Coalitions of Kruger National Park

[Potato]

Singita KNP update

• The Mananga Pride has been seen several times a week on our concession. Their territory is enlarging which could be a testament of their growing numbers. They have been seen as far north as Hatayi which is one of our most northern blocks, as far east as the northern fenceline, all while still maintaining their hold on the north-western and central part of our concession. A growing pride of lions like this needs enough land to hunt, and we have observed them covering much ground overnight depending on the amount of game in the area. We are still seeing them on occasion split into two factions, namely the two lionesses with their young six cubs and the other portion containing the rest of the Mananga Pride lionesses, subadults, cubs and young male. North factions have been seen with the Shish males, on one such occasion the entire pride was reunited and they were trailing a large herd of buffalos that were roaming from the northern part of the concession all the way south near Xingwenyana crossing. They successfully killed a buffalo around the sticky thorn thickets, after finishing the carcass they followed more buffalos to Nyeleti and managed to kill another buffalo. The pride has split again after that kill, into the two factions.
• The Maputo male and Kumana male were only spotted once this month, on the first of the month. With two members of the Trichardt coalition establishing themselves in their territory they seem to be keeping a low profile and not vocalizing, and scent marking. They could have been killed by these new males with only the vultures and hyenas who could retell their story, or they could have cut east into Mozambique, or further south, accepting their defeat. Only time will tell which of these scenarios have played out.
• The Trichardt males have pushed more north, they were seen around Ngume and Ma-four Pounds following the Shish lionesses, but it looks like they are not yet accepted by them because every time they hear them roaring they move away.
• The unrest has caused the Shish Pride to split up again as they did when the Maputo male came into this concession this time last year. The lionesses are separated into two factions, one lioness and three sub-adults together and the other three with the limping lioness are together.
  

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