Lions of Timbavati

[Cath2020]

(01-06-2024, 11:37 AM)Biscuit1998 Wrote: Hi all,

I have recently been in the Timbavati on holiday. 

I was horrified to see that a large group (approx. 7) of sub-adult lions in the Western Pride have not eaten in 3 weeks; their bones are jutting out and they can barely move, yet they remain under near-constant observation by tourists in vehicles. The two adult females and large sub-adult male have left the Western Pride, leaving these younger sub-adults under the control of an elderly, disabled male. Whilst on a game drive, I observed land-owners in the reserve callously saying that the sub-adults "wouldn't last". There is also a severe shortage of blue wildebeest in the reserve and an alarming overpopulation of impala. Further, the presence of a coalition of 4 large males (the "river pride") nearby almost guarantees that these Western Pride sub-adults have no chance of survival. 

In light of the fact that the WP's dominant male was trophy-hunted back in 2018, this looks to me like a serious conservation failure on the part of the reserve. Intervention appears necessary. 

Any thoughts would be appreciated.

Sorry about the lack of response to your concerns.  I was waiting for someone else here to step up with more knowledge about the Timbavati area and perhaps with some insider connections, too, and address your post.

Anyway, since I do not follow the area closely and because of the lack of information about the lions coming from there, I cannot answer as to what is happening about the subs and leader of the Western Pride.  I believe your description of him means that he is still the same male as from years ago, the last Nharhu Male (from a coalition of 3, one of which succumb to TB-like sickness, the other one was killed by the Skorro Males and he was the healthiest).  Are these subs the offspring of this 'disabled' male?  This male has a noticeable limp, but he was defending and being territorial still for a long time (actually longer than most of us here thought he'd be based on his condition).  I'm surprised if he's still the leader!  

When you say they are skinny and haven't eaten for 3 weeks, did the guides/rangers tell you that?  Curious because many lions can get quite skinny quite often, but after a good meal, they can be alright again for another week or so.  If you post pictures of the subs here, and we all can see with our own eyes how they look, that could also be very impressionable. Typically the reserves do not intervene if the starvation is deemed 'natural' and not man-made.

Sounds like you were disappointed with what you experienced.  Before going to another reserve, I'd definitely research the area thoroughly beforehand.  Yes, there was a famous lion that got trophy-hunted around the time you mentioned, and it was controversial. They got a lot of flack and bad press for that mishap.  He was not supposed to be the one shot (as he was a pride leader, well-known, with young cubs/subs), but another lion was supposedly.... I don't agree with any trophy hunting, regardless, but we'll leave it at that.  I'm not even sure if the trophy hunted lion was the leader specifically of the Western Pride, can't recall, but he could be. Reply