Coalitions of Kruger National Park

[Rabubi]

Singita Kruger National Park: August 2024

August has come and gone in the blink of an eye. The dry conditions have left a great concentration of animal activity around the now sparse water sources, being the N’wanetsi River in the south and the Gudzane stream and dam on the western edge of the Singita Kruger National Park concession.

The golden grasslands are starting to show the wear of prominent pathways from hundreds of animals moving from areas of grazing to the few areas of drinking, and the predators are enjoying the spoils that come with spending time around that all-too-tempting riverine vegetation.

A Sightings Snapshot for August follows:

Lions

• The Shish Pride is under pressure with so many growing cubs, and the loss of the oldest lioness. There is clearly competition for food amongst the members leaving some of the smaller cubs looking a bit gaunt, but the females have been hunting regularly and if they can keep up the stamina and continue, they should start to gain some condition as there are a few less mouths to feed.
  

*This image is copyright of its original author

• Chava Pride have been seen frequently in the company of one or all four of the Sonop/H6 males. From the previous month being associated with the Maputo males, tables have turned, and as Graeme explains in his write up, a few weeks has seen a big change in the lion dynamics. There has even been mating observed between one of the males and one of the Chava females in the days leading up to the end of August, so this is a clear sign of a new coalition in the territory.
• The H6/Sonop have become a much more frequent sighting, although not often on their own, most often in the company of some of the Chava females, keeping them very close as they assert their claim over the area.
• Maputo male has been seen once, on the morning of 1 August and then not again. His position was further east than has been the norm over the last few months, and he was alone, with no sightings of the other Maputo (Xai Xai) male since July.
• The Mananga Pride have been teasing the team this month, often coming into the concession from the western boundary at the N’wanetsi River and exiting by the time the sun rises the next morning, although we were lucky enough to have a number of sightings of the whole family, still proudly leading the eight older cubs and three younger cubs from one kill to the next, with all of the members appearing to be in very good condition.
  

*This image is copyright of its original author

• The old Mananga lioness was found on a giraffe cow carcass alone, and so it is not certain how the giraffe actually died, but she was enjoying having the carcass all to herself. Within a day she was joined by the remaining young Mananga male, looking rather skinny from the stress of living under the radar. He, like the older lioness, enjoyed the spoils of the giraffe carcass, waiting patiently for the Trichardt male to also have a feast midway through and soon to lose half the carcass to a clan of about fifteen spotted hyenas.
• The Trichardt male has not been seen very often this month, with the absence of his coalition mate to assist in holding the territory he is probably under immense pressure as the water sources slowly dry up and the focus of many predators in the vicinity turn to his portion of river as a lifeline. He was seen once in the presence of the Mananga Pride. They were thought to have had a kill but by the time they were found in the morning, they were on the move already with the Trichardt male trailing behind.
  

*This image is copyright of its original author

• A new, unidentified pride has been seen far on the eastern boundary, with about 15 members comprising of nine females and six young males. They could be moving into the area attracted by the prospect of water and potential prey also in vicinity of the water.
  

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