Avoca Male Lions and Their Male Lineage

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Mala Mala October raport:

THE KAMBULA PRIDE = 30

The third constant 'split' of the pride is the two lionesses who spend the bulk of their time in the area of Marthly and around MalaMala Camp. They continue to spend time with the Northern Avoca males, and like last month, they were mating with these two males again. These two lionesses and the two Northern Avoca males had an impala kill east of Elephant Rock Lookout on the 10th. In addition, the two lionesses stole an impala kill from the Piccadilly female and her cub on the 16th, west of Bicycle Crossing.

THE NKUHUMA PRIDE = 23

October saw a drastic reduction in the sightings of this pride of lions, more specifically, the three lionesses and seven cubs who were regularly seen in September. The bulk of the pride was on two buffalo calf kills with a Northern Avoca male at Matshapiri Dam on the 6th. On the 23rd, the three lionesses and seven cubs were at Mlowathi Dam.

THE NORTHERN AVOCA MALES = 2

The Northern Avoca males continue to make their presence known throughout Eyrefield and northern MalaMala. This month, these males were at the forefront of a few interesting interactions with members of the Kambula pride. 

A few significant sightings include: One of the males was with 13 members of the Nkuhuma pride who had two buffalo calf kills at Matsapiri Dam on the 6th. Both of the males were together at Matshapiri Dam the following day, though the pride had moved off after finishing the two kills. One of the males was south of Mlowathi Dam on the 9th. On the 10th, both males were at Mlowathi Pans with a lioness from the Kambula pride. Both males were north of Mlowathi Pans on the 15th. On the 17th, one male was with members of the Kambula pride on a buffalo bull kill north of the confluence of the three rivers. In a bewildering sighting, the male chased off some of the Kambula sub-adult males while allowing others to feed. Possibly the urge to feed outweighed the danger posed to both the sub-adults and the single Northern Avoca male (see more on this in a recent blog posted on the MalaMala website). A male was with the three lionesses and seven cubs of the Nkuhuma pride north of Mlowathi springs (17th), while the other male was at the confluence of the three rivers with members of the Kambula pride. A male was north of Stwise on the 18th , while the second male was south of Mlowathi Pans. One male moved south overnight and was found the following day midway along Emsagwen. From there, the male moved east towards a buffalo kill that members of the Kambula pride had made south of Paddy's pool, where he spent two days feeding amongst the members of the Kambula pride for the second time in as many days. A male was with two lionesses south of Mlowathi Pans on the 22nd. A male was north of Stwise on the 24th. Both males were east of Mlowathi Dam on the 25th. Both males were north of Stwise on the 26th and west of Mlowathi Dam on the 28th .

THE SOUTHERN AVOCA MALES = 2 

The two Southern Avoca males were seen once this month at Charleston Rock on the 30th 

THE SAND RIVER PRIDE = 14 
2 ADULT FEMALES ± 8 YEARS 3 MONTHS 
2 ADULT FEMALES ± 4 YEARS 3 MONTHS 
1 FEMALE CUB 1 YEAR 10 MONTHS 
3 CUBS 1 YEAR 10 MONTHS 
3 CUBS 3 MONTHS 3 CUBS 2 MONTHS 

The Sand River pride was viewed on three occasions this month. The first sighting of these lions was at Trollips hippo pools on the 17th. On the 30th, one of the females was south of Charleston Rock. The last sighting for the month was of a female and the six youngest cubs of the pride southeast of Rocky Crossing on the 31st . Reply