Lions of Timbavati

[Fredymrt]

This is Blondie, photographed on 15 July 2017

*This image is copyright of its original author

The corpse of a male lion was found on the eastern side of the reserve yesterday. It is believed to be the Mohlabetsi male known as Blondie (cousin of Sonof), likely to have been killed by the Machaton males. Lion pride dynamics here starting changing a good 18 months ago with the drought meaning that lion territories were overlapping in a bid to find food

With Sonof leaving the Takazile pride generated interest from many nomadic males. The Singwe male was with them a lot of the time but when the Mohlabetsi males pushed further west, the lone Singwe male knew it was safer to leave the adult females and stay with the sub adults. When the Machaton males started pushing further in this side recently from Timbavati, the largest Mohlabetsi male took a hiding and the coalition of 7 gave way to them. The Machaton males (3 of the coalition of 4) have been in this area a lot recently and one has been seen mating with one of the Takazile females. When a lion in his prime, the size & condition of Blondie, loses his life you know for sure that the Macahaton males are a formidable Interesting times. that's for sure!

*This image is copyright of its original author

*This image is copyright of its original author

*This image is copyright of its original author

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