was slightly different; with two female sub-adults of about two years old, the likelihood of the Gijimas males trying to kill them was minimal. This is because they would be considered part of the pride rather than the cubs of another male. Since the arrival of the Gijimas, the adult lioness has been seen mating with the brothers on several occasions. More recently, there have been sightings of the lioness and her daughters together with the males, which presents the exciting prospect of a growing pride.

Over the last few months, the Gijimas have become a near constant presence on Lion Sands, making them far more relaxed around our vehicles and treating us to exciting sightings. Since their entrance to the property, they have had few encounters with other males, so predicting their future here is near impossible. Who knows if the Ndhzenga will one day return to defend their territory? But with the Gijimas growing in confidence and strength, it seems unlikely that they will be easily overthrown.

This thread is dedicated for leopards living in the western Himalayan mountains.

Scaleless Spectacle Cobra
(Merolepid Naja Naja)
Maharashtra.

P.C. https://www.facebook.com/groups/29370499...1/?__cft__[0]=AZVSr6thvtqkWnu3KEv2-C9SRs7x6tDq3EywDGTfT65uKOzaAuXEQH6v5dB4CgydFmnONprUO6NZSwQQ8yrOCfHE0YrwPCsP7DT87eMcaBiKedPGcDGZ_edlub1DwvTG7m5mMrma97O3QhejWYCq0ccoK8vFdT792Aak6AVoaKzRZGT9n2-ixQaE2Ttn28RoyBo&__tn__=%2CP-R

https://www.facebook.com/groups/29370499...&ref=share

A thread to provide information and historical context for prides, who sadly are no longer with us.