The Matimba coalition

[Fredymrt]

From tintswalo
Matimba males

Sunday, 15 July 2012
Credits: Darren Roberts-York


Another Greek Tradgedy

Just after morning coffee, we decided to slowly make our way back to the lodge. It was already after ten o’clock and started to warm up nicely. Little did we know what was in store for us before breakfast.


Mpho, our wilderness tracker, radioed in that he was with six male lions and they were killing cubs. Six big males together? We knew who these lions were. The Matimba males! They hadn’t been this far north in a very long time so something was definitely up. We briefed the guests on what was happening, explaining that it was a natural occurrence, hoping that the magnitude of what they were about to see, would sink in.


Arriving at the scene, we found two lionesses and one cub, but something was wrong. The cub was struggling to lift itself up. And blood! The Matimba’s had already got to this poor cub. The males were about 50 meters away and the atmosphere was incredibly tense. Then one of the males got up and the females reacted with savage ferocity. They were both eyeing these killers with a well-designed death stare. Baring their teeth, their message was clear: “Come any closer and you’ll get it!”. These males were old hands and had played this game many times, but these females weren’t going anywhere. All the while, the unfortunate cub was trying to remove itself from this predicament. Its back was broken and no matter how hard it tried, it just couldn’t get away. At least mom and aunt were on the defence!

*This image is copyright of its original author

Lioness baring her teeth defending her helpless cub

The Matimba males moved away, but only about 100 meters. They were ready for the inevitable. The lionesses can’t stay with the cub for long. We followed the males for a while. They lay down in a shady spot not far from the females, comfort achieved, now just waiting. The males went to sleep.

*This image is copyright of its original author

Three of the six Matimba male Lions

Going back to where the females were, we returned to a scene that would melt a stone heart. The mother was grooming the cub, willing it to get up and get away while they still could. The lioness had turned from fierce warrior to concerned mother. With the social bond still strong, she groomed the injured cub. A sad scene re-enacted itself as it had so many times before. We left with a mixed feeling of elation and sadness, a feeling that leaves you confused yet privileged.

Mpho stayed with the lionesses for the rest of the day. Later that afternoon the inevitable happened. The instinct of self-preservation took over and the warrior lionesses that had held off six male lions that morning, abandoned the cub. We were getting the updates as it was happening. A few minutes after the females left, the six males approached the cub and within seconds it was over. The biggest male bit and shook the cub, ending the struggle, ending the drama.


Chatting around the campfire later that evening, the shocking truth was revealed. These males had been seen mating with these females last year and this could very well have been their cub.


It made me think of the story of Hercules. According to the myth, Hercules killed his own children in a fit of madness. He then had to perform incredible tasks in order to gain forgiveness. Who knows what feats these males will perform in the years to come?


Note : in fact they killed 4 cubs that day.


Thursday, 23 August 2012
Lion Politics - The plot thickens!

Our reserve is a very confusing place at the moment as far as our lions are concerned! In this part of the Greater Kruger National Park massive coalitions of male lions wreak havoc in the lion population creating a forthcoming spectacle that will not be for the faint hearted.

One of these coalitions is known as the Skybeds males. They were named after a dam in the north eastern part of the reserve where they were sighted first about nine months ago. At this first sighting we found nine males together but kept hearing reports that to the east as many as twelve have been seen together. These males mostly move in the northern parts of the reserve and into the Orpen section of the Kruger National Park. With the six Matimba males in the south, the two Sizanani males in the central area and now these males coming in from the north, a mega showdown is on the horizon.

With all these males around, females are finding it increasingly difficult to raise their cubs. Males they mate with are usually part of one of the larger coalitions. Their cubs are either killed by the other coalitions or another male from the same coalition who doesn’t know the cubs. As it is we regularly see eight females and as many as 22 males - a very lopsided ratio!

There is another coalition comprising of three very large males that also roam the north. This is now where this story gets very interesting. We recently got a report from one of the Mpumalanga Parks Rangers that six males and a female were not far from where we were. As this was to the north we reckoned it could only be the Skybeds and off we went to have a look.

Alfred and I decided to walk in and track them. It was fairly windy day and the conditions weren’t the best for tracking but as it’s all in the job we decided to go off anyway. We quickly found what we were looking for when we noticed places where they had laid down and identified some tracks. After about 20 minutes of tracking we heard the unmistakable sound of a lion growling. Being windy we couldn’t pinpoint their exact location and allowed better judgement to take over. We moved in the opposite direction all the while trying to determine their location. Knowing we’ve done some very good work, we collected the guests and the vehicle, proudly told them our story and started making our way to where we heard the growling.

*This image is copyright of its original author

Upon arrival, we realised that the lioness was not growling at us, but rather at one of the males. They were clearly mating! We saw the other males lying in the thick grass, but it was the honeymoon couple that grabbed our attention. We settled down and waited

*This image is copyright of its original author

The big male got up and meandered towards the lioness. She looked like one of the Koppies lionesses and as it was right in the middle their territory we thought it must be a Koppies girl! The male was very distinctive. It looked like there was a knot in his tail. This was clearly not one of the Skybeds males originally seen, but possibly part of another coalition we know as the Timbavati males comprising of three males! Could these three be the other three males seen to the east with the Skybeds? They’re bigger and older than the others but could very well be. They were with another three males but most were unfortunately sleeping in thick grass, so getting a picture and confirming their identity was impossible.

*This image is copyright of its original author

After about five minutes our patience was rewarded as the male got on the top of his business. We watched these two lovebirds mate as only lions can and after about fifteen seconds the show was over.

Only time will tell if these males will settle down and tend the females and future cubs, protecting them from the menace in the south - The mighty Matimba’s.

Darren Roberts-York Reply