Coalitions of Kruger National Park

[Matimbalani]

(04-15-2021, 03:49 PM)Herekitty Wrote: The story of the Madodas of Kapama Game Reserve. The first and least known male was known as Felix, a massive dark maned male who was said to have been imported to Kapama from Karongwe Reserve in the early to mid 2000s to boost lion numbers. When he was moved he was separated from his brother who fathered the big Karongwe male Zeus. Image by Dave Rilstone, 2005.

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Felix was the victim of a paid hunt in the reserve in 2012. Image by Newby Garonga, 2009

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Felix and Makulu Madoda were both large and fierce males who sometimes encountered each other, but because they were evenly matched, they generally kept out of each others way. Felix and Makulu Madoda hanging out together, but apart in 2008. Image by Kapama Rangers.

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Makulu Madoda is the legendary male born in 2000 who lived up until 2017 when he was attacked and killed by his three grandsons the Hoedspruit males, after a number of encounters where he beat them up indivdually. He also fought and bettered his son Moria Madoda, the one eyed King a number of times, until 2013/14 when they became equally matched and Makulu vacated to his his son half of the reserve. Image by Throwgnilloh Lien, Oct. 2009

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Makulu Madoda, because of his looks and longevity is one of the most legendary KNP males. Image by Pascal parent 2011.

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In early 2008 Makulu fathered the male lion who became known as Moria Madoda, the one eyed King of Kapama. Image by Mitch, Oct 2008.

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Like his father, he is a stunning male. Image by Thiago Archas, 2015

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Even after losing his eye in 2017. Image by yurzol.

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In late 2012, Moria Madoda fathered three sons with whom he had a close bond. Image by brspled, 2014

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Image by DAVE9311

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But the nature of male lions is to dominate and after conquering their grandfather the Hoedspruit males turned their attention to their father. In 2017 they attacked Moria Madoda and in the process he lost his eye. They did however, spare his life and he feld to the south of the Kapama where he lives to this day. Image by Kapama Rangers.

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As of early this year the Hoedspruit males are down to two, but they remain powerful males like their predecessors. Image by Marianne @heini1964, 2021

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They are magnificent lions but are they dominant over the same prides? That's a lot of inbreeding. Reply