There is a world somewhere between reality and fiction. Although ignored by many, it is very real and so are those living in it. This forum is about the natural world. Here, wild animals will be heard and respected. The forum offers a glimpse into an unknown world as well as a room with a view on the present and the future. Anyone able to speak on behalf of those living in the emerald forest and the deep blue sea is invited to join.
(07-17-2021, 03:38 AM)Duco Ndona Wrote: Yeah. That photo has the same vibe that photos of other lions like 5 jocks senior or HB Matimba had. Just before they perished.
Lets hope they can hang just a bit longer. Becouse once they become nomads again, I think it will go downhill pretty quickly.
At the same time Tinyo has that "seen better days" look all the time like for forever. He is not getting any younger ofc, but I would not make conclusion from single pictures, he is bound to look worse on some of them. Nhenha certainly should have more longevity in him unless some twist and turns of fate would not change that. I don't expect them to be on their way out anytime soon (like this year), if they feel age is getting to them, they will probably double down on what they did over years - not being triger happy and avoiding fights they don't need to take. Even Nhenha alone as he is in condition to be expected to have at least a year more than Tinyo will probably dodge others for some time, after all he has a decent size to him as deterrent against sole challengers. Not every male will risk what they have to attack Birminghams like Othawa did. As of now I don't think there is any immediate threat, as long they are two, the only mosre numerous coalition are the N'was, which might be content with what they have and expand in any direction from there anyway and if Southern or Northern Avocas would push the Birminghams (equal numbers right now) they still have quite a lot of space to shift territory a bit (especially with Othawa gone and Mhangeni naturally being rather lowprofile a long as they have cubs), plus the possibly breakaway might create a buffer tone for them as well. The young nomads don't have numbers nor the confidence to challenge them. Danger can come from utside of Sabi Sands ofc, but impossible to foretell, besides the 5th Mantimahle with his two sons, which made an appearance on eastern fringes and subsequently left, there was nothing like that.
I don't pick favourites like many do, but Birminghams lowkey became vey succesful coalition and with the promise of the current Kambula sub-adults (both sexes), they are likely to leave the area in a good shape once their rules will come to end. But I don't think they are there yet, nor I want them to be, unlike perhaps Londolozi, they are certainly not a warring coalition to fill their naratives.