There is a world somewhere between reality and fiction. Although ignored by many, it is very real and so are those living in it. This forum is about the natural world. Here, wild animals will be heard and respected. The forum offers a glimpse into an unknown world as well as a room with a view on the present and the future. Anyone able to speak on behalf of those living in the emerald forest and the deep blue sea is invited to join.
The Kambula pride remains the most prolific pride seen on MalaMala and dominates most of the length of the Sand River. This month, a total of 56 sightings were recorded of members of this pride. As has become the norm, in none of the sightings was the entire pride together. Instead, the pride appears to have split into three fragments. The bulk of sightings this month were of three lionesses and seven cubs in the vicinity of Elephant Slide Crossing. The lionesses have moved all their cubs deeper into Gowrie male territory after losing cubs at West Street last month. The second fragment includes one lioness, the sub-adults. However, not all the sub-adults are always together. The third fragment is two lionesses in the northern parts of the prides territory who are spending their time with the Northern Avoca males. Noteworthy events for the month include: On the 1st and 2nd , a lioness was mating with the Two Plains camp males around Sand Pit Crossing. The same lioness was mating with a Northern Avoca male for a couple of days around Campbell Koppies on the 5th and 6 th , the mating pair ended up in the area of the three lionesses, and seven cubs from the Nkuhuma with their buffalo kill south of Tlebe Rocks. Having not fed for several days, the Kambula lioness tried to feed on the kill but was aggressively chased out of the area by the three mothers. The sub-adults killed a wildebeest bull around Lower Kapen Crossing on the 16th . Two lionesses stole a bushbuck kill from the Piccadilly female with the two Northern Avoca males near Elephant Rock on the 21st . A lioness was mating with a Northern Avoca male on Rhino Pens on the 24th . On the 26th , we watched as a lioness managed to catch a fully grown waterbuck bull on her own on the Island south of the Causeway. She spent a few days on the kill and was joined by a second lioness and a Northern Avoca male. The lions killed a hyena in the area of the kill on the 29th .
Nkuchuma pride:
A similar situation to the Kambula pride is unfolding with the Nkuhuma pride. Three lionesses and cubs are spending the majority of their time away from the bulk of the pride as they care for seven cubs. These three lionesses spent most of this month in central parts of Eyrefield. The first half of the month saw the lionesses keeping their cubs around the Tlebe Rocks donga with the Nwana Nonanshemeni Donga in the latter half of the month. On the 5th, in a lengthy battle, the three lionesses killed a buffalo bull south of Tlebe Rocks and were here with the cubs for a few days. They were joined by a Northern Avoca male who brought a lioness from the Kambula pride with him. The lionesses did not take kindly to this and chased the Kambula lioness out of the area. They moved their cubs back into the Tlebe Rocks Donga on the 9th and killed a zebra overnight and were found the following day on the kill with the cubs and both Northern Avoca males. On the 11th , all 12 lions were near Mlowathi Dam, and from here, they kept their cubs in the Nwana Nonanshemeni Donga and the Mlowathi River for the remainder of the month. On the 15th , ten members of the pride were near Stwise. The three lionesses and seven cubs were joined by sub-adults from the pride and a Northern Avoca male at the Old Borehole on the 20th. The next day the cubs were in the Mlowathi River south of Mlowathi Dam while their mothers were near Stwise. On the 23rd , the three mothers were hunting zebra at Senegal Bush. The lionesses were unsuccessful and moved north along the Mlowathi River and were with their cubs and a Northern Avoca male at Mlowathi dam the next day. The last sighting of the month was on the 27th when ten members of the pride were at the Old Borehole.
Northern Avocas:
The Two Northern Avoca males have advanced further south into MalaMala over the last several months. Sightings from this month of this coalition and the Gowrie males indicate the younger two males have secured the northern half of MalaMala. The dynamics between lion coalitions are rarely stable, and the likelihood of patterns observed during this month and the previous year are always subject to change. For now, the Northern Avoca male's advances south seem to have pushed the Gowrie males south and fragmented the Kambula pride. For the second month in a row, we recorded more sightings of this coalition than the Gowrie males, with these males spending the bulk of the month separated. Both males were only seen together in six sightings, with them linking up on one other occasion having been apart. Sightings indicate that when the two males move into the southern sections of their territory, they like to be together or close to one another. Whereas when they are in the northern parts, they don't mind being apart with greater distance between themselves. The males spent time with the Nkuhuma pride and were seen with members of this pride in nine sightings and spent time on a buffalo kill and zebra kill with the three lionesses and seven cubs from the pride. The males have increased their time spent with two lionesses from the Kambula pride. These lionesses have been spending time in the northern parts of the prides territory and have been mating with the Northern Avoca males, which could mean they are forced to stay in the northern parts of their territory should they have cubs.
Slowly expanding their territory one of the Avoca Males was found moving through the central parts of the reserve to the east of camp after having spent the duration of the night calling in order to advertise their dominance.
To no one's surprise Dark Mane is sleeping! He remains in the area where he guarded and ate the Zebra carcass 4 days ago. He'll be looking for some pride members soon and another good meal.
Avoca Male Lions and Their Male Lineage
