Lions of Timbavati

[vinodkumarn]

Credits: Tintswalo Lodge

Another Young Avocas making statement here.. feeling bad for Skorro.

Safari Update
Lion dynamics in the central Manyeleti Game Reserve have been quite interesting with new lions making their presence felt!
The Thanda Impi males had a devastating set back when the dominant male ’Scorro’ whent missing for about 9 days leaving his (Mbiri) pride and coalition member ‘Sizanani’on their own. The mbiri lionesses and their cubs were mute during this time and no lions have been vocalising, to keep their current location a secret to rival males. Another three tiny little cubs were also seen hidden away making the total count of cubs in the Mbiri pride 16. Sizanani’s’ state has weakened dramatically and we don’t think he will live to see the end of the month with his current condition deteriorating dramatically. The dominant male's absence made it extremely difficult for his brother to eat and Sizanani wasn't found close to the females during this time.
Scorro was eventually found, but badly bashed up! He was definitely cornered by more then one male hence the artificial lacerations and bite marks all over his body. He was limping badly due to severe injuries to his back left leg. We speculated that he might have been fighting with the 3 younger Avoca males that was found in the Eastern areas of the central Manyeleti Game Reserve. He made his way back towards the thickets close to Manor House and we haven’t seen him or Sizanani for the last 2 days.
The Nharhu pride did split up a while back, again, possibly because of the pressure that the three younger Avoca males have been putting on the lions in the area. Six of the sub adults remained in the Manyeleti but the other seven members were missing. Two weeks ago, an update came through that confirmed the location of the rest of the Nharhu pride! Miraculously, the three Birmingham lionesses and 4 sub adults were found in the North Western Sabi Sands Game Reserve! We thought that this was the final writing on the wall for the Nharu pride as we knew them, but they made it back and was found together on their home turf recently! The only problem was that one of the female sub adults was missing. They were found on multiple occasions during the last week in the central Manyeleti where they also managed to take down a buffalo and fed well. The last time they were seen was at the foot hills of a granite outcrop in the North Eastern areas of the Manyeleti Game Reserve heading towards the Kruger National Park.

Thanda Impi male 'Sizanani' keeping a close eye on the Mbiri pride. This was the first time in a while that he was seen close to the lionesses. At first glance, the lionesses thought he was a rival male until closer investigation they learnt otherwise.

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One of the young Avoca males at a buffalo they've killed.

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Young Avoca males.

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One of the young Avoca males that had fresh lacerations after a fight that we speculate was with the Thanda Impi male 'Scorro'

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A Northern Matimba male that was seen close to our Eastern boundary with Kruger National Park. This veteran of a male was in very bad shape and didn't present much of a visual.

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Thanda Impi male Sizanani.

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Young Red Road male made his way into the Manyeleti, close to the Eastern boundaries of Kruger.

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