History's most brutal killers, the Majingilane Male Lions

[Tshokwane]

I will let the ranger from Londolozi Sean Cresswell to answer this.

This is one of the comments below the week in pictures post, the emphasis in bold is mine:

Although the two Matimba males were separated by quite a distance for several days following the Majingilane’s arrival, tracks indicated that they were together at the start of the night and during the encounter. In previous sightings involving a convergence of the two coalitions we have observed the clear determination and eagerness to attack by dark maned Majingilane; often seeing him leave the other two behind as he chases towards Matimba’s. Tracks indicated that one lion had been mauled severely before the Matimba split occurred. Therefore, dark maned Majingilane must have caught up to slowly fleeing Matimba’s, who saw him alone and both attacked for a brief time before the second and third Majingilane males caught up. This would’ve been enough time to inflict the injuries to him. Secondary injuries to another Majingilane male would have happened soon thereafter and the fight which progressed could have split the Matimba’s while the Majingilane regrouped.

And this are the two comments he left below Londolozi's post of the week in pictures in the facebook page:

it did also look like (from tracks on the road) both Matimba males got hold of dark mane Majingilane male at the same time. It was only the subsequent arrival of the other two which split the Matimba males during the night. All males still alive, both Matimba males together and well fed.

Yes the scuffle would have only lasted seconds between Matimba (2) and Majingilane (1) where we found blood, scat and mane on the road, similar to last fight. Without much physical mauling, just his presence would influence the fight and probably caused Majingilane male (1) to resort to fighting from his back; this may be when his mouth/chin and hind foot was bitten simultaneously. The rest becomes guesswork. The arrival of remaining Majingilane sent both Matimba's to split, and this may be when dark maned Matimba (HB) and scar nose Majingilane engaged while blonder Matimba escaped. That is our best analysis from the tracks early morning.

Can you see the difference now? There was no "psychological win" by the Matimba males or anything like that, they merely took advantage of the momentary upper hand they gained until Scar Nose and Golden Mane arrived and chased them away. The Majingilane spent the entire day in Londolozi while the Matimbas retreated south, so that alone should tell who was the victor of the encounter.

Now, with this new information, we can piece together what happened that night, and it's very interesting, because it shows that Black Mane clearly has no problem charging at the two Matimbas on his own. 

I really don't see why everyone has this idea that the Majingilane "have trouble" dealing with the Matimbas, when it's clear the Matimbas have to move away each time the Majingilane come to Londolozi, even when I don't think the Majingilane really want to take Londolozi back. Reply