Bila Shaka coalition

[sik94]

Bila Shaka Males - Status March 2020
The 6 Bila Shaka Males arrived in the Marsh Pride territory beginning of 2017 as 2.5 – 3 year old rookies. As the resident Males for some reasons did not chased them off, they settled down and grew into fine Male Lions before they started to take over the Marsh Pride and the Topi Plains Pride in the course of 2018 and started mating.
Well, let’s repeat some more quick background information first:
- born into the Moniko Pride in the OMC; sons of Lolparpit & Olbarnoti
- 2 males were born in March 2014 and are likely brothers, Baba Yao and Doa
- 3 males were born in May 2014; two are likely brothers (Koshoke & Kibogoyo) while I am not sure about the 3rd (Chongo)
- 1 male was born in September 2014 (Kiok)
Several Lionesses in both Prides gave birth I found fourteen cubs recently out and about (some Lionesses sadly lost their youngsters in the course of the last year), 7 in the Marsh Pride and 7 in the Topi Plains Pride.
The question a year ago was – will the Bila Shaka Males stay with the Marsh Pride and Topi Plains Pride or will they also take over the Enkoyonai Pride from their fathers? Or will they try to take over the Paradise Pride from the Musketeers? Or will they cross the Mara River and will chase off the Kichwa Males to take over the River Pride and the Oloololo Pride? Well and if that happens – will they leave the Marsh Pride and/or the Topi Plains Pride for good? Or will this coalition split up in 2 or 3 groups?
I called these 6 Males the “Wanderlust Coalition” already back mid of 2018. Already back then they liked to move around a lot, being all over the place. Only Doa was seen with the Topi Plains Pride quite regularly and Chongo often was hanging out with Spot and Little Red from the Marsh Pride.
A year later it seems the Bila Shaka Males have left the Marsh Pride and the Topi Plains Pride for good. Well, not all of them, Doa is still staying with the Topi Plains Pride as the single protector of this Pride. A real challenge for him and the Lionesses to protect the 7 remaining youngsters of the Pride.
Why did the other 5 leave their kingdom? There are many Lionesses in both Prides without youngsters, 5 in the Marsh Pride and 6 in the Topi Plains Pride. 11 Lionesses ready to mate with. I don’t have a real answer to this question.
Towards end of 2019 these 5 moved south-west and had several confrontations with the 3 Sala’s Males who are trying to establish themselves as the resident Males in the Maternity and Chinese Hill Areas. Based on the reports the Bila Shaka Boys were not successful in chasing them out. Some of the 5 Males were seen on the other side of the Mara River in the Triangle obviously trying to get grips on the Lionesses of the Mugoro Pride and the River Pride, without success it seems. They returned to the Musiara Marsh in February this year with one Male missing – Baba Yao.
Baba was caught alone by the 3 Sala’s Males beginning of January this year and was badly injured from what I could see on the video footage. Esp. both of his hind legs very likely sustained severe damage. He was never seen again and while due to the permanent rains not many cars ever made it onto the Paradise Plains, Pump House and Chinese Hill Areas to look for him, I believe he succumbed. Not being able to walk properly he obviously couldn’t follow his comrades. An injured Male in a vast area of long grass and almost zero prey will struggle to feed himself and easily get caught by other Males to be finished off.
The 4 returning Males, Chongo, Koshoke, Kibogoyo and Kiok, did not stay long inside their home-turf. They moved out end of February and it seems they headed south-west again. Will they return again?
Picture: Doa after a hefty thunderstorm / March 2020

Update: Baba Yao, the sixth male is alive and kicking after surviving the onslaught from the Sala boys. Seems like the Bila Shakas are spread a little too thin considering a coalition half their size can snatch a piece of their territory.

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