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the Selati coalition
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Credits to Johan de la Rey - Leopard Hills.
30.03.2014: We started drive this morning with the news that the four Majingilane male lions had come across one of the Selati males and that there was a lot of interaction between them. When we got in to the sighting the fight was over and the rivals were laying about twenty meters apart from each other. Between the four boys there was a few scars on their faces and for the Selati male we could see blood running from his neck and scars on hind back legs. The last update we got was that the Selati male was moving away from the four Majingilane males. (on the left one of the Majingilane males  *This image is copyright of its original author and on the right the scared Selati male)  *This image is copyright of its original author
Credits to Roy McPherson.
23.04.2014: This one was cornered by three Majingas and survived the initial fight.  *This image is copyright of its original author
Credits to Khimbini - Inyati.
21.05.2014: This trio maybe down to two. The remains of dead male lion was seen few day ago and Selati 3 haven't been seen for a while. The Majingelane are out of the western sector for the moment and the remaining two Selatis have snuck in last night but keeping a low profile to avoid Majingelane.  *This image is copyright of its original author
Credits to Inyati.
Blog for May/June 2014. The last few months have dashed by in a flurry of excitement, although, you need to be forewarned this story is not an easy story to read. It is however, part of the bush and it adds to the drama of it all as we realize that in the bush the penalty for pure misfortune often is death. So to start off, it appears that the Selati’s are now gone. The four became three and then the Majingilanes arrived. For two weeks this reserve was in an uproar as on separate nights the Majingilanes teamed up against individual Selati’s, the one was really badly wounded and another was killed by the Jingies, these battles happened at night and it happened close to the camp and all night long we heard the giant cats fight it out. The other two left via Londolozi and the last update I had was that they were around the Manyeleti a few weeks back. This new coalition then moved into the area and they were looking for the Prides. Initially the males found the female from the Othawa Pride who doesn’t have any cubs, she mated with these males for almost two weeks, before they realized that they were barking up the wrong tree! This time had given the two prides a head start, the Xhimungwe’s have been hiding from male lions for years when they have cubs, and the Othawa’s had not, and it shows. The Majingilanes then proceeded to hunt the cubs from both prides. This is natural selection at work, it is common practice for new male lions moving into an area to kill off the cubs, it is called infanticide. One fateful afternoon we happened upon a fresh Kudu kill that the one female had killed. She was lying up in the afternoon sunlight in the sand of one of the many drainage lines that run about the lodge. Initially we knew she had a kill because she was full and covered in blood and we could smell it, it is an acrid smell when the lions spill the stomach and its contents, it catches you by surprise and is not at all pleasant, and it wasn’t pleasant. We found the kill and also by surprise four cubs that had been displaced from the Pride and we had feared the worst. They had gorged themselves on a huge male kudu, not much was left apart from a partially chewed ribcage and a clean beautiful set of horns. We had left that evening thinking that this was there bit of luck, but we were wrong… dead wrong. The next morning two cubs were dead in the same spot and the other two were missing. Jury is still out on who killed the cubs but the manner in which they were left suggests like it was lions. This poor Othawa’s Pride has lost in total 6 cubs with only one male and one female sub-adult left. Should these two perish as well this will give the Xhimungwe’s a chance as the Jingies will spend quality time with the Othawa’s. The Xhimungwe’s are down to five sub-adults 4 females and a male. The cubs are almost indiscernible from their mother in the Xhimungwe’s. Their tactic seems to be eat impala’s every day, nothing too big to keep us rooted to one spot for too long, and turn away from the roars at night.
Credits to Inyati.
MARCH 2015 FIELD GUIDE REPORT BY MATT:  *This image is copyright of its original author The sentimental bush. I have delayed writing this piece. There has been a drama playing out and instead of making it two parts as seems to be the trend these days when someone finds a marketable story like the Lord of the Rings movie series. Like any good drama it has highs and lows and it has so much sadness. I guess it all started about 6 months ago. One quiet evening unbeknownst to the Selati lion coalition, four old campaigners moved into this, a relatively stable part of the reserve. The story ended on the 15th of April with a sad and lonely death from a broken lion that never had a chance.  *This image is copyright of its original author A single Selati male lion was killed on his own in the North of our reserve, his body was found by a guide out on drive. He was the second casualty to the Majingelane lion coalition with one of his brothers having been killed by the coalition a few years before. A third brother was killed in two separate encounters with buffalo. The two surviving brothers were seen walking off the property never to return. The new coalition on the property had actually come up from the north of the Sabi Sand, where they had been established for a few years.  *This image is copyright of its original author The new coalition then went about looking for the females on their new territory. We left them one evening on a kudu kill in a drainage line and when we returned the next morning 4 of the 8 cubs from the Othawa pride were dead. The remaining cubs had scattered about the reserve lost and bewildered by something they had no clue about. It took many weeks of searching to get them all back, one young female even ended up following the Ximungwe pride around for two weeks. This signaled the start of the great race, the females from both prides took it upon themselves to mate with the lions as a distraction tactic and allow another female to lead the cubs to safety. However over time the males got two more cubs from the Othawas leaving a male and female cub left as the survivors from 8. The two cubs became sub-adults together and often found them alone having to fend for themselves. They lasted for many months and it seemed like for the female at least there was a light at the end of the tunnel.  *This image is copyright of its original author Then in February one of the Othawa females gave birth to three beautiful little cubs. The Majingelanes had become proud fathers once again. The Othawa group thought it was time to introduce the males to the two remaining sub-adults. Surely having cubs of their own would appease their vengeance on the Selati’s at last? The interaction did not go well and the female was seen fleeing the area with all the males after her. The young males were also injured in the skirmish. The female was found close to the lodge a few days later as her decomposing body could be smelt from afar. The young male alone and injured returned to the females with cubs who rejected him. I’m trying not to anthropomorphise here but I can only imagine how he must have felt, being hurt and hungry and then cast away from his family.  *This image is copyright of its original author In the meantime the short tailed lioness from the Ximungwes had been isolated from her pride because of a small injury. She was on the mend but needed to join the group again. She must have made the fatal mistake of contact calling close to the Othawas and their new cubs. The short tailed lady must have fought like a demon possessed judging by the signs of the struggle left behind as flattened and bloody grass. Her body had mostly been consumed by one of the male coalition when we found her the next morning.  *This image is copyright of its original author This story ends late one morning drive, after the males and the Othawas had finished off a kill and were relaxing by a watering hole. The lone surviving offspring of the Selati coalition tempted by food and a time gone by came close. He forlornly was calling more from instinct than hope. He lay in the shade of a tree hoping to get in close and join the group. The coalition then came up to him and as he lay there exhausted and broken, they approached with a look of intent. He accepted his fate as only one destined for the gallows can be, resided to his fate he did not run away. With a flurry of activity it was over, the males walked away leaving the broken body and a broken promise from his fathers. Hopefully now the bush has taken its required amount of blood and the strong genes of the Majingelane and by proxy the mighty Mapogos will see this new generation of cubs lasting long. However only time will tell and the bush is certainly not sentimental.  *This image is copyright of its original author
Tshokwane rob told me that time the sub adults ran away from the pride when majingilanes arrived. Most part of them were wasted by hyenas and by solo the tsalala lone male. Majingilanes only direct kill one of the sub adults.
The two remaing selatis escaped by south trought savanna . they met one of their sister from southern pride near idube and share a meal with her. After that they went to north until manyelety. 
Lament for a Fallen King
His was officially called Selati Male No. 2, but to me his name will always be Hank. Sometimes written in uppercase, often with an exclamation point. HANK! It was a nom de plume I gave him after Kim and I visited Sabi Sands in 2011 and first laid eyes on No. 2 and his three Selati Coalition brethren (similarly named Selati Males No. 1, 3, and 4). Born around the beginning of 2008 to different litters in the Southern Pride, the Selatis (sometimes also referred to as the Southern Coalition) were originally five strong when they came of age. All muscle and ambition, in April 2011 they were given both the figurative and literal slap on the nose by the mighty Mapogo Coalition. The Mapogos controlled a vast swath of land in Sabi Sands and were to be feared with good reason. It is estimated that they were single-handedly responsible for killing over sixty lions during their reign, and they certainly weren’t going to let some young turks bully them off their patch. After a scuffle that would see the Mapogo’s Pretty Boy injured, the Selatis were eventually sent roaring off into the night with the Mapogos claiming victory. In March 2012 Hank and company would redress their grievances with the Mapogos in a battle that would see the latter’s infamous Mr. T. fatally struck down. But by then the Selatis would number only four. In the intervening months between their two battles with the Mapogos the youngest of the five Selatis was hunted down and mercilessly killed in one of the coalition’s first encounters with the equally fierce Majingilanes. Quote:[i]A quick glimpse left and right, tails straightening, the Southern [Selati] Pride knew they were in trouble and spun around to sprint west back down the road. The Majingilane Coalition began their chase in hot pursuit, roaring incessantly at full pace. Each of the lions disappeared as they broke through the bush in full flight whilst we desperately tried to keep up.  *This image is copyright of its original author Hank (HANK!) doing what he did best: mugging for the camera. In the months following their triumph over the Mapogos, Hank and his three surviving brothers-in-arms held out and held their own, carving out sizeable territory and siring numerous and ridiculously cute cubs along the way with both the Ximhungwe and Othawa prides. Many believe, and rightly so, that they are contenders to the throne for some of Sabi Sands’ most prized territory, and that when the final showdown does come between them and the Majingilanes it will be, simply put, epic — as one would only expect when the armies of kings collide. Why Hank, then? What made him so special? Over the two days Kim and I spent watching the Selati Coalition he always seemed to be mugging for the camera. Whether it was holding his head high and wearing a devilish grin while his mane blew back in the wind, or with his tongue lollygagging out the side of his mouth as if he were pulling faces for you, or staring at us with a “Hey babe, come here often?” look that would make even Don Draper jealous, every single time I focused my camera in on the coalition Hank was there filling the frame and oozing charisma. Which was why “Selati No. 2” seemed so unbecoming for someone with so much moxie. He deserved something better, he deserved something more fitting, he deserved… HANK! All of which has made the news so much harder to take with recent reports out of Sabi Sands mentioning only three Selati males whenever the coalition was spotted. The fourth – No. 2 – was being seen less-and-less by his brothers’ side; and on the occasions when Hank was spotted, either with the coalition or on his own, he was almost always reported to be weak, frail, and struggling. He was first witnessed noticeably injured last December and the conclusion, though unverified, was that he had received internal injuries – possibly broken ribs in a dust-up with buffalo – that kept digging at his insides. Not enough to bring him to a full stop, but still enough to slowly wear him down over the weeks and months that followed. A king hobbled by a thorn no shepherd could remove. Finally, on October 15th Inyati Game Lodge confirmed the news we’d all been waiting for but were dreading to hear: Selati No. 2 had fallen – a king was dead.  *This image is copyright of its original author Travel well, Hank. (HANK!) Yes Hank, we did. We still do. Travel well. https://kimpluscraig.com/2013/10/16/lament-fallen-king/ (04-20-2017, 08:11 PM)Tshokwane Wrote: Credits to ULU LAPA. Link to the original post: https://www.facebook.com/ululapa/photos/...=1&theater
Past sighting report - April 2011
Singita's James Crookes writes about the meeting of the Mapogos and the young Southern/Selati males. "This was an interaction that we had long been waiting for and speculation was rife as to what the outcome would be. The notorious Mapogo coalition of male lions, quoted as having been responsible for the death of over 40% of the Sabi Sand lion population, have been whittled down from 6 members to a mere three. Coupled with their reduction in number, there is also the factor of age to consider, as these male lions are approaching the upper threshold of their life expectancy. They no longer strut around with the confidence of old and it is evident that they are a lot more wary of who they choose to engage. The 5 Southern Pride males, on the other hand, at about 3 1/2 years old, are only just approaching adult hood. These males, however, are becoming a force to be reckoned with as they have become expert buffalo hunters, providing them with no shortage of protein enabling them to be quite bulky for their age. There are various permutations which could ultimately prevail, but the consensus among the guides at Singita Sabi Sand is that in the next year or two, as they reach sexual maturity, the Southern Pride males will likely form a coalition that will rival even the Mapogo in their prime. There are also the 4 Majingilane males to contend with, but for the time being, they seem to have settled in the area to the east of Singita. On this particular morning, the Southern Pride were located not far behind the large herd of buffalo and they were watching the herd closely. Having not fed for a couple of days, one could see that their intention was to hunt if the opportunity presented itself. Just then, an update came through that the 3 Mapogo males had been located and were making their way toward the buffalo and, by default, the Southern Pride. After positioning myself, so as best to take in the scene when these two groups met up, I watched and waited. Although in a clearing, neither the Mapogo nor the Southern Pride had any idea of each other’s proximity until they were no more than 50 meters apart. The Southern Pride was wholly focused on the buffalo and it appeared that so too, were the Mapogo. Suddenly one of the coalition members noticed a South Pride male and picked up the pace without missing a step. The chase was on. The three coalition members managed to isolate two of the Southern Pride males and focused on chasing them. One of the Mapogo chased directly after these two, while the other two coalition members flanked around to limit their escape routes. All of this happened in the blink of an eye. I warned the guests on my vehicle to hold on, and we charged through the clearing trying to keep up so as not to lose sight of the lions. I remember looking at my speedometer at one point and noticing that we were doing 40 kilometers an hour and battling to keep up! Next, the coalition members started to roar while they were running, serving the dual purpose of advertising their territory and helping them locate the other coalition members in order to regroup. This was incredible and something I had never witnessed before. The volume coupled with the frequency makes the vehicle and all the surrounds vibrate, especially given their proximity to us, at only a couple of meters away. The chase continued for about 3 kilometers, by which time we had lost visual of the Southern Pride. With the chase over and the warning issued, the members of the Southern Pride managed to avoid potentially dire consequences. The three coalition members then lay down in the road less than 50 meters from Castleton Camp for the rest of the morning. Although the Southern Pride males are not yet sexually mature and pose no immediate threat to the Mapogo, they aren’t that far off. The Mapogo will have realised this and hence the conflict. Just when we started doubting the character of the Mapogo, having almost forgotten that their notoriety isn’t without reason, they issued a stern warning that they are not yet down and out. There is still plenty of fight left in them. We’ll watch this space closely." Unfortunately I wasn't able to locate the original article, and I took it from here: https://www.facebook.com/mapogo/posts/past-sighting-report-april-2011-singitas-james-crookes-writes-about-the-meeting-/10153843520583814/ (11-04-2019, 06:49 AM)lionjaguar Wrote: What happened to Selati coalition after defeated by Majingilane? They moved north and became pride males for the Talamati pride. They do have some offspring with that pride. In 2017, one of the males died of TB. The lone Selati was not seen since late 2017. There was some turmoil in the area as one of the Thanda Impi males died, the northern Avocas moved in and the Matimbas were also in that area at that time. He would be pretty old by now and will probably have a hard time surviving without strong coalition partners. There is information in this thread too if you follow it you can build a picture of their history. (11-04-2019, 07:13 PM)Matimbalani Wrote:(11-04-2019, 06:49 AM)lionjaguar Wrote: What happened to Selati coalition after defeated by Majingilane? Thank you for information. I wasn't really interested in these stories until I read Mapogo. I am trying to follow stories now.   *This image is copyright of its original author One of the Talamatis (left) is spitting image of his father (right), the last of the Selatis, Selati #1. People tend to forget about Selatis, but they where very impressive lions (bigger and bulkier then Majingilanes and some Mapogos), but the death off Selati #2 from buffalo hunt unfortunately seal the deal for them in western sector, if that didnt happen no way Majingilanes would be able to beat them. Here is the picture of 4 Selatis in their young days:  *This image is copyright of its original author
What makes you think that Salatis were bigger than Majingilanes and some of the Mapogos?
(02-15-2020, 07:03 PM)Potato Wrote: What makes you think that Salatis were bigger than Majingilanes and some of the Mapogos Well its hard to tell but in my opinion i think they where. First of all by looking at them they where much bulkier lions then Majingilanes. When mr T fight them, few Selatis to me look bigger then him even when they where only 4.5-5 yrs old and prob not full grown yet. Then comparing them alongside lionesses (all lionesses are around the same sizes, few inches difference). This is Selati male compared to Talamati lioness, he is huge:  *This image is copyright of its original author If you look at Majingilanes with lionesses they dont appeare that big. Also you have a video of Nsuku and Scrapper vs Selati male, even tho 2 Bboys where young around 4-5, Selati male was massive towards them. And i read somewhere that Manyeleti rangers said that Selati #1 was very big lion. |
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