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Lions of Sabi Sands
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 (01-02-2021, 06:57 AM)felinefan Wrote: [quote pid='136628' dateline='1609525026']All the focus of late seems to be on HB and the Othawa pride. What is happening with the Ntsevu pride? With new cubs in the pride, has there been any change in the pride dynamics? Is a split in this large pride on the cards? Are some of the sub-adults ready to leave the pride? An update would be great. [/quote] From MAla Mala November raport: Sightings of this pride are down from last month. This is expected at this time of the year with surface water across the area and dispersed prey species. The pride didn't venture far into the eastern parts of their territory this month with their distribution being mainly west of the Sand River. As was the case last month, the pride has remained Split. The lioness with the youngest cubs spent the majority of her time away from the pride with her cubs. Members of the pride linked up with her occasionally. Unfortunately one of the cubs did not make it through the month, succumbing to the mange they have contracted. *Mange is a skin disease that is caused by a parasitic mite. This condition is natural and is prevalent in the lion population of the area. Mange takes over, and the effects are noticeable when an individual’s immune system is compromised. Currently, the Kambula pride has 21 members. Prides this large are generally under significant pressure, especially now during the wet season with dispersed prey species. The young cubs are also in a transitional phase from suckling to feeding on solids. Therefore, their body and immune systems are under further stress and are showing signs of this disease the worst. Mange is a natural phenomenon in the lion population, and therefore, we do not intervene. The lion population in the area is at capacity, and consequently, this is nature’s way to control for that.* A few of the adult lionesses were seen mating at the beginning of the month, with the Gowrie males predominantly but also with the Northern Avoca males. The Two Gowrie males were seen with members of the pride in 19 of the 39 sightings. Members of the Kambula pride were seen on all but three days (2nd, 28th & 29th) of the month. Notable events for the month were: One of the lionesses was mating with a Gowrie male at Mlowathi koppies on the 3rd. On the 5th a lioness was mating with the Northern Avoca males in the area of Mlowathi dam. On the evening of the 5th, we witnessed the two lionesses with the youngest cubs, make a waterbuck kill at the booms to MalaMala and Sable camps. The following day they'd brought the four cubs to the kill, and the six lions spent the following three days with the kill, occasionally drinking from the waterhole in front of rooms 25 & 26. The lioness with the youngest cub was mating with a Gowrie male on the Airstrip on the 11th, a clear indication she is no longer lactating. The bulk of the pride killed an adult kudu bull on the southern bank of the Manyelethi River west of Bicycle crossing on the 17th. The majority of the pride and the two Gowrie males were hunting impala on the 23rd when one of the sub-adult females managed to catch an impala lamb and get away from the rest of the pride to enjoy the spoils for herself. On the 25th the lioness with the youngest three cubs (at this stage) had a young impala male kill east of west street crossing while another lioness had an impala kill of her own in the Matshapiri River south of Matshapiri open area. link to the full raport: https://www.malamala.com/uploads/files/11.-MALAMALA-GAME-RESERVE-GAME-REPORT-November-2020-GNS.pdf and the video from same peroid of time: |
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