Lions of Timbavati

[Potato]

(07-17-2020, 11:33 PM)TinoArmando Wrote:

(07-17-2020, 11:12 PM)Potato Wrote: https://www.tandatula.com/blog/posts/mid-winter-in-pictures/?fbclid=IwAR2dPrzi8ILEWQqMDDyixJmOboxFtZJCc0APdwnIrOcHNdhC__ixUzqsUjs

Tanda Tula

In fact, the lions could be heard roaring (somewhat distantly) most nights.  Every day we saw tracks for the Nharhu males and the odd River Pride lioness.  I even came across relatively fresh tracks for the Mayambula Pride moving as far north as Tortillis Plains in the East.

My lion luck wasn’t as bad, and we found the River Pride with their cubs on a couple of occasions. On one occasion, we followed up on their roaring to an area where vultures littered the trees like forgotten Christmas decorations.  It took a little searching, but eventually some growling led us to the pride that had finished off their kill and were moving with the males and cubs to a resting spot for the day.  Following that meal, the pride was surprisingly mobile this past week, and these wanderings started pushing them beyond the bounds of our concession for the first time in months. On a couple of occasions, they even crossed from the Timbavatiinto the Klaserie Private Nature Reserve.Although this was frustrating at times, it is movement that was fully expected as the cub are growing older and bigger, and now require more food.  The older cubs celebrated turning 6-months old this week, and the moms have done very well getting all six cubs to this age, but their jobs are far from over.  Sadly, we haven’t seen the youngest lioness to see whether or not she is showing signs of lactating, and thus providing confirmation as to our suspicions that she may have had cubs.  The lack of lone lioness tracks moving in and out of a common area are making me think that I have once again jumped the gun.  Time as always, will tell.

*This image is copyright of its original author

*This image is copyright of its original author

The Nharhu males are looking in good shape (well, except for the limping one whose limp is as bad as it has been since they set up base around Tanda Tula), and they are turning into proper lions now!  Since chasing the larger Mbiri males back out of their territory almost three weeks ago, it is as if their confidence has increased and their roars have gotten louder –  a great sign for a stable lion future in this area.



Note: I thought limping Nharhu is healing up, but it looks like his limp is permament which is leaving great most of security work to the other two Nharhus. So far those boys were doing very well in that matter, but it looks like more dificult times are ahead of them. Monwana males are settling on their borders (they are said to be big boys) as well as Scorro males (I presume those are big boys as well as they are Matimba blood, but that one is just my guess). Moreover there are 5 Vuyela males which could preasure them directly or indirectly. There also ever present Mbiri males intrested in getting their old territorry back. I wish all best for Nharhus, but they are in very difficult arena to be dominant of. I even think that losing River pride by Mbiri males to Nharhus miight be better for them in the long run. I hope they will remain in charge tho. Time will tell.

The Nharhu males have chased many times the Mbiri males, At the moment they aren't a trouble like the five Vuyela.

I meant the following next 2 years or so (time to rise generation of cubs sired by them) so some of mentioned coalitions are not a problem now, but very well might become problem sooner or later. Also I desagree that Mbiriis are not a problem. They are very capable of taking on Nharhu males espeecially if limping Nharhu does not join a fight. For the last couple of months they were venturing into Nharhus territorry I believe in hope of finding Nharhus not together. Such ventures always might turn out to be deadly. Actually Majingialnes worked on Salatis that way for two years and they succeed. Even tho Nharhus manage to push back Mbiris succeesfully so far at all occasions, they might be not as succeesfull in the future. Reply