Lions of Sabi Sands

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(01-26-2021, 11:10 PM)Tonpa Wrote: For those of you who been observiing sabi for a long time, is there any reason why the southern prides of sabi seem to do so much worse than the northern prides? Is it a lack of prey? Constant coalition male traffic?

When we talk about southern prides that in fact is only Southern Pride, Sparta pride moved south in 2017 as they got pushed by Kambulas (1 Sparta lioness got killed around that time, only 2 left and 1 was infertile) . Sand River pride was mostly in Kruger over the years, so i wouldn't count them in this category, they where quite stable pride, as Toulons where in charge for many years and after them Mantimahles and now S. Avocas,althrough some cubs/subadults where lost in takeovers. 

Southern Pride was such a big pride in the past, that it exterminated smaller prides around them like Charleston and Hildas Rock pride.. 

For Southern Pride, constant coalitions changes and takeovers in the past 10 years or so take it tool.. 

Toulons, KNP males, Sand Rivers, Fourways, Charlestons, where all dominant there since 2010 to 2017, which is 5 coalitions in 7 years (for comparison, Majingilanes where dominant for 8 years in central/western SS) and then on top of that Charlestons abandoned them in 2017 which led all their cubs to death.. 

Result of that is almost 0 female lions who reached adulthood in that time, and older ones died of, except current Southern Pride female,who was sired by Fourways. 

TL: DR
Southern region lacked big and stable male coalition over the years, like Majingilanes or Bboys where further north, i hope that N'waswitshakas can bring that and rebuild lion population in that area with Southern and Styx Prides aswell as S.Avocas with Sand Rivers. Reply