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(01-13-2023, 09:15 AM)Mapokser Wrote: Still no cubs? I'm afraid older Mangheni lost hers.
Unluckiest Pride I’ve ever known regarding raising offspring. Apart from the Kambulas, they’ve been phenomenally tragic
So far, none of the 3 youngest have produced offspring. I believe all of the cubs produced earlier with the Othawa Male were from the older lionesses. It's strange because the older sisters in the first generation that became the Kambula Pride, well, apart from K6, are fertile. Could it be that the 2 Majingalane daughters will never produce any litters? Now, the B'ham daughter hasn't gotten pregnant yet and she's well within breeding age. I believe this interaction with the PC Males will tell the tale once and for all. If this coalition stays with them for at least 6 months, then the younger lionesses ought to start denning this year for sure. If not, this pride could end after the older 2 are gone.
I'm going to give them the benefit of the doubt one more time. Two of the 3 youngest are already 7 and 7.1 years of age, with Tinya being around 5 and a half. Maybe they just really needed a strong coalition of males to control them and send them into heat.
There's also the weird behavior of the older ones, wandering over large amounts of territories while having tiny cubs to raise.... Lionesses should definitely not be wandering around, covering great distances each day with young cubs. Subs can keep up after about a year or so, but not cubs.
If there are no cubs this year from the younger 3, then there is definitely something more going on than just being so mobile or not having enough strong males in Sabi Sands willing to mate with them. Once the Maji. daughters turn 8 without getting impregnated, all bets are off. They are like K6 without a doubt, infertile.
01-14-2023, 12:02 AM( This post was last modified: 01-14-2023, 12:04 AM by Duco Ndona )
Infertility would not explain a high cub mortality. By having some infertile lionesses, a pride can have a much better adult to cub ratio. Meaning more lionesses to help cubs catch up when they lag behind or get lost. Protect them or provide food. Being infertile also means a permanent mating pool for males. Preventing pride abandonment and the resulting take overs.
So more cubs should make it to adult hood. Balancing the problem out somewhat.
Still. If they do have a severe infertility issue potentially in combination with a high cub mortality from other issues outside the prides control.. Then that is going to be a mayor issue.
One of the most complicating factors regarding the Mhangeni’s poor history rearing cubs is their penchant to MOVE A lot and large distances. The reserves have remarked about them many times before. It is understood that prides nice when being pressured but Mhangeni seems to move without provocations. It’s been quite puzzling. I hope the younger lionesses can somehow BREAK this habit and finally settle in a territory of their own and cease their semi nomadic lifestyles