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Lions of Sabi Sands - Printable Version

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RE: Lions of sabi sands - vinodkumarn - 04-04-2018

Othawa boy
Credits: Jonan DLR wildlife photography


*This image is copyright of its original author


RE: Lions of sabi sands - jordi6927 - 04-04-2018

(04-04-2018, 11:17 AM)vinodkumarn Wrote: Othawa boy
Credits: Jonan DLR wildlife photography


*This image is copyright of its original author

Hoping this sub finds some other males to form a coalition with ... in keeping him around he has had the ability to get some size and strength ... i think he is well suited to meet some challenges but it wont happen alone .... come on mother nature ... give us some luck!

RE: Lions of sabi sands - Tshokwane - 04-05-2018

Credits to Charlotte Arthun - Lion Sands.

LION UPDATE: TWO CONTENDING COALITIONS – WHICH WILL CLAIM THIS TERRITORY?:

If you’ve been following our lion stories, you’ll know that their dynamics are currently in a state of flux. Prides and coalitions are moving in and out of Lion Sands Game Reserve. We don’t have a dominant coalition at the moment, but top contenders on the reserve are the three Tsalala Males and two Avoca Males.

The three Tsalala Males: how we often find them – together, sleeping

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The Tsalala Males are a group of relatively young lions (nearly five years old), who come from the central Sabi Sand, and have been around Lion Sands Sabi Sand for a few years now. While they have numbers on their side, they are still inexperienced. It could be another few years before they are in their prime and ready to take over this prized territory.

The young Avoca Males have only recently begun appearing at Lion Sands

*This image is copyright of its original author

The Avoca Males coalition began consistently turning up at Lion Sands Sabi Sand a few weeks ago. They have made it known they are also interested in dominating this area, and have been seen patrolling and scent marking, and heard vocalizing. They are slightly older than the Tsalalas (over five years old) and also appear big for their age – with the confidence to go along with it! Perhaps that will be enough for them to fend off the competition.

The Tsalala Males on a zebra kill, January 2018

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Over the past 10 days, we have also had several sightings of the Tsalala Males mating with the Eyrefield Lionesses. They stuck around for a few days, together on a zebra kill, and mated during that time. In the past, the Eyrefield Lionesses have been seen mating with all three of the Tsalala Males – a strategy lionesses use to confuse paternity.


We got our hopes up that the Eyrefields would now make Lion Sands their new home, especially in the absence of the Southern Pride of lionesses. The Eyrefields have a history going back over four decades in Sabi Sand. Unfortunately for them, like the Southern Pride, they went through a recent decimation. This caused them to abandon their usual stamping ground, which explains their presence at Lion Sands now that there is a territory available.

However, the hope of a stable near-future for the Tsalala Males and Eyrefield lionesses was short-lived. On 26 March, the guides at Lion Sands Kruger National Park witnessed the unpleasant aftermath of a territorial dispute between the Tsalala and Avoca Males that morning. Despite the Tsalalas having numbers on their side, the Avocas severely injured one of their lions. The guides later saw him in a bad condition, with what appeared to be injuries to his spine. We weren’t able to relocate him for several days afterwards, so were unsure of the extent of his wounds.

Two Tsalala Males were seen together a few days later, moving from Lion Sands Kruger National Park back into Lion Sands Sabi Sand, with no sign of the third. We were worried that their injured brother might not have made it. Thankfully, on 1 April, all three males were seen together, although not in top condition. They will need to hunt soon and recover quickly if they are going to maintain a presence in this area.

An Eyrefield Lioness flirts with an Avoca Male

*This image is copyright of its original author

After the fight between the coalitions, the Tsalala Males wasted no time in finding the Eyrefields lionesses again. They were spotted together, with one lioness displaying coy behaviour towards one of the males. We didn’t see them mate, although it is likely they had been. If these lionesses hold back from mating, it would be because they are waiting to see if these males are strong enough to defend the territory and their future offspring.


We will have to wait and see what happens next…

RE: Lions of sabi sands - sundarbans - 04-06-2018

With the likely demise of the Majingilane, perhaps the Avocas and Tsalalas will not have compete so fiercely for the territory in the south, both with each other and with the formidable Mantimahles. If one of the coalitions get wind of the territory left vacant by the Majingilane, they could move in there quickly. Obviously the big threat to moving into the empty west are the Birmingham males. However the Bboys already have a huge territory and a number of prides so maybe they won't expand as rapidly. Btw, do they have territory/prides outside the Sabi Sands?

RE: Lions of sabi sands - vinodkumarn - 04-06-2018

(04-06-2018, 12:33 AM)sundarbans Wrote: With the likely demise of the Majingilane, perhaps the Avocas and Tsalalas will not have compete so fiercely for the territory in the south, both with each other and with the formidable Mantimahles. If one of the coalitions get wind of the territory left vacant by the Majingilane, they could move in there quickly. Obviously the big threat to moving into the empty west are the Birmingham males. However the Bboys already have a huge territory and a number of prides so maybe they won't expand as rapidly. Btw, do they have territory/prides outside the Sabi Sands?

Torchwood pride, partly in sabisands and partly in Kruger (North of sabi sands)

RE: Lions of sabi sands - vinodkumarn - 04-06-2018

MALAMALA TODAY: April 3rd-5th. Lions: The Eyrefield pride of today is a mere shadow of its former self but change may be on the horizon as both lionesses were viewed mating with the Avoca males on all 3 days. We enjoyed 6 sightings of members of the Gowrie male coalition and the Kambula pride. Something must be in the water as they were also mating. The Styx pride were seen west of the Mlowathi River and we watched them kill an unfortunate warthog late yesterday morning. 

RE: Lions of sabi sands - vinodkumarn - 04-06-2018

The Othawa sub adults on a giraffe kill
Images by
Stuart Buy



*This image is copyright of its original author



*This image is copyright of its original author



*This image is copyright of its original author

RE: Lions of sabi sands - Tshokwane - 04-06-2018

Credits to Johan de la Rey - Leopard Hills.

Othawa young male.

*This image is copyright of its original author


RE: Lions of sabi sands - vinodkumarn - 04-09-2018

MALAMALA TODAY: April 7th&8th. Many will agree that there are few things more magical and mysterious than a misty morning in the bush and that’s what we got on Sunday! Lions: It’s a case of ‘here we go again’ for the Kambula pride! We were following 2 of the lionesses and a Gowrie male along the western bank of the Sand River near Maxim’s Lookout when one of the lionesses moved under a shrub and revealed 4 newborn cubs, only a few days old! Let’s hope this litter will fare better than all of their previous ones! We watched another 3 lionesses from the same pride and one Gowrie male chase after the Senegal Bush male leopard at Plank’s Pan before bring down an impala near Maurice’s Pan. We followed the other 2 Gowrie males as they trailed a herd of buffalo in central Charleston. This is the furthest south we’ve seen this coalition.

RE: Lions of sabi sands - vinodkumarn - 04-09-2018

Credits: Sabi Sabi PGR

We located three young male lions(Tsalala/Marthly) who were looking a bit rough – licking their wounds before moving off in search of something to hunt


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*This image is copyright of its original author

RE: Lions of sabi sands - jordi6927 - 04-10-2018

(04-09-2018, 10:09 PM)how much younger are these 3 compared to some of the other coalitions in this area? and is there any way they might push more NW to where they came from? this area seems to be under heavy pressure from stronger / older coalitions ... thx  vinodkumarn Wrote: Credits: Sabi Sabi PGR

We located three young male lions(Tsalala/Marthly) who were looking a bit rough – licking their wounds before moving off in search of something to hunt


*This image is copyright of its original author



*This image is copyright of its original author


RE: Lions of sabi sands - vinodkumarn - 04-11-2018

Othawa pride found just in front of the lodge this morning
Images by
Stuart Buy


*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 image is copyright of its original author



*This image is copyright of its original author

RE: Lions of sabi sands - Tshokwane - 04-11-2018

(04-10-2018, 10:02 AM)jordi6927 Wrote: how much younger are these 3 compared to some of the other coalitions in this area? and is there any way they might push more NW to where they came from? this area seems to be under heavy pressure from stronger / older coalitions ...

They're maybe 6 months younger that the Avoca males they fought with in the account. 

Of the independent males, the Tsalala males are the youngest, they're 5 years old, maybe a little bit less. All the other coalitions are older, the Avoca males being 5 1/2 years old, and the Birmingham males 7-8 years old, the Mantimahle males 8+ years old.

RE: Lions of sabi sands - vinodkumarn - 04-11-2018

Sad news. From yesterday's safariLive, Tristan Dicks mentioned (around 1:10:44) that one of the Mhangeni sub adults died from malnutrition and the rest are emaciated and struggling to find food. The Mhangeni 12 could be down to 10, 8 males and 2 females. The early rejection by their mothers has taken its toll on the youngsters.

RE: Lions of sabi sands - T Rabbit - 04-12-2018

Looks like the lions are having trouble in find and get the buffaloes, their main prey. The prides are starving and only killing impalas, zebras or gnus. Bboys went to far south and tynio belly is looking very empty. And the death of all 3 old majingis at the  same time by starvation show something about it.