There is a world somewhere between reality and fiction. Although ignored by many, it is very real and so are those living in it. This forum is about the natural world. Here, wild animals will be heard and respected. The forum offers a glimpse into an unknown world as well as a room with a view on the present and the future. Anyone able to speak on behalf of those living in the emerald forest and the deep blue sea is invited to join.
(07-13-2020, 10:42 PM)Cath2020 Wrote: I don't think in this case it was entirely natural. He was rejoining his own coalition, members that accepted him, then he quietly went about eliminating his own kin. I think there were 11 of the cubs? And yes, after that, is when he got the nickname "Satan." A nickname very apt and fitting.
It's rare but not that exceptional. Matimba's are documented in one case killing cubs they had sired. In NG's Wild Kingdom Sikikama killed his sub-adult son. Those are instances where a camera was around and someone to document it.
Actually infanticide is still common among humans, so I don't see why a lion doing it is so out of normal.
Common in humans? I disagree, but we're not here to argue that point. And I'm aware that infanticide is common in lions, generally speaking.
I tend to think that animals are a bit smarter and more aware than we give them credit for. The fact that Satan committed infanticide in the way he did, to the extent he did, is a bit over-the-top. I just find it ironic that his coalition brothers calmly accepted him back into the fold without even a nip or fuss.....and he turns around and "re-pays" them by killing their own cubs. At that point, they were aware that they couldn't really make a big fight out of it since they had already accepted him back, therefore they had to almost accept what he did later on by default. They probably didn't anticipate he would systematically eliminate their progeny. After all, what is a coalition for, their very reason to exist, if not to protect and promote their own bloodline??? Unfortunate for the Mapogo coalition as a whole, too, because some of their 11 cubs could have formed future coalitions and they were probably the last chance for any male lions to survive. In addition, we could have had more lionesses from them than the rather paltry numbers they ended up being considering they conquered at least 9 prides and took over 80% of Sabi Sands. They should have had many, many more surviving offspring. It's very odd....even considering the fate of the 11 cubs sired by 4 of them.