The Matimba coalition

[Tr1x24]

(05-07-2021, 01:53 AM)Duco Ndona Wrote: Yeah. Big coalitions are often just big disasters. 
They only really favour the top one or two males in the group. So the rest of the male lions are just foot soldiers that have to fight over scraps. As a result there is a lot of aggression within the group which then gets vented on the poor lionesses or cubs which are already struggling to feed themselves. 
With those numbers, the coalition can just take over every pride they want. So instead of getting a set small territory. They just hop prides, killing the males and the cubs while leaving the previous pride to rot. 

It may seem that they are succesfull. But most of the members are probably pretty miserable in it. 

So I am not that mournful when a big coalition falls apart. Or consider their size of territory or amount of prides taken over a measure off success. I think smaller coalitions of around 3 are far more optimal. They are big enough to defend themselves. But small enough for every member to get the spoils and keep aggression low.

The Matimbas were just smart enough to realize this too.

Well, almost all coalitions of 5+ males split after taking over their first territory and prides anyways.. 

You rarely see an established/already dominant coalition of 5+ males together conquering their next territory.. 

I think Jocks where the only ones recently, who went in conquest of their 2nd territory around Lower Sabie as 5 male coalition, and maybe Mpondos on Jock area, althrough im not sure if 5th Mpondo was with them,i think he was still back with Renosterkoppies pride. 

But i agree, 3-4 males is the most optimal. Reply