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Lions of Sabi Sands

United Kingdom Tonpa Offline
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( This post was last modified: 09-18-2023, 07:16 PM by Tonpa )

Sand River cub got caught by Nkhulu Males
by Ecksonsithole

*This image is copyright of its original author

*This image is copyright of its original author



This is their one and only cub in the pride right?
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Croatia Tr1x24 Offline
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(09-18-2023, 07:15 PM)Tonpa Wrote: This is their one and only cub in the pride right?

Yea i think only 1 cub was left.

So sad to witness this.
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United States BA0701 Offline
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(09-18-2023, 07:46 PM)Tr1x24 Wrote:
(09-18-2023, 07:15 PM)Tonpa Wrote: This is their one and only cub in the pride right?

Yea i think only 1 cub was left.

So sad to witness this.

Wasn't there some subs in that pride as well?
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United Kingdom Cath2020 Offline
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( This post was last modified: 09-18-2023, 08:07 PM by Cath2020 )

Those 2-2.5 year old leftover subs, male or female, better run and run far and wide!  The 5 Nkhulus mean serious killing business.  They've been killing the Sand River Pride in different moments since trying to take it over.  There were originally 6 subs just barely 2 years old from the June/July 2021 litters, so they just might be old enough to fend for themselves if they stick together.  There is an older male, I think he was seen on his own in one footage, very skittish of the jeep he passed.   

I hated what happened to that lone cub, yet I knew it was only a matter of time....what with so many males trying to take over, plus not being able to outrun adult lions at under a year old!  Still never gets easy to see.  I guess he was the last impediment to the remaining older lioness maybe coming into heat much sooner since he was only 9-10 months.  His only hope would have been sheer luck and the ability to hide if the pride gets found.  No hope with an ambush and zero protection from his sires.
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Tylermartin! Offline
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I believe the pride has 8 or 10 members now… does anyone know how many adult females? I know at least 3 young males
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United States BA0701 Offline
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(09-18-2023, 08:05 PM)Cath2020 Wrote: Those 2-2.5 year old leftover subs, male or female, better run and run far and wide!  The 5 Nkhulus mean serious killing business.  They've been killing the Sand River Pride in different moments since trying to take it over.  There were originally 6 subs just barely 2 years old from the June/July 2021 litters, so they just might be old enough to fend for themselves if they stick together.  There is an older male, I think he was seen on his own in one footage, very skittish of the jeep he passed.   

I hated what happened to that lone cub, yet I knew it was only a matter of time....what with so many males trying to take over, plus not being able to outrun adult lions at under a year old!  Still never gets easy to see.  I guess he was the last impediment to the remaining older lioness maybe coming into heat much sooner since he was only 9-10 months.  His only hope would have been sheer luck and the ability to hide if the pride gets found.  No hope with an ambush and zero protection from his sires.

I knew they had killed the one sub back in the beginning, and ate her if I recall correctly. You answered my question, thank you. I was wondering if the other subs were still with us. It is times like this, when following lions is at it's most difficult. As you said, once the S Avocas left, knowing they had already killed at least one sub, it was just a matter of time, and the littlest just cannot keep up when the pride flees.
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United Kingdom Tonpa Offline
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The cub staring directly into the camera while the male looms above it is probably the saddest thing I've ever seen in the this community
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United Kingdom Cath2020 Offline
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(09-18-2023, 08:25 PM)BA0701 Wrote:
(09-18-2023, 08:05 PM)Cath2020 Wrote: Those 2-2.5 year old leftover subs, male or female, better run and run far and wide!  The 5 Nkhulus mean serious killing business.  They've been killing the Sand River Pride in different moments since trying to take it over.  There were originally 6 subs just barely 2 years old from the June/July 2021 litters, so they just might be old enough to fend for themselves if they stick together.  There is an older male, I think he was seen on his own in one footage, very skittish of the jeep he passed.   

I hated what happened to that lone cub, yet I knew it was only a matter of time....what with so many males trying to take over, plus not being able to outrun adult lions at under a year old!  Still never gets easy to see.  I guess he was the last impediment to the remaining older lioness maybe coming into heat much sooner since he was only 9-10 months.  His only hope would have been sheer luck and the ability to hide if the pride gets found.  No hope with an ambush and zero protection from his sires.

I knew they had killed the one sub back in the beginning, and ate her if I recall correctly. You answered my question, thank you. I was wondering if the other subs were still with us. It is times like this, when following lions is at it's most difficult. As you said, once the S Avocas left, knowing they had already killed at least one sub, it was just a matter of time, and the littlest just cannot keep up when the pride flees.

I think it was a male sub they ate and killed....as well as one of the older Rollercoaster Daughters.  Now, since we haven't gotten an update on the pride in months and months, this could be increased significantly.... Judging by how aggressive they are getting rid of the competition, I wouldn't be surprised if more of them already got caught and killed.  

So, the confirmed kills of the Nkhulus of the SR Pride is now both the little cubs, one older lioness, and an older sub male (I believe).  That's a lot.  Maybe more once they get a full headcount in the future.....but who knows when this will be.  They are going full out Mapogo on this vulnerable, unprotected pride.  Wonder if the Plains Camp Pride is being spared their wrath and takeover attempts???
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United Kingdom Cath2020 Offline
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(09-18-2023, 08:18 PM)Tylermartin! Wrote: I believe the pride has 8 or 10 members now… does anyone know how many adult females? I know at least 3 young males


Seems like more subs were caught then, if this count is correct...OR some of the lionesses have decided to lure the males away.

There are 5 breeding age females...one older, 2 Mantemahle Daughters (not thrilled with them mating with their half bros in the future....oh well), and 2 S. Avoca Daughters...(one is of breeding age, but the other is between 3-3.5, so maybe almost)  I think one or two of the females have mated with a few of the males already....but not when all of them were together.  The takeover process is still not complete.
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Tylermartin! Offline
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(09-18-2023, 09:19 PM)Cath2020 Wrote:
(09-18-2023, 08:18 PM)Tylermartin! Wrote: I believe the pride has 8 or 10 members now… does anyone know how many adult females? I know at least 3 young males


Seems like more subs were caught then, if this count is correct...OR some of the lionesses have decided to lure the males away.

There are 5 breeding age females...one older, 2 Mantemahle Daughters (not thrilled with them mating with their half bros in the future....oh well), and 2 S. Avoca Daughters...(one is of breeding age, but the other is between 3-3.5, so maybe almost)  I think one or two of the females have mated with a few of the males already....but not when all of them were together.  The takeover process is still not complete.
Thank I know on a recent video I saw at least 3 young males all seemed pretty big definitely 3 in a half’s years old
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United Kingdom Cath2020 Offline
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( This post was last modified: 09-18-2023, 09:41 PM by Cath2020 )

(09-18-2023, 09:30 PM)Tylermartin! Wrote:
(09-18-2023, 09:19 PM)Cath2020 Wrote:
(09-18-2023, 08:18 PM)Tylermartin! Wrote: I believe the pride has 8 or 10 members now… does anyone know how many adult females? I know at least 3 young males


Seems like more subs were caught then, if this count is correct...OR some of the lionesses have decided to lure the males away.

There are 5 breeding age females...one older, 2 Mantemahle Daughters (not thrilled with them mating with their half bros in the future....oh well), and 2 S. Avoca Daughters...(one is of breeding age, but the other is between 3-3.5, so maybe almost)  I think one or two of the females have mated with a few of the males already....but not when all of them were together.  The takeover process is still not complete.
Thank I know on a recent video I saw at least 3 young males all seemed pretty big definitely 3 in a half’s years old

According to older Mala Mala Reports, there are no 3 males that old in the pride...  They would be just over 2.  Only one male over 3 is alive...(if the one killed was older...since initially there was two older ones)  An older S. Avoca male sub, looking very similar to the more dominant sire, was seen walking alone, quickly hurrying past the vehicle that was filming.  He had to flee, no doubt, so he might already be on his own, which would make sense.  Maybe he can team up with his younger brothers...or at least the Plains Camp sub that's his half sibling.
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Tylermartin! Offline
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(09-18-2023, 09:40 PM)Cath2020 Wrote:
(09-18-2023, 09:30 PM)Tylermartin! Wrote:
(09-18-2023, 09:19 PM)Cath2020 Wrote:
(09-18-2023, 08:18 PM)Tylermartin! Wrote: I believe the pride has 8 or 10 members now… does anyone know how many adult females? I know at least 3 young males


Seems like more subs were caught then, if this count is correct...OR some of the lionesses have decided to lure the males away.

There are 5 breeding age females...one older, 2 Mantemahle Daughters (not thrilled with them mating with their half bros in the future....oh well), and 2 S. Avoca Daughters...(one is of breeding age, but the other is between 3-3.5, so maybe almost)  I think one or two of the females have mated with a few of the males already....but not when all of them were together.  The takeover process is still not complete.
Thank I know on a recent video I saw at least 3 young males all seemed pretty big definitely 3 in a half’s years old

According to older Mala Mala Reports, there are no 3 males that old in the pride...  They would be just over 2.  Only one male over 3 is alive...(if the one killed was older...since initially there was two older ones)  An older S. Avoca male sub, looking very similar to the more dominant sire, was seen walking alone, quickly hurrying past the vehicle that was filming.  He had to flee, no doubt, so he might already be on his own, which would make sense.  Maybe he can team up with his younger brothers...or at least the Plains Camp sub that's his half sibling.

Oh they all looked much bigger than just 2 years old
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Croatia Tr1x24 Offline
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( This post was last modified: 09-19-2023, 12:57 AM by Tr1x24 )

(09-18-2023, 09:05 PM)Cath2020 Wrote: I think it was a male sub they ate and killed....as well as one of the older Rollercoaster Daughters.

There is no RC daughters, 2 oldest females are sired by Toulons.

I think its still unknown which of the 4 (5, as 2019 female is pretty much adult now at 4 yrs of age) adult females where killed.

Here is the latest sighting of SR subs near Skukuza 1 month ago :



I counted 10 members, including the small cub which was now killed (poor thing couldnt outrun them i guess).

Looks like no adult female with them.

So there should be 9 remaining subs, of which i definetly see 2 males (closest to the camera).

Majority of them are over 2 yrs old, so if they can avoid Nkulus, they could reach maturity, but more loses are prob inevitable.

This is very similar to 2019 S.Avocas takeover, 8-10 Mantimahle sired subs become nomadic at around same age, only 2 females succeeded (well, 2 males aswell, but they disappeared in Kruger at the age of 4).
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United States afortich Offline
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(09-18-2023, 07:15 PM)Tonpa Wrote: Sand River cub got caught by Nkhulu Males
by Ecksonsithole

*This image is copyright of its original author

*This image is copyright of its original author



This is their one and only cub in the pride right?

Damn, I hate this.
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Croatia Tr1x24 Offline
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( This post was last modified: 09-19-2023, 02:29 PM by Tr1x24 )

Video of Snip Tail Nkhulu killing last SR cub (not for sensitive viewers):



Saddest part is that mother was hopeless watching the whole thing, then sniffing the area where cub was and contact calling in the end. 

I think this is one of the oldest females, Toulons daughter.
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