The Mighty Mapogos

[Leo Aslan]

Lions of Africa - Othawa boys (2 males) 2007/08-unknown
Sabi Sands Game Reserve - South Africa
Ranger report: WANTED, THE OTHAWA BOYS!
..."Distinguished ladies and gentlemen,
I am a lion fan who is from the United States. I have been fascinated by them for many years. A story I had once read, when I was surfing online in my spare time, about the Mapogo Male Lion Coalition, talked about lions that were from Sabi Sand, South Africa. Since then, I have always been fascinated by them, especially the dominant lion, who had a legendary experience. He was known as the Lion King, Makhulu. On March 6th 2012 the Mapogo Coalition lost its battle for supremacy. They were replaced by the younger Selati Male Lion Coalition. I had sad tears at that moment, but I also realized and respected the alternation by the laws of nature. Love needs no reason, but love needs courage! For this unforgettable love I wished my favor of Mapogo (Mapogo’s sons, known as the Othawa boys) could extend to their male posterity. In order to find the nomadic Othawa Boys, who drift aimlessly in Kruger National Park, I started a most difficult task. I searched all the websites about Kruger National Park, and hoped I could find any information or photographs that would show me these two beautiful Othawa boys via tourists and photographers. Four years have now past, but I have found nothing. However, I have not given up and hope I can obtain help from others through this notice.
The Othawa Boys were born during the months of December 2007 and January 2008 to the Sabi Sand Othawa Lion Pride. They left Sabi Sand and made their way to Kruger. If they are still alive, they should be close to nine-years-old today. They were only four years old when they left Sabi Sand. Now that four to five years have passed, it will be difficult to recognize them according to their appearance in a photograph. It is known that the most effective way to identify a lion is tocomparea lione’is whisker pattern. I would like to offer 1000 USD (also 500 USD by the Mapogo Fans Fursan Syed and 1000 USD by Tee Mapogo, so a total of 2500 USD reward is offered on social media) as a reward to the person who could provide photos or video evidence of the two Othawa Boys with their clear whisker pattern. I will be very grateful to you for helping me attain my goal
Male Lions usually do not stay very far away from their birthplace when they are going to wander. They often pick a region or area that is near their birthplace. One of the last witnesses saw them south of Sabi Sand. So is it likely they live in the South of Sabi Sand Kruger region; like Skukuza restcamp, Phabeni Gate, Nkhulu, or Renosterkoppies for instance? Or do they live in the East Kruger region in Sabi Sand, or the MalaMala Game Reserve area? Who knows? These surmises are only based on my experience through the years, but I hope this information will be useful to the people who would like to help me. For this I am veryappreciative!" (Caspian Bryant 2016)
"The two Othawa male lions Othawa M and T, the only sons of the Mapogo lion coalition to survive to the nomadic stage, seen here leaving their maternal pride's territory and starting their true nomadic lion life. This would be the last time I ever saw them. The two young lions were seen a few times moving through the southern parts of the Sabi Sand after this, before heading into the Kruger National Park. Many people believe these lions to be alive and well in the Kruger but no photographs of any males currently match the whisker pattern of these two boys. Filmed in 2011 in the Sabi Sand Wildtuin, Greater Kruger National Park, South Africa." (Rob Vamplew)
The two males left their pride after tensions arose between them and their Mapogo fathers (Makhulu, Pretty boy and Mr. T). While they were roaming through Sabi Sands as nomads, they met the two Nkuhuma brothers, one of whom will later go down in history as Sizanani. It was reported that the two coalitions met on a buffalo kill and the Mapogo successors drove the two sons of Blondie and Dozie after a fight...

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