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Lions of Timbavati
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@BA0701 The SRP had left the reserve after a flood and some members were killed back in 2007 or so. The remaining members were shot in January 2009 after floods destroyed the fence again. They escaped first time and were darted by rangers and brought back to the reserve ( there are even photos of it ), but they escaped again, killed cattle and were considered problem animals, so the local authorities gave the order to kill them.
And yes Botha has commented on it, in 2010 soon after KT's death he made a statement about the Mapogo, talking about his experience with them and within the statement he mentions the killing of the SRP in 2007 and 2009 respectively due to the reasons I mentioned previously. The twist is that he claims the Mapogos were the ones to blame for this, saying they chased the pride out of the reserve in 2007 and 2009 and killed all their cubs... Idk if he was confused/unaware of the Mapogo-SRP relationship or lied for some reason, but this is incorrect. By 2007 the SRP was under control of the Mapogos and lived happily under them until 2009, all cubs belonged to the Mapogo so they didn't kill them, in fact they protected the last sub that escaped the hunters and returned to SS, he started following the Othawa pride while being protected by one of his fathers but eventually died, possibly killed by hyenas. Idube also said in 2012 that it was arguable if Mapogos chased the pride or not... I don't see how that would ever happen since the subs were only 1yo and there were 2 adult females, same composition of the Othawas, five 1yo subs and 2 adult females, and they weren't chased, why would Mapogos chase their own pride? Still, whatever happened regarding this, Botha's claims that Mapogos were killing the SRP cubs which forced them to leave SS and finally killed the last cub, is incorrect, as all the cubs from 2007 to 2009 belonged to Mapogos and the pride was firmly in their control for years, the previous dominant male of the SRP had been ousted way back in early 2006, all his cubs killed in their year.   (10-26-2023, 12:32 AM)Mapokser Wrote: @BA0701 The SRP had left the reserve after a flood and some members were killed back in 2007 or so. The remaining members were shot in January 2009 after floods destroyed the fence again. They escaped first time and were darted by rangers and brought back to the reserve ( there are even photos of it ), but they escaped again, killed cattle and were considered problem animals, so the local authorities gave the order to kill them. @Mapokser Thank you my friend @Tr1x24 As has been mentioned before, conversations in general have tangents, this was one such instance. It went on a little longer than intended, but that is how conversations go sometimes. 
Tanda Tula update
Again, it was a week of lions, and the Sark Breakaway Pride took centre stage once again as they continued to occupy the eastern sections of the territory around Nkhari. The pride was found with the cubs on most days this week, and it is wonderful watching them grow as a pride. Towards the end of the week, they were joined by one Vuyela male but remained within the Timbavati. The Vuyela males themselves provided daily sightings, and for a welcome change, all five males were seen together! Two of the River Pride females came into oestrus at the same time, and this drew a lot of attention from the dominant males that spent four days in the same area hoping for a chance to mate; interestingly, it was the smallest male that spent the entire honeymoon with the one lioness. This meant that we could hear their roars most nights, and even after the honeymooners left, the males remained in the general area. Their lack of territorial patrols possibly accounted for the two-day return of the Mayambula Pride towards the end of the week. The pride’s tracks suggested they had been in the area over night, but we only caught up with them the next day when one of the older lionesses was walking around desperately searching for the pride. That afternoon, the remaining members were found in the same spot she had been in the morning; unfortunately for her, Scotch found her along the Machaton Riverbed a couple of miles to the north-east, but the pride marched straight there, and we found them reunited in what was once the heart of their territory the next morning. The Giraffe Pride were only around at the beginning of the week after they rested off their fat bellies following a hippo kill that they made in the far western sections. It was a great week of lion viewing!  *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
 (10-25-2023, 08:00 PM)Mapokser Wrote: Though it wasn't Botha who gave the order, nor was the reserve. The local government is the culprit, they were the ones to order the lions death according to Rob Just an fyi about Rob..... I have spoken to him on other unrelated subjects. I have found that when it comes to protecting his investment, meaning his many lodges and safaris he is invested in, he will bullshit (excuse my french) and tell lies to hide facts. I am not afraid to write this as this is what I found while questioning him while knowing the answers. So take his info with a grain of salt about the Mapojos and stuff during that time frame.
The Mayanbula pride has been moving in the north more frequently, and with such a large pride they finished off this wildebeest carcass in one morning!
These lions are often heard calling up near Ngala Safari Lodge, and on some lucky days we find tracks of them coming onto our property, just waiting to be found!  *This image is copyright of its original author
Tanda Tula update
From being the stars of last week’s lion sightings, the Sark Breakaways did an about turn and barely showed themselves in the past seven days! The cubs were around for a couple of days, but the lions eventually moved into the Klaserie for a few days; Formen saw them crossing back yesterday afternoon, so we hope that we can catch up with the pride over the coming days. Interestingly, although the breakaway portion was absent, some members of the original Sark pride made their first recorded appearance in the Timabvati! Four unknown lionesses were found in the heart of Giraffe Pride territory near Plains Camp at the start of the week, and we got to catch up with two of the Sark lionesses the next day. Sadly, my first introduction to these ladies was not the most pleasant one as you will read about shortly. Exactly why they have moved from the south-western section of the Klaserie into the Timbavati is uncertain, but they were again seen later on in the week on Savannah Plains, a stronghold of the Giraffe Pride. The latter pride had been active some distance south of our concession early in the week but returned with the Hercules male towards the end of the week and after a day on Savannah Plains in the west, were seen feasting on a zebra kill much further east and spent the next couple of days in the area before crossing into the Klaserie. If the arrival of the Sark pride was unexpected, then the appearance of five unknown lions in the middle of concession was downright surprising! I was about to head into the east in the hope of relocating on a single Mayambula pride lioness that had been found by Ginger in the morning when a radio call came through that some lions were found just west of Tanda Tula Safari Camp. When we got word that all 13 members of the Sark Breakaways were found to the west of our concession, my interest got piqued. Based on the lions’ reactions, they were not terribly used to vehicles and were a little bit antsy and aggressive when first found. I got there after dark, and they were much calmer and at ease with us following them but as they were on the hunt in windy conditions, they didn’t make it easy for me to get clear ID photos. Their tracks headed south the next day, and we saw no further signs of them after that, so goodness knows where they ended up, or if they will return. As the week ended, the Vuyela males moved back into the area, and they were seen in pairs or singularly across the week. After finishing off their honeymoons, the River Pride lionesses disappeared back north, but returned with a bang on the weekend when they woke up Scotch as they fought over an impala kill on the edge of camp. Scotch found them in the morning as they finished off the kill, but as soon as they did, they turned back north and marched in the direction where the one lioness has her cubs; the youngest lioness is also looking quite pregnant now. We can only hope that she has her cubs further south and closer to our concession so that we can see them more regularly…but with six different prides showing themselves this week, I don’t think we can complain too much.  *This image is copyright of its original author  *This image is copyright of its original author
Video from 17 October of 1/2 Mongawane (YBM) with his bad leg acting up again it seems.
https://fb.watch/o0TpYzmORR/?mibextid=v7YzmG (10-31-2023, 08:58 PM)criollo2mil Wrote: Video from 17 October of 1/2 Mongawane (YBM) with his bad leg acting up again it seems. That is sad to see, as much as I hate it for him, it seems he will carry that for the remainder of his life, which I hope is for many years to come. It used to bother him off and on, when he first left the pride and was on his own, even when he first teamed up with TYM, before they went into Kruger. the only thing that makes me optimistic, is that he has been in Kruger for an extended time, and he has made it quite some time since having left the pride, on that leg. (10-31-2023, 10:10 PM)BA0701 Wrote:(10-31-2023, 08:58 PM)criollo2mil Wrote: Video from 17 October of 1/2 Mongawane (YBM) with his bad leg acting up again it seems. i wasnt sure if the link would work for everyone but its the only version I could export. i think hes going to have ups and down w the leg....maybe its one of his down times 
 (10-31-2023, 11:20 PM)criollo2mil Wrote:(10-31-2023, 10:10 PM)BA0701 Wrote:(10-31-2023, 08:58 PM)criollo2mil Wrote: Video from 17 October of 1/2 Mongawane (YBM) with his bad leg acting up again it seems. Any signs of being worsen due to an altercation with other lions?? (10-31-2023, 11:34 PM)afortich Wrote:(10-31-2023, 11:20 PM)criollo2mil Wrote:(10-31-2023, 10:10 PM)BA0701 Wrote:(10-31-2023, 08:58 PM)criollo2mil Wrote: Video from 17 October of 1/2 Mongawane (YBM) with his bad leg acting up again it seems. no way to really know...this area is seldom travelled and sightings and reports are quirte scarce to get good fidelity of information. i dont see any blood or signs of fighting 
It probably bothers him more after he just wakes up. Also, that leg might be more susceptible to falling asleep on him as sometimes that does happen with fractures that haven't healed completely or properly. He's most likely fine.
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