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The Matimba coalition
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 (03-26-2016, 01:12 AM)LionKiss Wrote:(03-25-2016, 11:05 PM)Majingilane Wrote:Quote:the could have been 1 vs 2, HB vs DM and SN, probably GM didn't get involved at allScar Nose had nothing on him , while Golden Mane does have a scratch in his side, you can see it in the video I posted in the Majingilane thread. @LionKiss i think to make it sound like your imagination was what happened during the fight is not correct. The fight could be what @Majingilane suggested. In fact, nobody will know because no one saw the actual fight. I can't agree with you on the point about DM being seriously beaten up. The fact is DM got a cut on the jaw that is all. It is not as if he had any spinal or internal injury. To me that is just a superficial injury. HB also had a cut on his nose as it was reported so i guess it is quite even. The post fight pictures did look as if the Majingilanes got the worst of it, probably because of DM's eyes which was not the result of this fight. It made DM look like he was having a black eye and that did not do the Majins any favor. I have to say though that DM and GM look rather haggard in the cliip maybe because of their mane or age. I have to agree with you and @Majingilane that the Matimbas have shown that they are a force to be reckon with. Given the fact that they manage to survive the recent altercations between these two titans in the world of the lions. (03-26-2016, 01:31 AM)NCAT33 Wrote: Now its all starting to come together. The Matimbas won the battle but are losing the war My opinion is that the Majingilanes won the battle because as opined by Rob the ranger, the Majingilanes were the ones found relaxing in the area the fight took place for a whole day, if they had lost they would have run back west that morning. As of who will eventually win the war remains a question. Given that both coalition are aging, i guess further altercations will have a more defensive stance. After all, the future is not ours to see :) 
@Skybed,
all of us use our immagination to explain what happened, even the rangers unless you witnessed the incident but nobody did. In 2-3 weeks there will be a new fight, the Matimbas don't give up, they will go again in Singita to provoke the Majingilane. This i a sad period because sooner or later there will be a dead lion and that will be sad.
@LionKiss
I guess I need to be more liberal on my part. My apologies. Maybe it's just me, but I prefer to use facts rather than imagination. I just felt that some of the suggestions offered was rather misleading. In any case let's stay patient and wait for any new development to unfold :) 
From Chitwa Chitwa Private Game Lodge, 31 March 2016:
 *This image is copyright of its original author
From the week in pictures #226, londolozi blog:
The lighter-maned Matimba male follows the Tsalala females back to the den-site.  *This image is copyright of its original author The dark-maned Matimba male catches a scent in the air.  *This image is copyright of its original author
From Londolozi Game Reserve, My Favourite Place by Ian and Lisa Wilson
"Shortly after sunrise, one of the brothers from the Matimba coalition rests near the den site of the Tsalala pride mother and daughter pair."  *This image is copyright of its original author
From Londolozi Game Reserve, The Week in Pictures #227 by James Tyrell:
"One of the Tsalala cubs keeps a wary eye on the Dark Maned Matimba male as he walks by. Although these males are the fathers of the cubs, the females are still wary of the potential threat they could pose, and are often reluctant to let the cubs get too close." Photograph by Jacqui Marais  *This image is copyright of its original author "A lot of wildlife photography is about the setting, and there are few better areas in Londolozi for big cat photography than the dry sands of the Manyelethi Riverbed." Photograph by Kevin Power  *This image is copyright of its original author
From Londolozi Game Reserve, Lion Update: Fate of the Tsalala Pride? by Sean Cresswell
"With all of the recent tension around lion movements in the Sabi Sands, particularly rival coalitions of males, it is easy to forget the significance of pride dynamics for their continuation. As seen during the infamous coalition take-over in 2010, pressures caused through new coalition presence on lion prides can lead to breakaway portions of prides which then can become permanent prides of their own. These breakaway prides form through prolonged time apart from their original members in order to escape unwanted male activity, and is the origins story of the now Mhangeni pride, breaking away from the Tsalala pride six years ago. The well-documented presence of the Matimba males during the last half year has clearly pushed lion dynamics into an unstable state but progress is being made. Initially, the somewhat resident Tsalala pride split in order to protect their sub-adults, but the situation has changed after the Matimba males have sired two cubs into the pride. Now with dependant cubs needing protection, we may start noticing behavioural changes in the locally territorial coalition." While their mother rests, the two energetic cubs’ playing starts to annoy the other lioness who cannot catch some of her own daytime rest.  *This image is copyright of its original author "Following several altercations with three of the Majingilane males, the Matimba coalition of two have been covering huge distance around the central Sabi Sands and spent quite a long period of time in the far southern reaches of Londolozi only two months ago. This was a great distance away from the usual territory of the Tsalala pride and there were whisperings of the full pride reuniting once again in the Matimbas’ absence. But alas, the males returned north to find their two Tsalala lionesses close to where they had previously been spending time together, with the addition of two newborn cubs. Since then, and for the past six weeks, the coalition has not spent much time off Londolozi and seem to be keeping a close watch over the two Tsalala lionesses and their cubs. Matimba presence has been greater than before and more localised around the Manyalethi riverbed, Sand River and its southern banks; all very close together and within the heart of Tsalala territory. Their paternal instincts have been revealed as they spend long hours scent marking and roaring in order to re-establish the surrounding areas which have seen brutal engagements between them and the Majingilanes just a few months ago." The Matimba males have been seen continuing their territorial patrols well into the morning hours.  *This image is copyright of its original author "Although the continued presence of the Matimba males may lead to a successful first year for the Tsalala’s litter, it may on the other hand prevent the remaining portion of the pride from returning at all. Could the Tsalala pride once again be the origins of another breakaway pride? Upon the Matimba coalition arrival six months ago it was the tailless female of the Tsalala pride who lead the breakaway by removing the, then two-year-old, four sub-adults from the area. The five of them have been surviving nomadically ever since, with intermittent presence along the boundaries of their original territory. Questions remain whether or not the pride with ever reunite. With the sub-adults growing fast, a change is bound to happen. When they reach three years of age the young males will start feeling the pressure to go off together and hunt for themselves, at this age they require more food than the tailless lioness is willing to hunt for. Once they are forced away from the tailless female she will only have the young lioness to feed. From here, guesses are one of two. Either she will return to the two lionesses and help raise the new cubs, with the young lioness joining and reuniting the pride to three adults, a sub-adult and two cubs. Or, will the tailless female remain outside of Tsalala territory with the young lioness and effectively solidify a new breakaway pride? The latter is looking more likely following the birth of the cubs and the Matimba males’ subsequent presence. The question to ask is whether or not the two males will accept the young lioness into the pride, having not likely interacted with her before. Time will tell." The darker maned Matimba male approaches his brother before the two of them rest for the remainder of the day.  *This image is copyright of its original author Curiosity distracts one cub from feeding, the river bed is open enough for plenty of play.  *This image is copyright of its original author "For the meantime, the coalition remains close to the two lionesses and their cubs, currently feeding on a Kudu bull carcass. Inevitably, their character will be tested again, whether by the mighty Majingilane, the nearing Birmingham males, or the Matshipiri males who also have recently sired cubs. All is in the balance for the fate of the Tsalala pride."
From Londolozi Game Reserve, The Week in Pictures #228:
"The Matimba coalition returning to the comforts of the Sand River, ever present."  *This image is copyright of its original author
From Londolozi Game Reserve, The Week in Pictures #229 by Callum Gowar:
"The Dark-maned Matimba male stands atop of the giraffe that they fortuitously stumbled upon on their territorial patrol."  *This image is copyright of its original author
Such an awesome pic of him. Thanks for the good posting Ngala, it's much appreciated.
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