Lions of Sabi Sands

[book1206]

Is this the new boy?  Picture taken by Sep ,2022




some information about Orpen males  (from youtube).  This new boy could be grandson of Matimba.

The bond of Junior & Buddy until Death
- Junior was born to Nkuhuma pride in mid 2012. He was sired by legendary Matimba coalition. Junior was the sole male cub of his peer group in the Nkuhuma pride. His first years were relatively peaceful. But everything changed with the arrival of Birmingham Boys.
In 2015, five Birmingham males arrived in the northern Sabi Sands and ousted the two Southern Matimbas Hairy Belly and Ginger. They wreaked havoc and killed three Nkuhuma lionesses (including Junior´s mother) and some cubs.
As a young sub-adult male, Junior remained with his natal pride as long as possible. But when BBoys settled with Nkuhuma pride, he had no options except leave the pride once and for all.
Being expelled to a nomadic life, Junior found a loyal partner in a slightly younger, nervous male, who was almost certainly not unrelated to him. This male would be later known as Buddy. During this time the Nkuhuma descendant got his nicknames: Junior Matimba (the coalition who sired him), Ndhuna Jr (probably his father) and Junior Nkuhuma (his natal pride).
What had started as a duo simply born out of necessity had finally ended up as a successful coalition that would become one of the most dominant forces in the Manyeleti game reserve.

The two young males were seen in the Manyeleti and in the Kruger national park before they managed to settle and establish themselves around Orpen gate in the KNP. So they were widely known as the Orpen males. In 2018 they took over the Skorro pride and sired cubs. In early 2019, openings in the Manyeleti and some pressure from an oposing coalition made the two males to move into the Manyeleti game reserve. Eventually they became more established there and took control over the Nharhu and Koppies prides. Over the years these two males fought and defeated many other coalitions who tried to took over their territory.

In mid 2020, "Buddy" sustained a hip injury that saw him lose condition quite quickly, however Junior remained in fine condition. The tragedy strucks in  November of the same year: Junior was seen with an facial injury that resulted in a massively swollen face. Rumours said that he was bitten by a snake (possibly by a Black Mamba).  After he died on the 3rd December, it was approved that he had Anthrax in his system.
The death of Junior who lately had been the driving force of the coalition marks the end of the reign of the Orpen male lions. Since Buddy was suffering from a leg  and hip injury, his condition deteriorated rapidly after he lost Junior and his pride. Being no more dominant Buddy had no protection and food from the pride and he died shortly after his comrad.
And considering many male lions do not make it being territorial, Junior managed to do something not many young males could manage to do.
A legendary son of a legendary coalition. His story is one is of the fascinating one which intrigues every lion enthusiast on the planet. Reply

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