Lion tales

[Gijima]

History of Southern Sabi Sands (2014-present) 
Credit: Anthony Hattingh/ Images: Sabi Sabi, Lion Sands

At the time of my arrival at Lion Sands, Sabi Sand in late 2014, there were four lion groups present in this territory: the Sand River coalition (three adult males who were dominant over three of the six Southern pride females); the Southern pride (six adult females, three of whom had broken off and become independent); the Hilda’s Rock pride (a single female and young male); and lastly the remnants of the Charleston pride (a single female and two subadult males). Within a year of my arrival, the Sand River males sired four cubs with the three Southern pride females. Then tragedy struck. A scarcity of food after three weeks of unsuccessful hunting left the Southern Pride females unable to produce milk for their young and too weak to defend them. The Sand River males, driven by hunger, killed all four of their cubs. This act drove the lionesses to leave the Sand River males and rejoin the other three Southern Pride females, becoming a group of six females again, without a dominant male presence.

*This image is copyright of its original author

(Sand River Coalition) 

During their search for the runaway Southern pride and seeking to re-establish their dominance, the Sand River coalition came across the Charleston pride. After chasing off the two subadult males the lone lioness was caring for, they successfully went on to mate and have two cubs with her. But it wasn’t long before things took another bad turn.
Advanced tuberculosis caused one of the males to weaken considerably, while another had his leg broken by a buffalo during a hunting attempt. This brought the Sand River coalition down to just one strong individual. It was at this time that two new players joined the field of battle: the Fourways coalition. These strong, young males took advantage of the weakened Sand River coalition and battled for control of the area and the Southern pride females. One of the Sand River males was killed in the confrontation; the other with tuberculosis ran off and likely succumbed to his illness, never to be seen again; while the third male was seen fleeing into the Kruger National Park, never to return to Lion Sands. The newly-established Fourways males were now in charge, but their two-month reign was short lived…

*This image is copyright of its original author

(Fourways Males) 

Out of sight and out of the commotion was a rising dominant power: the two young Charleston males, who would forever change the lion dynamics in the southern part of the Sabi Sand. These lions, who had been lying low since their brush with the Sand River males, were now bigger and more confident. It was their time to forge a legacy of their own. An overnight battle ensued, the Fourways males were chased off, and the Charleston males became the new kings of Lion Sands. The two males were easy to identify because the one, known as Mazino, meaning ‘tooth’ in the local Shangaan language, had a canine tooth that hung out of his lower jaw. It’s believed that sometime between 2014 and 2015, the pair was out hunting giraffe when Mazino was kicked in the jaw by one, knocking out his bottom tooth, which managed to hang on by a bit of gum. This look made the Charleston males a very distinguishable coalition.

*This image is copyright of its original author

 (Charleston Males) 

Quickly, the Charleston males and Southern pride females established themselves as the dominant pride in 2015. Any competing prides were attacked and chased off. Wisely, the Charleston female took her two cubs and hid them from her nephews, out of fear that they might kill little ones (having been fathered by the Sand River males).
It was during this time that the Charleston males attempted to kill the young Hilda’s Rock male, but were thwarted by the Hilda’s Rock lioness who sprung to his defence. This act of motherly love cost her her life as the Charleston males turned their frustration and fury towards her. The young Hilda’s Rock male escaped, but found himself alone and with the odds set against him.

In his search for security, the Hilda’s Rock male found the Charleston lioness and her two young male cubs. Of course, her first reaction was to treat the subadult male with distrust and almost immediately chased him off. But the young Hilda’s rock male persisted and little by little, she began to tolerate his presence. Over time, he moved closer and closer to the group, until one day the cubs approached him and he treated them like his own siblings. Thus, the Charleston pride gained another member and the Hilda’s Rock male foundsupport and protection. But the entire ordeal led to the Hilda’s Rock male losing his mane due to stress and it took months for it to grow back.

*This image is copyright of its original author

 (Hilda's Rock Male/ Charleston Pride)

During this time, tragedy struck the Southern pride females when one of the lionesses was caught in a snare while patrolling the Kruger National Park. We attempted to remove the snare, but sadly she passed away while under anaesthetic. This left the Southern pride with five females. The year 2017 brought one of the worst droughts in recent years to hit South Africa. This was the boom period for the Charleston males and the Southern pride females as the group of seven took full advantage of the weakened state of the prey around them. Soon, fifteen cubs were born! This brought their pride’s numbers up to an impressive 22 members – at the time, making them one of the largest prides in the Sabi Sand. With the Charleston males in control, they ruled without competition or fear. But one night, everything changed again…

*This image is copyright of its original author

 (Charleston male with cubs)

One evening in the early summer of 2018, the Charleston males heard the call of an intruder coming from their territory on the other side of the Sabie River. Quickly, they ran to confront this possible new threat, but what they were not aware of was that the Sabie River was slowly rising. When they returned to cross back over the river, they found themselves stuck. They called to their pride and the lionesses came with the cubs and stood on the opposite bank, calling back. This continued for a few days, until the males were forced to find food on their side of the river. In their search, they came across another pride of fertile females and no dominant males. This led to the Charleston males staying on and mating with the new females. Even when the river lowered, the Charleston males spent more time on the other side with this new pride. Over time, they eventually abandoned the Southern pride and moved further into the Kruger National Park.

During that time, which none of us expected, the Charleston males also attacked the Charleston pride! The Charleston lioness stood her ground and defended not only her two cubs, but also the adopted Hilda’s Rock male who was no match for the massive Charleston males. Yet again, we were saddened by the passing of a protective mother. Thankfully, her young lions escaped and with the Hilda’s Rock male to look out for them, their chances of survival were a little stronger.

*This image is copyright of its original author

 (Hilda's Rock Male & Charleston cub) 

Following the abandonment of the Charleston males, the Southern pride were left to fend for themselves, with no males to help bring down large prey or protect their cubs from other male lions who came into their home territory. And this is when the Avoca males came into the game…These two males, born in 2013, were from the Avoca pride in the Timbavati. They became nomadic in 2016, pushing further and further south in search of a territory of their own. As a coalition of only two, their chances of taking over territories controlled by larger coalitions were slim. After arriving at Lion Sands, it was a good full year before they made any kind of territorial stand.

*This image is copyright of its original author

 (Young Avocas)

But this new presence was a threat to the Southern pride who retreated further west towards the fence line, where they had some cover from the unexpected invaders. Until another presence appeared… The N’waswishaka pride. Pressed from all sides now, the Southern pride took a gamble that would lead to their ultimate demise: they left their established territory and pushed north. This mistake walked them right into a hostile pride that quickly descended on them. The outcome of the battle left us shocked, for what was once a 12 to 15-strong pride, was brutally reduced to just four and then three survivors: an older female (who succumbed to her wounds a few weeks later), one subadult female, one subadult male, and one young female. So ended the reign of the Southern pride on Lion Sands.

Meanwhile in the Kruger National Park, one of the young Charleston males became a victim of a snare. Yet again we stepped in, but it was too late. This was tragic news, as the brother of this male was now alone with no companion to stand with. Thankfully, the Hilda’s Rock male returned and took him under his wing – also with the help of another older male known as Solo. Off the three ventured together to find a new home deeper in the Kruger.

With all the previous prides in the area gone, the Avoca males began to establish themselves as the dominant presence in Lion Sands. The Avocas would roar in confidence – until one day, they got a thundering roar back, coming from along the Sabie River. The Avocas had caught the ears of the old kings of Lion Sands. The Charleston males charged back into Lion Sands, sending the Avocas running east. This moment of excitement for the return of the old kings was short lived with the Charleston males leaving as quickly as they had arrived. It would be a long while before we saw them in Lion Sands again. Afterwards it took some time, but the Avocas re-established themselves as the dominate presence on Lion Sands. There was just one problem: a distinct lack of females in the southern part of the Sabi Sand. We had two kings with no queens.
This caused them to wander further east and eventually they came across the Eyrefield pride on a neighbouring property, Toulon. It was here along the Sand River that the Charleston males established themselves. They became dominant over the Eyrefield pride, with who they have one surviving cub. They are now also dominant over the Sand River pride and have six cubs between the three females. We seldom see them anymore on our property, which left a vacant throne.

*This image is copyright of its original author

 (Lone Sparta Female & cub) 

Three young, strong lions known as the Tsalala males briefly came into the area and set about establishing themselves, but this was short lived. Two of the males tragically died by a faulty power line in the Kruger National Park. A giraffe had walked into the power line and was electrocuted. Unaware of the danger, the two males had approached and attempted to feed, but they too were electrocuted as the giraffe was still touching the line.

*This image is copyright of its original author

 (Tsalala Males) 

But the throne never sits empty for long… Soon, there were new players in the game: the N’waswishaka males (now independent from the N’waswishaka pride). These four males gained a reputation for being frustrating to track and find. They tended to retreat into a very dense sickle bush thicket, which made off-roading and locating them nearly impossible. This behaviour inspired a new name for their coalition: the ‘Ndhzenga’ males (meaning sickle-bush) after their fondness for that area. Getting these males to relax around us required a lot of perseverance by both the guides and trackers, but eventually they became more comfortable with our vehicles. The Ndzhenga males are now the dominant presence in Lion Sands, but there have been some interesting developments since my return following lockdown…

*This image is copyright of its original author

 (Ndhzenga/ N'waswitshala Males) 

There is a new group of queens, the Styx pride (four lionesses and two subadult males) on the scene and for the time being, it looks like the Ndzhenga males are interested in taking this pride over (they have been seen mating). One of the Styx males has been chased off (and presumed dead) and if the Ndzhenga’s do stick with the Styx, who knows what the future holds for the remaining subadult males within this pride.


The ‘game of thrones’ and battle for the Lion Sands, Sabi Sand kingdom continues…
Reply