Coalitions of Kruger National Park

[Tonpa]

Lions :

• The Mananga Pride continue to be a common sight on the concession and we have been witness to some spectacular moments. The pride managed to kill four large buffalo bulls in the space of ten days, of which one sighting was witnessed by some of our guides and guests in the central depression. The whole pride, together with the two Shishangaan males, were in attendance and it was amazing to watch the hunt from start to finish. The entire buffalo was consumed in just over twelve hours.
  

• Shishangaan Pride sightings have been very sporadic over the last month due to the unstable lion dynamics down south near the lodges. The Trichardt Males that fathered the cubs recently born into the pride, are now getting pressure from a coalition of three males which have yet to be named. These three males have been entering the concession more frequently in the last few weeks and both coalitions have come into physical contact, with members from both sides showing recent injuries. Since the last confirmed sighting of one tawny cub on the 30th of October, we finally located seven Shishangaan lionesses with only one tawny cub again present on the 20th November. We had another sighting of three lionesses with the cub on the 26th and sadly we can assume that the other two cubs are no longer alive.
  

• We have had no sightings of Mountain Pride during the month and the consensus is that they have moved into Mozambique due to the Mananga Pride’s expansion to the east.
  

• An unknown coalition of four lions was found on the 28th of November to the north of the concession. Will these males push south and challenge the two aging Shishangaan males? Only time will tell.
  

• Regarding the Shishangaan males – they continue to be dominant over the central and northern parts of the concession. They were even seen as far south as Xingwenyana Crossing on the N’wanetsi River one morning which is pushing into the territory of the two Trichardt Males. When not out patrolling, they are constantly found with the Mananga Pride and were present at each of the buffalo carcasses killed by the pride. On the morning of the 30th, they were found with the Mananga Pride feeding on a male waterbuck which had been killed by another male in a territorial dispute.
  

• We had two confirmed sightings of the Maputo male – one at Hyena Pan in the north eastern part of the concession and another just to the west of the concession. With the Kumana male presumed to no longer be with us, he is now keeping a low profile and has become nomadic. We are happy to report that he is in great condition and it is hoped that he somehow manages to find a new coalition partner.
  

• The Xirombe male was seen on two consecutive days feeding on a female waterbuck in the southern parts of the concession. This male is also nomadic and he would be an ideal coalition partner to the Maputo male.
  

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