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Lions of Sabi Sands
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Andrew Dancwerts captures the formidable Kambula lionesses at Mala Mala, November, 2018
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Handsome Avoca gently laying down the law to the Mhangeni boy. Video by Jordan Dannhauser at Buffelshoek, November 17, 2018
Meanwhile two other Avocas hanging with the Talamatis nearby. Image by Sam Pearson at Buffelshoek, November 18, 2018  *This image is copyright of its original author
It's interesting to note the tolerant behavior of the northern Avoca male to the Manhgeni male, because when the 3 young Mangheni males encountered the southern Avocas in August in Lion Sands, the southern Avocas were similarly tolerant. Here's an excerpt of a report by Lion Sands field guide Greg Sims on August 13, 2018.
Lion dynamics at Lion Sands and its surrounding areas are in flux. The Avoca males’ recent run-in with the Charleston males resulted in the former being chased off the reserve and sightings halting for a few days. So when word of the Mangheni lions came on 7 August, there was great excitement. This is a nomadic coalition of sub-adult males who were excommunicated from their pride in the Sabi Sands a few months ago. Arriving in the area where the lions were spotted, we got a lot more than we bargained for. The first view revealed one large male lion, with a full belly, spread across the road and, what looked like, four female lions feeding on a buffalo carcass in the reeds behind him. This isn’t at all what we were expecting. We waited patiently for the male to move into the reeds, before creeping towards the carcass for a better look. Upon closer inspection, we discovered that the other lions were actually three sub-adult, males from the Mangheni pride and one Eyrefield lioness – feeding together! The other Avoca male, looking well fed, was also present, obviously having eaten his fill before the others joined in. This behaviour – in particular, the large Avoca males allowing the Manghenis to feed on the same carcass – is certainly not the norm. We watched in amazement the interaction taking place before us and trying, unsuccessfully, to make sense of this strange behaviour. Perhaps the young lions had attempted taking down the buffalo, only to have the Avocas rush in and finish the job. Or maybe, because of their poor condition and submissive behaviour, the Avocas didn’t feel threatened by them and it wasn’t worth risking an injury to chase them away. The question of what exactly led to this gathering of lions has left us guides scratching our heads. We’ll probably never know, but it certainly provided an extraordinary sighting. There are undoubtedly interesting times ahead for the lions of Lion Sands Game Reserve and its surrounds. 
To me it just shows that Lions arent indiscriminate killers like most people think .... the Alpha males dont see them as a threat but they do take into account: posture, setting a pecking order, amount of food at the kill and probably sex. Young males starting to show size, or have an aggressive attitude, growing manes and interest in females are possibly seen as threats and so they are pushed out. On the flip side of that, I think they also might kill another lion that is too weak or sick .... that is a guess though ... Im no expert but thats just my stab on how I see it.
Credits: Savannah Private Game Reserve
The Ottawa pride is doing well. At one point we thought that one cub had been lost, as we had only seen them with two cubs for about 10 days!  *This image is copyright of its original author Incredibly, however, the missing cub survived this entire time, and was reunited with the pride. When the third cub was found, the pride was posing perfectly on a large rock in the Sand River, almost as if to show off the complete pride to all.
 *This image is copyright of its original author  *This image is copyright of its original author Since then the cubs have been treating us to brilliant viewing, playing with one another constantly and loving life!
 *This image is copyright of its original author  *This image is copyright of its original author The younger female of the pride has not always shown much compassion for the younger cubs of the pride, but she will have to learn very quickly how to deal with cubs, as it seems that she herself has dropped her litter in a dense drainage line in the middle of the property! We have not seen the cubs yet, as they are still too young, but we are hoping that by the next blog, we may have some pictures to share with you!
 *This image is copyright of its original author  *This image is copyright of its original author The Mhangene adult females made a brief visit this month, coming in near Savanna while hunting buffalo. It seems that the sub-adult pride has sadly dwindled away, but two of the young females have joined the adults. The adults also have some new cubs, although we have not yet seen them. Hopefully, now that the younger cubs are growing and are moving with the pride more, we will see more of them in the future.
 *This image is copyright of its original author  *This image is copyright of its original author The Matimba males have been following the Ottawa pride constantly, and as they are nearing the end of their reign, it seems that the only thing that they are interested in is getting free food. They have accepted the cubs, whose fathers were the Majingilane, as their own, and do not roam their territory far and wide to check for intruders. They are content to follow the females and take over any of the kills that they happen to make. This seems to be quite a good strategy, as they are still looking in fairly good condition.
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Northern Avoca male with a Talamati lioness at Buffelshoek. Images by Anne-Louise Fisher, November 20, 2018
 *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 Big blonde brother who is most often seen at Djuma with the Nkuhumas. Image by JP Van Zyl, November 1, 2018  *This image is copyright of its original author Having a trot. Image by Gary Mills, November 20, 2018  *This image is copyright of its original author And the dark skinned boy with the intense gaze. Image by Avijja Fonseka, November 20, 2018  *This image is copyright of its original author
(11-07-2018, 01:01 PM)vinodkumarn Wrote: Torchwood pride Information on lion numbers for the Torchwood Pride ranges from 13 to 16 depending on the source. According to Wildearth TV, the Torchwood pride consists of 5 females and 9 subadults: https://wildearth.tv/2018/05/introducing-torchwood/ This appears correct up until September 2018 when all 14 were filmed at Jaci's Sabi House: [url]https://www.facebook.com/jacissabihouse/videos/299405167514162/UzpfSTM5ODY3NzA5NjgzODI4MzoxOTc3MTE0ODMyMzI3ODI3/[/url] With regard to the age of the subadults, this safari live video suggests that at least some of the Torchwood cubs are younger than the Nkuhuma cubs, so perhaps in the vicinity of 18-24 months old: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hr6y27WVv8c&t=660 This is borne out by the following photo taken in April, 2017 by Andrew Khosa at Cheetah Plains showing a handful of cubs no older than 4-6 months. Two cubs were born earlier this year, but didn't survive.  *This image is copyright of its original author
The pride of 8 Talamati lions gorging on their buffalo kill...Images by Anne-Louise Fisher, northern Sabi Sands, November 21, 2018
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(11-22-2018, 03:23 AM)Herekitty Wrote: The pride of 8 Talamati lions gorging on their buffalo kill...Images by Anne-Louise Fisher, northern Sabi Sands, November 21, 2018 Looks like 2 of the sub-adult males are back with the pride. I think when the Avocas are away, they tend to be back in pride
Shot of the Torchwood subadult male (Birmingham fathered) at Arathusa. Image by karen_mac61, November 21, 2018
 *This image is copyright of its original author And one of the Torchwood adult lionesses at Djuma. Image by Alex Pearson, November 18, 2018  *This image is copyright of its original author
 
Credits to Tsalala/Marthly male lions FB Page.
Tsalala/Marthly males stay in the last days in Lion Sands and have no problem with food. Photo credits to N.Dorsey(IG),A.Selman.  *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  *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  *This image is copyright of its original author
Amber eyed Avoca at Djuma. Image by Mems & Farida Carim November 24, 2018
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