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Lion Directory
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A little info on Kalahari Lions
The Lion Kings of the Kalahari Posted on 21 June, 2013 by Chloe Cooper in Wildlife - See more at: http://africageographic.com/blog/the-lio...osgaE.dpuf To the black-maned lions that patrol it, there is no truer allocation of a kingdom than that of the Kalahari Desert. The territory these lions possess covers far greater distances than those belonging to lions anywhere else in Africa, which is largely due to the low prey densities found in this harsh, arid environment.  *This image is copyright of its original author Kalahari kings of the future There have been suggestions that the desert-adapted lion of the Kalahari belongs to a separate subspecies. However, this is not the case. This is Africa’s Panthera leo, with an armour developed specifically to defend it against the desert elements, such as larger paws and leaner limbs to take great strides across the never-ending expanses of sand and covering distances almost impossible to believe.  *This image is copyright of its original author Dark manes are characteristic of Kalahari males. (Read more about the dark manes at www.haina.co.za[i])[/i] It is quite something to behold, the silhouette of such a magnificent creature roaming across the crests of dunes. The Kalahari offers no shrubbery or shade bar a trickled dispersal of camel thorn trees under which to flop, so the prides that reside here have far more hardships to overcome than those living in an almost ‘luxurious’ South African retreat.  *This image is copyright of its original author New life is fiercely protected by a Kalahari queen. The emerging dawn warms the aching cold of the night, but soon the scorching sun dehydrates the land and the afternoon brings a dead heat without respite. It is no wonder that the conditions in the Kalahari attract such exceptional species. The oryx is the iconic symbol of this magnificent thirstland, while the rare brown hyaena and the unmistakeable bat-eared fox are small carnivore species. With surface temperatures reaching up to 70 degrees Celsius, much of the wildlife activity occurs beneath ground. There, Cape cobras lie in wait for burrowing mice and scorpions are poised, weapons raised, to strike an unsuspecting desert spider that reacts by tucking, dropping and rolling out of reach in a sequence of its own well-practised desert defence. A fascinating abundance of species exists here, and the lion is no less a fighter than the other desert-dwellers. Dr Fritz Eloff, a retired Professor of Zoology at the University of Pretoria in South Africa, spent 26 years in the Kalahari with his team of researchers studying the behaviour of lions. An enchanting account of his life there is recounted in his book Hunters of the Dunes, in which I read about the renowned individual lions and unusual alliances that lived in the Kalahari between 1970 and 1995 (http://blog.sunsafaris.com/2013/01/30/dune-kings-an-introduction-to-the-lions-of-the-kalahari/ ) Depicted against the backdrop of an endless desert and with the untamed instinct to survive these unforgiving conditions, these particular lions were identified by a certain fire they possessed and are described by what made each of them such memorable and significant leaders of the Kalahari kingdom.  *This image is copyright of its original author An intense glare bears a warning. One such individual, Kromvoet (‘crooked foot’), was spotted by Ooi, Eloff’s expert Bushman tracker. Kromvoet was a curious case. His tracks dragged an uneven footstep – his lonely life drawn in the sand. The lion was merciless, though. He charged in fury at the intrusive presence of the teams’s Land Rover, ferociously defended a large area surrounding the waterhole in Gharagab and confronted both competitors and investigators with malice. All outsiders but one were listed in this lion’s bad books. After a few days, Kromvoet’s lone, roaming tracks were joined by those of a mate. A female’s prints intertwined with his and the shape of a lover’s nest was evident in the sand one night, forcing the team to acknowledge that their vicious outcast had adopted a softer side. The two seemed well-suited, as evidence of their nightly strolls told. A poor brown hyaena was banished to its burrow in fear as Kromvoet and his queen lay between the hyaena and its kill, possessing no interest in eating their hostage’s meal. This dominant dune king was clearly desert royalty.  *This image is copyright of its original author Lion cubs have to fight hard for survival in this harsh environment The first alliance of lions to catch Eloff’s attention was an unusual group of females who confidently walked the dunes unguarded by a male companion. The year was 1970 and the Kalahari was home to this unique pride of six, called the Sisters Gang. The lionesses made a habit of disturbing the team of researchers, ridding them of many hours of sleep with their night-time stalking and investigating. On more than one occasion, Eloff awoke as if warned by the wind to find the Sisters Gang close enough to his sleeping comrades to be lit by the glow of their firelight. An act of threat or curiosity? Another night, a lioness took it a step further and was caught mid-stalk in the beam of an flashlight. ‘Don Juan of the Kalahari’ was a maverick. Like his namesake, the Spanish philanderer, Don Juan lived the life of a Casanova well into his later years. Violence riddled his existence, as it did that of this desert lion. Haaslip, (‘harelip’), was said to have lived a rough life of vicious confrontation, matched only by his success as a mate. Eloff documented this lion’s movements over a long period, the way it rebelled against the natural order of things, dabbling with but never committing to any pride he came across. Haaslip had a commendable love life and fathered many young cubs over a number of years, far more than is normal in the life of a lion.  *This image is copyright of its original author A majestic Kalahari king There were many desperately close encounters during Eloff’s 26 years in the Kalahari. But Hunters of the Dunesspeaks of memories never to be forgotten, of individuals studied with patience and bravery, without the technological advantages that ease modern journeys. His was a miraculous and enviable encounter that, considering the severely threatened existence of lions today, will possibly never be matched. At the age of 93, this man carries with him a 40-year-long relationship with the kings of the Kalahari, whose legacy now lies in the hands of determined conservation activists. The black-maned Kalahari lions by Tswalu Kalahari on Sat, August 10, 2013 in News, Wildlife  *This image is copyright of its original author The Kalahari lions are known for their majestic size and beautiful manes, although they are actually the same species as other lions found across Africa.The contrast between their tawny coloured bodies and their black manes is striking and gives them a very regal look.  *This image is copyright of its original author Ranger and wildlife photographer Marco Tonoli has written about why the lions of the Kalahari are one of the largest in Africa. He believes that when resources are thin, competition is rife. “Areas with higher rainfall generally have greater densities of plains game, so the availability of food for predators is higher and the chances of survival for weaker individuals is greater. However, the semi-desert environment of the southern Kalahari is limited by the low levels of rainfall, leading to lower densities of herbivores per square kilometre. This means that lion prides not only have larger territories, but competition with other prides and individuals is rife. The weak or injured are quickly displaced by fitter more dominant individuals. Only the strongest survive and reproduce. The outcome over time is the continuous elimination of weaker genes and the ongoing survival of the stronger genes, which results in bigger lions.”  *This image is copyright of its original author Like the rest of the lions in Africa, however, they are in danger of becoming extinct. According to the website www.worldlionday.com, in 1975 there was an estimated 250,000 lions in Africa, yet today the continent wide population stands at a mere 25 – 30,000 individuals. This staggering 80-90% decline combines with the fragmentation and isolation of those remaining sub-populations with little long-term viability.
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