Coalitions of Kruger National Park

[Fredymrt]

FROM:  Singita Kruger National Park South Africa
wildlife review for the month of May 2017 is as follows:

Lions: We have had some great sightings of lions this last month. By far the most exciting, and yet thought-provoking and sad at the same time occurred on the morning of the 10th (This sighting is described in greater depth further on). The four "Shishangaan Males" have been seen a few times this last month. This coalition is very powerful and has a large territory that they control. Towards the beginning of the month they were spending a lot of time outside of the concession in the area of the Shishangaan Staff Village and near the S100. After the fight with the Rogue Males on the 10th the four males were obviously very sore and did not travel far. 

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The Shishangaan Pride seems to be at the point of splitting up now. This was expected as the young sub-adult males are of the age that they now need to “leave home and get jobs”. On a few occasions, we saw the pride (with the white sub-adult male) and there were between 14 and 19 individuals. In the last week of May we found four of the sub-adults with an adult lioness just north of camp. The next day the four sub-adult males were seen further north and the lioness was found in a very bad state near where they were seen before. It seems as if she had had a confrontation with another lion (possibly even with the sub-adult males) and had some serious puncture wounds on her body. We did not see her after this again

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The Mountain Pride consists of three lionesses and one cub (unfortunately the other cubs did not survive). They are often seen accompanied by the Grumpy Shish Male. We have had approximately ten sightings of the Mountain Pride this month. Towards the middle of the month they were seen in the hills near Ntoma Road. They were busy hunting and were successful, catching an impala. Towards the end of the month we saw them again in the hills in the central area

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The Xhirombe Pride was only seen on two occasions this month. On both occasions it was just one female and the young male. He is looking quite handsome now and his mane is full. Reply