Coalitions of Kruger National Park

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(07-04-2023, 11:17 PM)Tonpa Wrote: Lions

• There has been much excitement surrounding the Shishangaan Pride as we celebrate the arrival of three new cubs. They were first found in the granophyre ridge line opposite Lebombo Lodge. Several days after they were found, the pride had managed to take down a bull giraffe along the eastern bank of the N’wanetsi River just to the south of Ndlovu Lookout. All eight cubs were seen feeding on the carcass over the course of several days. This pride is ever growing with what we think to be is another female that is entering the last stages of her gestation period so there might be even more cubs to follow soon.

• There have been several sightings of a portion of the Mananga Pride over the course of June. Most notably, eight members of the pride were found feeding on a buffalo near Double Crossing. Their hunting exploits were soon ended due to the arrival of six male lions. They chased the pride off and continued to feed on the carcass. This left the eight members heading south where the following morning they were found feeding on a zebra carcass in the vicinity of Pony Pan. This was the furthest south they have been seen in quite some time as they are sticking to the most north western parts of the concession and often venturing out into the Kruger National Park in search of the larger buffalo herds for sustenance.

• The fathers of the ever-growing Shish Pride have been seen on several occasions with the pride. Aptly with the month of June being associated with international Father’s Day, the two males have been making quite the impact and solidifying themselves in the southern regions of the concession. However, with several coalitions in the vicinity, all with higher numbers in their ranks it is going to be a tall order for the Trichardt males to keep them at bay and sire their impending offspring.

• The new six males have been seen intermittingly over the last eight months in the very far northern reaches of the concession. The make-up of the coalition is one older male and five younger males. Of the five younger males, two are substantially larger than the other three. Propositions have been made as to how the make-up of this coalition formed, however nothing can be said for certain. They are definitely a coalition to watch out for as potential successors of the north. They have been seen on a few occasions mating with a member of the Mananga Pride which could be them reinforcing their bond, however we are yet to see the fragmented portions of the Mananga Pride together with these males which could mean that their position has not yet been cemented.

• In a twist of events, close to the end of the month the Maputo male was seen, need we say more? A recap on who the Maputo male is: He along with the Kumana male are the coalition that formed after he tried to take over the Kumana males’ territory. After months of fighting they decided to team up as they were equally matched and they realised two were better than one. They then ruled over the Shish Pride in the southern part of the concession until the Trichardt males succeeded them. Back to today, he was seen with an unknown male lion in the far north-western parts of our property. The two males did not show any aggression towards each other so it is possible he took a page out of his old book and formed a new coalition late in life. On the very last day of the month he was seen yet again with this unknown collared male but now they dared to head further southeast of where they were first seen which is but a stone kick away from his old territory. We wonder what will become of this new coalition as they were heard roaring which tells us they don’t intend on passing by. Only time will reveal…

• The remains of one male lion were seen around Sticky Thorn but by the time we were made aware of the incident by the descending vultures the hyenas on the ground had worked a number on the carcass and there was not much left but a few handfuls of a mane and teeth. What we were able to ascertain was that it was a younger male lion due to the condition of the canines. We thought perhaps one of the six were taken out but a few days later we saw all of them, in all their glory. So, we assume that it i possibly a young male from the Mananga Pride as we are yet to see that specific male in a while. But the next question is, “Who done it?”.

any clue who are the 6 males Reply