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Lion tales
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Was Ubuso that large? I remember him interacting with 4yo K1 at a kill and they seemed similar in size.
IIRC his limp was on a front limb which also probably helped the Gijimas do damage.  (01-01-2025, 04:28 AM)Mapokser Wrote: Was Ubuso that large? I remember him interacting with 4yo K1 at a kill and they seemed similar in size. He was the biggest of the 4, noticeably. He did indeed have a limp on his front paw, it seemed it had been broken, and healed at an awkward angle, as his foot was turned to the outside. Though, I don't know how much that impacted his ability to fight, given he was often the most dominant of the 4, and we see now how aggressive the remaining two are. Have no doubt, Ubuso was scrappy, for sure. 
Maneless subadult Shaka, just had turned 3yo ( born in December ) looking taller than big-maned dominant Mapoza with a full belly.
In my research eagerness I made a summary of Sand River pride. I really don't know where to share this info, but since Nkuhlu is the coalition currently in charge at the Sand River pride territory, I'm going to post it here. I hope you like it, and please comment if you find an error, a bunch of the info a collage of many isolated texts found on the forum to which I give sense with the help of an AI.
SAND RIVER PRIDE AND ITS DOMINANT MALE COALITIONS
The first rulers The Sand River males, a coalition of 3 males, were the pride males of the Sand River Pride for many years. They took their name from the pride they dominated, not to be confused with the Sand River males sired by the Old Skukuza males. Toulon Males (2011–2016) Around 2011, the Toulon males, another coalition of 3 males, took over the Sand River Pride and its territory. The Toulon males, known for their impressive size, ruled Maroela Loop and the Sand River Pride's territory. The Toulon males fathered the Renosterkoppies males and the coalition of 5 Eastern Bank males. Diamond Face was a formidable male and a successful leader, ruling Maroela Loop with his two brothers, known as Dominant Toulon and Shy Toulon. Diamond face suffered from a dislocated hip and was unable to keep up with his two brothers, often staying with the Sand River Pride, he was in poor condition before disappearing in 2015. The remaining two Toulon males, despite being 12 years old, continued to dominate the area in early 2016. The Toulon males had ruled Maroela Loop since 2010/11, but in 2016 the remaining two Toulon males had started spending more time with the Sand River Pride in Sabi Sands, possibly due to pressure from younger males in Maroela Loop. Shy Toulon, the last remaining Toulon male, was spotted with the Sand River Pride at Kirkman’s Kamp in June 2016. At this point, he had become the only pride male of the Sand River Pride, which now consisted of three adult females and five subadults. Diamond Face Toulon, Photo Credits: Licinia Machado Photography (thanks Ngala for sharing it).  *This image is copyright of its original author Mantimahle Coalition (2016–2019) In 2016, the Mantimahle coalition of five males began their invasion of Sabi Sands, particularly focusing on the southern sections around Kirkman’s Kamp and Lion Sands. Confirmed fatalities included a Toulon male in early 2016 and a Sparta male (son of the Majingilanes) in December of the same year. Around December 2016, Shy Toulon had left the pride. Around this time, 2 Mhangeni males and 1 Talamati male were seen near the Sand River Pride, adding another layer of intrigue to the pride's dynamics. By March 2017, The Mantimahle males were spotted with the Sand River Pride on Lion Sands. After taking over the Plains Camp pride and ousting the last Toulon male, the Mantimahle coalition secured dominance over the Sand River Pride, marking the end of their expansion into Sabi Sands. A young Sand River pride male moved into Kruger, as he would not have been tolerated by the new dominant males, and was spotted in the southern region as a nomadic male. Following the takeover by the Mantimahle males, the Sand River Pride's females mated with them, including the two Toulon males’ daughters, who had their first litters. One of the older females passed away in early 2017, leaving a pride of two old females, two young females (Toulon daughters) and 10 cubs. One Mantimahle male has split from the others, but the coalition of 4 Mantimahle males, along with the females and cubs, remained strong through 2018. By the end of 2018, the Southern Avoca males, territorial in Southern Sabi Sands, were seen near the Sand River Pride's area, but it appears there was little left for them to claim besides 2 Sparta lionesses. While the large Sand River pride was nearby, they remained under the control of the Mantimahle males in Kruger National Park. Sadly, 2 of the Sand River pride’s females, aged around 15 years, passed away due to old age. With the deaths of these females, the Mantimahle males seemed to have distanced themselves from the pride, likely due to the loss of their original partners. Rather than extending their reach further into Sabi Sands, the Mantimahle males turned their attention back to Kruger. They expanded their territory along the H4-1, taking control of the Nkuhlu pride, one of the largest in the park. Their dominance stretched from Skukuza, through Rhino Post Safari Lodge, to Lower Sabie and the S21. In this area, they began taking over another pride after abandoning their hold over the Sand River Pride. This territorial expansion led to a significant number of offspring, with subadult males sired by the Mantimahle coalition being confirmed in the Sand River, Plains Camp, and Nkuhlu prides. However, with the arrival of the Southern Avoca males, there was uncertainty regarding the future of these offspring, as the Sand River cubs appeared to have dispersed after the Southern Avoca males took control of the pride. By December 2019, there was a sighting of 8 subadult lions around 2-3 years old, including 5 females and 3 young males. Out of the 8 subadults ousted by the Southern Avocas at around 2 years old, only 2 Sand River young males survived, along with two sisters who returned to the pride and were accepted. 2 Sand River young males, they disappeared into Kruger around mid-2021 and haven't been after  *This image is copyright of its original author Southern Avocas (2019–2023) At this point, the Southern Avoca males became the new dominant males of the Sand River Pride. In 2020, the pride welcomed a new generation with the birth of six new cubs sired by the Southern Avoca males. As the pride relocated its den site back onto the Lion Sands concession, it was hoped that this new beginning under the Avoca males would bring a brighter future for the Sand River Pride. One of the two S. Avoca males showing affection to one of their cubs of the Sand River pride, which could be one of the current pride females. Image by: Eckoson Sithole (thanks T I N O for sharing it).  *This image is copyright of its original author Southern Avoca resting with females and the 2020 generation of cubs. Image by MalaMala (Thanks Tonpa for sharing it)  *This image is copyright of its original author By March 2021, the Sand River Pride consisted of four adult females: · Two older lionesses, born in 2012 and sired by the Toulon males. · Two younger lionesses, born in 2017 (sired by Mantimahle males and the females born in 2012). Southern Avoca resting with Sand River females. Photo by Ashes29 (Thanks Tonpa for sharing it)  *This image is copyright of its original author In 2021, the younger females had their first litters also, adding six more cubs to the count. The younger Sand River female revealing her new cubs. Aug 13 2021. Photo credit: Chris Sibuyi.  *This image is copyright of its original author In August 2022, after the arrival of Gijima males to southern Sabi Sands, both Gijima males were seen mating with one of the older Sand River females. This was an interesting development, as the rest of the adult females in the Sand River Pride had cubs or subadults sired by the Southern Avoca males. She gave birth a litter of two cubs by the end 2022/early 2023. Nkuhulu takeover (2023–present) The two Toulon daughters managed to raise four of six cubs to subadult stage (2 females and 2 males), while the younger females brought up 6 healthy subadults. Southern avoca males remained undefeated until 2023 arrived. However, a new big threat appeared on the form of a coalition of seven male lions (six Nkuhulu males and Dreadlocks Delaporte male). When Nkuhulu coalition first invaded their territory on April 2023, the Southern Avoca chased them, but a few weeks after they came back and killed a lioness of the Sand River pride. After that tragic event, the Southern Avoca managed to caught Dreadlocks alone and seriously injured him. After this beating, Dreadlocks and his Nkuhulu partners went back to Kruger Park. In an incursion to northeast, one of the Avocas dissapeared, leaving the Southern Avoca Male without a coalition partner and forcing him to leave Sand River pride and wander once more. With the arrival of the Nkuhlu males, the Sand River pride experienced much disruption. In their takeover, the Nkuhlu males killed two adult females and several cubs/subadults. It was said that 4 subadults broke away from the adult females, three males and one female. There were a few sightings of the three brothers on march-april 2024, but in a recent sighting there were only two males left, one bigger and one smaller, so probably the bigger is from the 2020 generation (Toulon grandson) and the smaller from the 2021 generation (Mantimahle grandson). 4/5 Nkuhlus, with their leader Snip Tail Five female members of the pride stayed in their original territory as Nkuhulu males settled in as the dominant males: · Two adult lionesses, born in 2017 (Mantimahle daughters). · Two younger lionesses, born in 2020 (offspring of S. Avocas & Toulon daughters). · One subadult female born in 2021, accepted by Nkuhulus (offspring of S. Avocas & Mantimahle daughters). The first litter sired by Nkuhulu males could not make it, but we are finally starting to see this pride grow in numbers as four new cubs from two lionesses were born in late/early 2025. With a new generation of cubs, a core of healthy females and a male coalition of five brothers, the future of the pride remains uncertain but full of potential. AN INSIGHT INTO THE HISTORY OF TORCHWOOD PRIDE – PART 1
Torchwood pride roams an area with few reports, so a good picture of the Torchwood pride is difficult to compose. According to Wildearth, Torchwood is found to the east of Western Gowrie and is 1250 hectares [3,500 acres] in size. There are no commercial lodges found on this property but Djuma and Cheetah Plains guides and guests traverse there. The property is owned by private individual landowners. However, I could create a decent history of the pride, thanks to the valuable contributions of the forum members. Southern Matimba era (2013-2015) Torchwood pride was the first pride that Southern Matimba (Hairy Belly and Ginger) took over, after the split with Northern Matimbas. S. Matimba cubs were born in late 2013/early 2014. Matimba Males & Torchwood Pride - 14 May 2014. By Justin Glanvill  *This image is copyright of its original author There were a few young males born around 2010-11 from unknown fathers, who left the pride females following Matimba takeover. By that time, a Fourways young male (son of Majingilanes) joined two unknown males, believed to be the Torchwood young males. One of the Torchwood males was killed by the S. Matimbas themselves in 2014, while the other one was named Blondie (a.k.a. “Blondie Fourways” because of his partner’s pride, due to his unclear origin). Blondie and the Fourways male went south and became territorial males in Transport Dam. "Smudge Nose" Torchwood lioness (Matimba daughter) in 2015, Sabi Sands. Thanks Photo credits: Cheryl Anne Hamilton (Thanks @T I N O for sharing this remarkable find).  *This image is copyright of its original author Seven Torchwood sub adults were reported in late 2015. They ended up forming a breakaway because of the takeover by the Birmingham males. Among those subadults, there was "Hairy Belly Junior", who moved to Fourways pride and formed a successful coalition with two Fourways young males (Matshipiri sons), repeating the alliance of Torchwood-Fourways males. The Matimba daughters returned to the main pride and enlarged its numbers. Birmingham era (2015-2018) The Birmingham males took over the Torchwood pride around 2015, siring several cubs, including the well-known Torchwood male of the Mongawane coalition. Birmingham males presence marked a period of stability for the pride. Torchwood pride with a Birmingham male in 2017: *This image is copyright of its original author In early 2018, 5-7 lionesses and 8-9 cubs were reported by MalaMala and Wildearth, among other sources. Torchwood pride and a Birmingham male with a cub. Images by Andrew Khosa:  *This image is copyright of its original author  *This image is copyright of its original author In November 2018, 6 subadults were reported. In 2020, Torchwood pride was seen at the Nkorho Dam with around 15 adult females and one young male. Half of those females were older (original females and Matimba offspring), the other half younger (Bboys offspring). Torchwood Male, the only male sired by Birmingham males in the Torchwood pride. During his nomadic journey, he ventured into Timbavati and established a strong bond with a young Birmingham male. Together, they formed the Mongawane Coalition, currently dominant over Skorro pride. Image by Cameron Inggs.  *This image is copyright of its original author "Kruger males" era (2020-2022): Kruger males, allegedly sons of One Eye & Stompie males, were 2 individuals that became territorial over Torchwood around 2020. Due to the number of lionesses, the pride probably fragmented into multiple groups around this time. Good sighting of 5 lionesses (including “Smudge Nose” female) and 3 cubs at the eastern border of Mala Mala, on October 2020 (min 7:22): 6 lionesses and 3 cubs on March 2021, they had killed two young buffalo: By early 2021, Malamala reported a total of 13 females: 7 adult females of unkown ages + 6 females five years old (BBoys daughters). During 2021-2022, 2 subadults males and up to 8 cubs were reported. One of the Northern Avoca males gets hammered by the the Torchwood pride (May 2022), Min 5:05: Torchwood young male sired by Kruger male: Two subadult, Torchwood breakaways, sired by Kruger males. The female in the photo shares the same nose patch of the older female seen in previous videos. It has been speculated it is an inherited trait: https://www.instagram.com/p/C4umVeXKOHB/ *could't embed this link Torchwood males, sons Kruger males and at one point, part of Torchwood breakaway. One of them has a broken front leg but he somehow makes it work, no doubt with the help of his two brothers. They are normally seen on the S36 so quite a bit north from current Nkuhuma boys, or south east from Mantimahles. December 2024. Photo Credit: Graeme Mitchley  *This image is copyright of its original author If you liked this post, please let me know to upload Part 2 
(Today, 05:38 AM)FACR2212 Wrote: Another excellent effort, my friend! I believe I speak for everyone, in this case, but yes, please, we must have part 2! Thank you! (8 hours ago)FACR2212 Wrote: @BA0701 Great! If you mean this photo:  *This image is copyright of its original author that is Nhenha. |
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