Other male lion coalitions from Masai Mara

[Tshokwane]

Great Plains Conservation:
The plot thickens. We've just found one of the intruders on his own out on the plains. If the intruders have been split up and Romeo only has to fight one of them, then there's still a good chance for this pride. The intruders don't know this territory and won't know how many lions are in it. They will be careful that they don't bite off more than they can chew. With everyone split up and potentially at risk, they won't be calling either so as not to bring unwanted attention. It doesn't make finding an ally easy though.

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We have found Romeo! This was not an easy spot. He's in a very uncomfortable position up a tree that is far too small for him. Maasai Mara lions are definitely not known for their tree-climbing abilities. For a lion this big to take refuge here must have meant that the threat was extreme. From what we can see he looks completely unharmed but highly uncomfortable. We have to admit that it looks like the new males may well take this territory. If so there will be tough times ahead for Romeo. Wild spaces aren't as big as they used to be. There are few places that he can go. The territories around this one are all occupied and then people become more prevalent. This drama is certainly bringing home this fact to us. We need many more protected wild areas.

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We've sat with Romeo for a while but he's staying put. He's so uncomfortable and keeps shifting around but seems to feel that he's safer where he is. We've just heard though that there are two more lions on the scene! There had been earlier speculation that a pair called Blackie and Lipstick were the intruders. We've discounted that but it now seems that the true Blackie and Lipstick, having heard all the commotion have come to this same stretch of forest to investigate what is happening. This is unbelievable. 6 male lions in one area? How on earth is this going to end? We're going to see if we can find them.

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