Lions of Sabi Sands

[RookiePundit]

I just caught up with the news and this thread. We all suspected Othawa won't have a long reign over Mhangenis, but nobody would have guessed it would end so soon and abruptly. But it really seems it was done by his own doing. He played with fire venturing towards Birmingham territory and female(s) in Londolozi if he crossed even to Mala Mala... It is ironic that most likely the female he ventured in for is the infertile Kambula, so that endeavour would be fruitless anyway.

I can't help but smirk at Londolozi with their ongoing narrative of Birminghams being old and week and lion warfare is imminent and coming soon. Well, they got their warfare just not the way they wanted as they just lost the most photogenic individual frequenting their area.

Mhangeni pride seems cursed. Their cub raising record post Kabula ntsevu (ie six) won't get any better anytime soon, they were capable of losing cubs without males being involved and now the current cubs are doomed. I am sorry for the cubs, but the change in dynamic Othawa loss would cause (and we can't rule out it triggering more, depending how numerous coalition moves in and possibly shift their territory as Mhangeni females are not too few) might be for the better. It was always when rather than if Othawa's rule would end giving his cubs possibly too short window to make it and another thing is Othawa was too related to the lionesses through Mapogo and Majingilane bloodlines, whoever replaces him should be an improvement genetic wise.

Who could move in? Considering the number of cubs in the pride, the lionesses might fierce defend them (or split) which would make it a tougher takeover for young nomadic males chancing on the opportunity. Of those Plain Camp males might be currently closest to the area, it might be to early for them despite being of promising size, which is bit of a shame as they come from outside of Sabi Sands and Mantimahles' bloodline is unrelated to those ubiquitous there. Styx and Nkuhuma would be another suspects although they might be more south now, they have a sister in the pride (I am not completely sure how related they are trough their mothers) but it would be an improvement genetic diversity wise. Othawa youngsters are content sitting where they are I would say, Torchwood Youg Male is too far so far. I would rather see some of those nomads joining together than becoming dominant now with low numbers, especially the young Trochwood male.


But already dominant coaliton can move in.

Ndzhengas were already there, added to loss of two (iirc) cubs in some manner and should be ready and able to force their way in next time they travel north. They are finishing this round of producing cubs with Styx pride and the Souther female and might look elsehwere. The downside is they might neglect or out right abandon the aforementioned four lionesses and their cubs, we don't how they operate yet; Mhangeni pride alone has more females than those two prides. Let's hope that would not happen we already technically lost one pride in the south this year, that area could use bigger lion numbers. The upside is ofc NW's being unrelated to anyone afaik and would bring fresh blood to interwined Sabi Sand population, especiallly fittign in case of Mhangeni pride that consisted of females of different ages sired by some major coalitions of central Sabi Sands, pretty much all recent really in having Mapogo, Majingilanes and Brimingham daughters. The other great thing would be the colaition of this size should provide stability and time for Mahangenis getting their thing together and actually start reliably rasing cubs. Although if that would mean NW's shifting their territory more to the north, they might bacome dangerous for other coalitions around them later, namely Tumbelas and Northern Avocas, hard to tell what can happen with lions.

Tumbelas might realize nobody is roaring to their east or rather being done with producing Othawa pride cubs they might look for more. Although if the third female would not be able to conceive and/or Sassy's daughter comes back and goes into oestrus in appropriate time manner, they might still be preoccupied with females there. They still seems to be licking their old wounds, althought it seems their condition is getting better. I still think and hope they will stay put and help to rebuild the Othawa pride and won't boxed in and eventually invided by stronger coalition. Hoping for Thand Impi sons having some peaceful time for a change.

Avocas -  I would not rule out them realizing there is no roaring from Singita/Londolozi and investigate. Mohawk is eager to lately and I could see him mating with cubs free females while the rest is hiding instead of takover attempt with territor shift. Blondie in tow possibly. That might divert their focus from Mala Mala and Kambulas to some extent even. Long shot but I could even see Dark Mane stumbling onto the situation dodging Talamatis and futily looking for Nkuhumas toawrds the west, but I don't know what would make him walk so far west (thus Manghenis might moved a bit dodging other males).

Birminghams  - obviously they know Othawa is gone better than anyone else, but I can't see them spreading too thin and go for even more area and getting back to Mhangenis. I could see them going that way if they would get pushed out, which doesn't seem that likely short term, but things can change overnight in unexpected way in lion dynamics so who knows, accidents and diseases happen all the time.

It might also be some males outside of Sabi Sands, wandering through, nobody expected Tumbelas after all and Plain Camps are new to northern Sabi Sands. But most likely we wouldn't know them in advance coming from the Kruger itself, the closest coalition that might be on the move that comes to mind would be Tintswalos in central Manyeleti. Besides S8/Imbali male who I don't even try to guess what he will be up to in near future.

After all, it is shame we lost such a specimen, from photographic point especially it gonna take some time to have a male of that looks, lack of scar and rough look. And crazy long mane. Before Othawa, Nhenha was often considered the most handsome male in Sabi Sands. Interesting twist of fate that the latter was involved in the fall of the former. Nhenha is looking good strenght and condition wise but he already looks rough as well, I guess we have to wait if his likely son, Torchwood  Young Male arises to something one day. Till then we gonna have awesome lions in Sabi Sands in more brutish, powerful way. Reply