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01-06-2017, 03:50 PM( This post was last modified: 01-06-2017, 03:50 PM by fursan syed )
Old Mala Mala Report about Mapogos
April 2005
It is always interesting to study the dynamics of the male lions in an area, and the males of the Eyrefield Pride have certainly provided food for thought. On a few occasions, five males (including the adult) were seen together. Such a combination is certainly a formidable one, both in terms of a hunting force to be reckoned with, and as a potentially powerful and successful territorial coalition.
For much of the month, all six of the males were together, and they spent a great deal of their time with four of the Eyrefield pride lionesses.
Towards the end of this game report period, the adult male lion of the Eyrefield Pride single-handedly took on a buffalo bull, which remained on its feet for quite some time. The buffalo distress calls were heard from a considerable distance by the other five male lions and four females of the pride, and they came running to the scene, where they assisted with the killing of the buffalo. This carcass kept them busy for the next 24 hours, after which there was nothing left!
The males of the Eyrefield pride were seen to stick together this month, and provided good viewing. Evidence suggests that they had an encounter with four other male lions, all quite young, to the west of the Sand River on Charleston. These other males all suffered a few minor wounds, and it is unlikely that the Eyrefield Males escaped without any injury to themselves.
The Eyrefield Males tended to stick together for much of the month, and seem to be doing well. On one occasion they were seen, along with two of the lionesses, to chase a rhino cow and calf. Having spent a week at the end of the previous month feeding on an adult rhino, which they probably killed themselves, these lions no doubt thought that they could do it again!
The six males were on occasion all seen together (once in the company of at least five of the females), but for much of the time, four of the males operated separately from the other two.
The most interesting sightings involving Eyrefield Pride members were probably those when the pride clashed with the Styx Pride. The first clash took place close to Flockfield Boma Crossing, when all 8 members of the Styx Pride, having spent the day resting at the confluence of the Matshapiri and the Sand Rivers , moved south and came upon several of the Eyrefield Pride members on the western bank of the Sand River . Both prides were active at the time, and some of the lionesses had spread out, as they often do when on the hunt. One of the Eyrefield Pride females saw a lioness lying down to her north, and seemed to think it was one of her own pride. She walked straight to that lioness, as if to go and greet her, and only after a couple of seconds, did both lionesses realise that they were not of the same pride! The Eyrefield lioness had walked up to the injured Styx lioness. There was a brief, noisy exchange, and for a few minutes, lions from both prides were running around, roaring. As was the case once before, the injured lioness and the three cubs of the Styx Pride moved well clear of the action, and did not take an active part in the exchange. The noise attracted the attention of 5 or 6 of the Eyrefield Males, who suddenly appeared on the scene, and chased the Styx Pride north and west. There were no casualties, but it was apparent that the Eyrefield Pride had the upper hand, especially once all the males arrived.
There were a few sightings of five of the Eyrefield Males together, looking well fed and in good shape. Although physically a very powerful coalition, the Eyrefield Males still seem to be in the process of establishing themselves, and they have not “taken over” a pride or a territory within Mala Mala’s boundaries. The return of the Rollercoaster Males, and the strong presence of four other young male lions, has no doubt given the Eyrefield Males something to think about!
While the Styx Pride made up most of the lion sightings in the north of the reserve, the Eyrefield Pride put in a strong presence in the south, with several sightings within a few kilometres of the prominent bend in the Sand River near KK Crossing on Toulon . The majority of sightings were of a few male and female lions together, but sometimes the males were on their own.
The largest Eyrefield Pride contingent seen in October consisted of 11 lions, namely 6 females and 5 males. These 11 lions were seen together just once and they were feeding on a buffalo carcass on the Kapen River near Styx Crossing. A day prior to the Eyrefield Pride arriving on the scene of this buffalo carcass three of the Skukuza Males were feeding on it. Indications are that the Eyrefield Pride, boosted by the presence of 5 males, claimed the kill from the Skukuza Males. The Skukuza Males, however, remained in the area and there was something of a non-violent stand-off. The nature of interactions between the Skukuza Males and Eyrefield Males suggested that neither coalition can yet be considered to be fully territorial. A few months ago already it seemed that some of the Eyrefield Males were establishing themselves as a territorial coalition, but the resurgence of the Rollercoaster Males in the southern parts of the reserve seems to have at least temporarily halted the march of the Eyrefield Males.
As has been the case for years now, the Eyrefield Pride operated mainly in sub-groups, but on a few occasions, as many as 12 lions (6 males and 6 females) were seen together. The Eyrefield Males appear to have not yet asserted themselves as a territorial coalition, and definitely retreated from the advancing Split Rock Males on at least two occasions. They did, however, have the upper hand in a clash with a number of sub-adult males of the Selati Pride.
During the beginning of the game report period the 6 Eyrefield males were seen together with 6 of the females of the Eyrefield Pride and provided some hunting action but were unsuccessful. Frequent sightings of members of this pride were made from Rattray’s camp itself, including sightings of one of the old lionesses from the pride who was not looking in good condition. However, the fragmented nature of this pride continued with most sightings consisting of either the young males together or small groups of females. One has to wonder whether these separations are becoming more permanent with the young males coming of age and looking to confront either the ageing Rollercoaster males in the south or the equally ageing Split Rock males in the north. The majority of these youngsters almost have full manes and are promising to become a formidable coalition looking to reclaim the former territory of their fathers, the West Street males. To this date, however, they have not been heard roaring with any confidence or engaging in any real aggressive behaviour.
The six Eyrefield Males spent most of the month of January with the Eyrefild pride and were seen regularly throughout January comprising 28 sightings in total. These members spent a fair amount of time in the area of the Mala Mala airstrip, where they were successful in catching a wildebeest on one occasion. Perhaps the sighting of the month included the six males and one of the females involved in an epic 45 minute battle with a buffalo bull in the middle of an open area in broad day light. With the strength of the young males the lions were finally victorious and enjoyed their prize over a two day period.
Five adult male lions were seen once on the 4th of October. All the males were extremely relaxed and moved south from the northern border. These five are believed to be the same five known as the Eyrefield males that where born on MalaMala and moved off when they matured. Many tracks were seen in the area after but they were not found again.
Two large male lions were viewed on the Marthly Marthly break at the start of the report period, and they were identified as two of the Eyrefield males.
The five Eyrefield males were seen a few days later on eastern side Mlowathi, just south of Mlowathi dam. All five of them were lying down in the grass in an open area and were perfectly relaxed around the vehicles. They all appeared to be well fed and it was thought that they most likely managed to make a kill the previous evening. These male lions are local legends and it was a fantastic surprise for all the rangers to have such a quality sighting of them.
A couple of days later guests and rangers alike watched as a male lion moved out of the reeds in front of the deck at MalaMala Main Camp. When rangers went to investigate they found two male lions on the opposite bank across the river from the Main Camp. Upon following these two as they moved towards the Bicycle Crossing area rangers lost them. They then found three more male lions in the vicinity of the first two.
Then all five lions roared several times and came together in the thick reed beds. Four of the five were eventually found and moved into an open patch of sand where they took shelter from the sun for the day. In the afternoon the lions were followed up on and the five were found in the same place. The river had risen significantly during the day and three were on an island in the river with the other two in MalaMala.
As the sun set the remaining three waded across the river in a timid fashion but with grace that only a scared male lion can muster. As all five reached the northern bank three buffalo bulls strolled out the reeds in front of the lions. The buffalo hadn’t seen the lions and proceeded to wade into the water. The five males followed suit and entered the water. As the buffalo got to the far bank they got wind of the lions and charged off with the lions in pursuit. The lions gave up quickly and all then returned to the water and crossed once more into MalaMala.
These 5 brothers were not seen all together on MalaMala during this report period. There were four sightings of different members of this coalition on different days and in different areas. All sighting were in the far north (Eyrefield, north and west). They were seen to mate with the Styx lionesses and on another occasion one was seen to patrol as far south as the Campbell Koppies. He did not roar or scent mark and left the next day, going north into Gowrie again.
