Other male lion coalitions from Masai Mara

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(02-04-2023, 12:27 AM)Tr1x24 Wrote:

(02-03-2023, 09:52 PM)Mwk85 Wrote: Morani has been seen again and he's still with the Rekero boy.

How old is he exactly, 14,15?

I noticed that Mara lions usually have a bit longer lifespan then Kruger lion (ofc those who make it to old age ), is it purely because they treat them?

I also notice that there is way less sick lions then in Kruger, looks like disease's like TB and similar are not as common there.

I think it's a multifactorial thing and I agree with BigLion39, but I'll go further than that. The prey-supply is highly better here than in the Kruger and so in the southern parts, because of great migration mainly. And this may also be the explanation for the successfull avoidance of TB- and other diseases too. In advance, Mara lions have to hunt just buffalos significantly less often/times than the Kruger lions as there are countless other animals too (zebras, wildebeest etc.) Furthermore, with their great migration, the possibily occuring sick individuals could fall away very soon, which would be cleaned up by the scavengers while lions can hunt for healthy individuals in the endless plains. So, it can be explained also by the richer food-supply and i think this is primarily why Serengeti (including Crater) and Masai Mara lion populations have simply larger and bulkier appearances than Kruger lions. These male lions also have longer and thicker manes (especially in the top of their heads) in general, but I don't think that they are highly bigger too than Southern males, just have a 'richer appearance'. However, the lionesses also could be look more bulkier but they can actually be qiute larger too - not just by eye - than Kruger females i think.

Even Kruger male lions can make to such an old age, although very rarely. For example, there are the 2 old Shishangaan males who also will be 15 this year if i'm correct. And - if we're speaking of infamous males - Makhulu also reached 15, while he had a very busy life in a sinister coalition in Central SS and not without dangers.

Anyway, very great to see Morani again and he is still in good shape for a roughly 15-year-old male lion in the wild! Reply