Skybed Coalition and Their Male Lineage

[Herekitty]

On August 26 & 27, 2006, the photographer Patrick Truscott visited Ngala Game Reserve and witnessed the takeover of the Birmingham Pride by the three powerful young Skybed males. The young males evicted the two older males who had dominated Ngala for years, and immediately set about mating with the Birmingham females. Within the next six months the five Matimba males (minus Nduna) and their sisters - two of whom are the current Birmingham Pride matriarchs - were born. Truscotts' notes at the time describe the scene.

This guy has seen it all. He and his brother were in charge of the pride when we got to our lodge in Ngala and had been for some time. Little did we know, his days were numbered!

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This handsome young devil might look relaxed but he's just having a rest during what turned out to be a pride takeover by him and his two brothers.

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While looking for the brothers initiating the takeover, we stopped the vehicle and both our guide Mark and our tracker Norman got out and disappeared into the bush to look for some tracks. After a few minutes, this chap strolls out of the bush, (worryingly, not far from where the guys went!) and walks past the vehicle not twenty yards away, stops and stares, allowing me to take a photo (most kind!) and walks on. What a buzz! That night, they finalised the deal and were in charge by the following morning!

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Shortly after taking over the pride, this guy gets his oats!

*This image is copyright of its original author

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