There is a world somewhere between reality and fiction. Although ignored by many, it is very real and so are those living in it. This forum is about the natural world. Here, wild animals will be heard and respected. The forum offers a glimpse into an unknown world as well as a room with a view on the present and the future. Anyone able to speak on behalf of those living in the emerald forest and the deep blue sea is invited to join.
First image was taken on 19 th June 2020 and second on 14 Jan 2023. She is the sole survivor of original 6 cubs born in the river pride sired by nharhu males ( scorocoro and bothers)
The beautiful Nharhu male Skorokoro seen with the Western pride at Ntsiri in Umbabat PNR where they have taken sanctuary from the threat of the Vuyela males. Photo credits: Albie Morkel, Jan. 8, 2023
(01-14-2023, 05:28 PM)Timbavati Wrote: One of the Vuyela males at Rockfig Safari Lodge. Images by aliah.in.waterland, Jan. 13, 2023
*This image is copyright of its original author
Well I found the vuyela coalition as the one of the most promising coalition in current times.
These 5 brothers already controlling sark and sark breakaways ( both are turning into mega prides), already snatch river pride from scorocoro ( no way scorocoro can defeat them), every now and then stealing kill from Birmingham breakaway males and chase them away and possibly they will create some trouble for skorro and mayambulas.
(01-14-2023, 05:28 PM)Timbavati Wrote: One of the Vuyela males at Rockfig Safari Lodge. Images by aliah.in.waterland, Jan. 13, 2023
*This image is copyright of its original author
Well I found the vuyela coalition as the one of the most promising coalition in current times.
These 5 brothers already controlling sark and sark breakaways ( both are turning into mega prides), already snatch river pride from scorocoro ( no way scorocoro can defeat them), every now and then stealing kill from Birmingham breakaway males and chase them away and possibly they will create some trouble for skorro and mayambulas.
Only time will tell. The Birmingham breakaway are still youngs to compete with the Vuyela males. But in a near future they’ll be a force to be reckoned with. Numbers are in their side too. Let’s see what will happens
3/5 vuyela males are in mayambulas/ skorro territory. They are roaring, scent marking and mating with river pride lionesses.
Hard time for mayambulas. Their cubs already down to 11 ( earlier they were 17).
Before coming on the drive after a couple of days without guests, I had heard that the Birmingham male lions had killed a zebra very close to Nkhari Homestead, but they had been chased off by two of the Vuyela males. The Sark Breakaway Pride had also been found the day before moving south off of our boundary as they continue to expand their range deeper into the Timbavati, but fortunately, they had returned and were my first port of call upon returning to drive. We spent some time with the four lionesses and their five youngsters but despite being empty-bellied, they didn’t get up to too much. Dale was staying at Nkhari for the night and managed to find the pride in a much fatter state close to Nkhari the next morning, and with the remains of a zebra not far off, we can assume that this is what had filled them up so much. The pride was with two males, and another two were resting off not 200m away. In the afternoon we followed two of the males back to the pride and what a treat it is to see a pride with such strong dominant males and such potential to grow into another super pride. The pride ended up sleeping in the same spot for 36 hours, but after that, they did venture back to the north. These were not the only lions that reunited this week; all six Birmingham Breakaway males were found together for the first time in a couple of months and were not too far from the Sark Pride and the Vuyelas; fortunately, the parties passed within 2km of one another without being aware of the other. On my last drive of the week, I headed to the east for a change of scenery, and got lucky when a portion of the Mayambula Pride was found; it looked like 4-5 females and 9 sub-adults; they too looked as if they had had a meal the night before.
