The Birmingham Males

[Tshokwane]

Credits to Jamie Paterson - Safari Live.

The Cat Report: 24 - 30 March

The proverbial storm that threatened to break over Djuma with the arrival of the Avoca male lions seems to have petered out into a rather mild drizzle. Three of the four Birmingham Boys came charging back into the northern section of their territory, roaring out their dominance for the world to hear and sending the younger Avoca males scurrying back north. This was what we expected but is far from the end of the story. The Birmingham Boys’ arrival in the Sands started in just the same way over three years ago - quick incursions into Matimba territory and turning tail every time the Matimbas sniffed in their direction. That is, of course, until they gained sufficient strength and confidence for the explosive territorial takeover that has made them the dominant males in the northern Sabi Sands. The big difference is that the Matimba males were significantly outnumbered when they were ousted. The Birminghams are not. It remains to be seen how this plays out as the Avoca males gather their strength.

Unfortunately for the Nkuhumas, it seems as though the Birminghams did not return soon enough and reports are that they came into contact with the Avoca males. They were found on Djuma looking bedraggled, hungry and without their youngest member. We will never know what befell the little cub but her continued absence suggests that her mother has lost all cubs from her very first litter, a sad reality for many lionesses. Reply