Othawa Pride

[Cath2020]

(02-25-2023, 10:38 PM)Mapokser Wrote: @Ttimemarti We do have ID photos of all 6 cubs. I think if the smaller female makes it, eventually someone will ID her with 100% confidence.

As for who was their grandfather/great-grandfather, I do believe it was Makhulu because the others were younger at the time and Makhulu dominated the mating to a point it was reported they believed he sired most of the Mapogos cubs and weren't certain if the other Mapogos were fathers by 2008.

The rangers can only see what goes on in the day at a specific time that constitutes about 5% of their lives, mating habits, etc...  Lots of additional daytime, and (probably most) at night are not accounted for.  Males cannot keep mating day in and day out.  In a coalition, there is sometimes one male that keeps dominating the others, but in a very large one of 4 or more, it is impossible to keep all one's brothers at bay to dominate all the females constantly.  Maybe in a duo or to some extent trio (for a limited time).  Plus, the females are going to have it in their best interests to mate with all the members for a spell to benefit their offspring.  These reserves who say such things never conduct scientific genetic tests to determine the distribution of paternity as it pertains to lion populations in Sabi Sands for a large coalition, to discover any trends, insights, interesting interpretations, etc...  None of the offspring really looked like him (keep in mind very few actually survived).  I believe most of his could have been killed off because of too many prides/fighting/takeovers...even amongst themselves.  Oddly, the 2  Othawa males who left deep into Kruger did not resemble him whatsoever.  But, then again, we do not know, maybe their looks would have significantly changed as adult males full of testosterone. Reply