Lions of Sabi Sands

[WildLeonis]

(01-03-2022, 08:31 PM)1ofCourage Wrote:

(01-03-2022, 11:15 AM)Wyld@Heart Wrote:

(01-03-2022, 04:25 AM)Mdz123 Wrote: Can these cubs get accepted by DM in case the females return to the main pride? I know he didnt mate with the lionesses but its his pride technically

That ship has sailed for Dark Mane, I'm afraid. Nothing is impossible but realistically these females see S8 as the more viable mate and he has taken that part of the territory. Lions don't work in technicalities; they're no longer Dark Mane's pride at this moment in time and the lionesses won't take their cubs near him or let him near them unless he makes a comeback which, as stated before, is not impossible and if a comeback does take place it is likely he will not tolerate them.

I always think in terms of 3 years.  For instance, can DM reign another 3 years to protect another batch of cubs?
I think lionesses think like that too in some way.
Dark Mane may be in terrible pain now.  He is always sitting or sleeping as if it's his only peace. I don't think that he can hunt either, only scavenge.
I really like DM a lot, but I don't think he could make it another 3 years to raise and protect cubs.
How he's made it this far with that bum ankle has been amazing!  The amount of walking he's done, day after day with possible arthritis, is a testimony to his sheer determination.
He went to his brothers when he needed help with S8 to no avail.
He knows his limitations and abilities.

On average I think it’s said that male lions stay with a pride for about three years before moving on or being pushed out by new lions. I don’t think it helps matters that DM is on his own. I can’t imagine any lone lion even if 100% with no injuries hanging on to a pride for more than three years. Being apart of a coalition definitely increases the odds significantly. 

Regarding DM, he may be injured but I wouldn’t say he’s useless when it comes to hunting. He helped the Talamatis take down a Buffalo last year, was witnessed taking down an impala right in front of a lodge last year as well, tried to take down a baby elephant and might’ve succeeded had mom and aunties hadn’t come along to chase him off.  He’s chased leopards up trees in recent months and I’m sure have had other successful hunts that of which we are not aware. I’m sure his paw still gives him the business, being sore and stiff, but as you said yourself it does not stop him from walking great distances. With regards to sleeping so much, that is just par for the course with lions. As they are only active for a very short window (3-4 hours) out the day and that’s mostly at dawn and dusk and spend the other 20-21 hours of the day resting and sleeping which is pretty much DM’s pattern.

All that said, it will be interesting to see how things evolve with him over the next few months. I doubt he’ll rejoin his brothers and I don’t know how long he’ll be able to hold the subadults. But then again as James Hendry used to say, Lions (heck none of the animals in the Bush) read the studies about themselves. Ha ha. So anything can happen at this point. Reply