Lions of Timbavati

[Herekitty]

In September 2005, John Broughton presented photographs of the Southern (later Blackdam) pride males in Thornybush.

*This image is copyright of its original author

*This image is copyright of its original author

The next month Astrid Claessen posted more shots of the two males.

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*This image is copyright of its original author

*This image is copyright of its original author

*This image is copyright of its original author

The second male shows whisker patterns consistent with the male known as Bubezi, in particular with the spacing on either side of the fourth dot from the nose, as seen with numerous shots including the one below by Irwan Roberts from 2010.

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From 2006 on, photos of the Southern pride seem to only feature Bubezi with two subadult males and the pride females. Joe Ross, March 2007.

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*This image is copyright of its original author

*This image is copyright of its original author

*This image is copyright of its original author

In 2008, Jarl Anderson wrote of the 12 year old Alpha male with one of his two sons.

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Again in 2008 Carol Leckie photographed the Alpha with both sons.

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*This image is copyright of its original author

Of the two subadult males, the guy above is distinguished by a lighter mane, a wider face and a scar on the right front of his nose, which he carried into adulthood. Image by Jordan Harper, July 2008.

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Image by Gareth Richman, Nov. 2008.

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In June 2010, he was identified as the Southern pride male along with photographs of the young Blackdam male by Darryl Milner.

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And also seen the following year by Willem Bosch.

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The other subadult seen with Bubezi was distinguished by a more angular face, light coloured eyes and a predatorial gaze. Image by Joe Ross 2007. 

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He also developed a darker mane earlier. Image by Willem Bosch, 2008

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Eric R Porcher, 2009.

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Tauni, April 2012.

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*This image is copyright of its original author

Bubezi was photographed up until 2010, but nothing beyond then. I apologise for hammering this out, but up until now no one else has bothered. Image by Lauren Barkume.

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