Lions of Sabi Sands

[Cath2020]

(02-12-2024, 08:22 AM)Ttimemarti Wrote: Oh ok ok so close to 4 years old so a little over 3 in a half years old so why is it that it took the talamati girls and kambula Birmingham daughters to their 5th birthday to have their first cubs it’s it just a situation/ maturity thing

We don't know why some females are more fecund than others.  Could be due to a combination of genetics, the males they attract, and environment.  The Gijimas did themselves a BIG favor by not chasing off or killing the young Southern Pride Lionesses' daughters when she first got to know them.  They almost certainly would have done that with any sons instead.  This earned them more breeding partners (if they were patient, and they were) and offspring overall.  Most coalitions would probably have not tolerated them.  Case in point, even the N'was did not tolerate the one remaining 2 year old sub of the B'ham Boys after their mother, a Kambula Lioness, later rejoin the pride!  She was even older at that point than the Southern Pride daughters were.  The PC Males killed the last daughter of the OM at around the same age.  

Then there's the confidence of the Southern Lionesses in entrusting her offspring into the care of the Gijimas.  The males subconsciously knew the daughters were no threat to their reproducing and mating with her, so they tolerated them.  They did more than that.  They were a close-knit group up until the males started to also share their time with the Talamati Lionesses.  

We didn't see that with the Othawa Male and the 2 Majing. Daughters though.... They were very close, but for some reason, one of them never reproduced with him, but finally did with the PC Males.  Big Boy's sister got pregnant and became a mother at 7 for the first time despite spending years with the OM.  Why?  We'll never know exactly.  Attraction?  Hormones kicked in late? Reply