The Matshapiri Males

[vinodkumarn]

MALAMALA TODAY (and yesterday): May 20th. 3 lion sightings: early morning audio of lions roaring south of Rattray's Camp was soon followed by audio of lions fighting. We first found the fuller maned Matshapiri male steadily moving northwards through the Tamboti Thickets. Not too far behind him were 2 unidentified younger male lions- one of which had bite marks on his hind legs. They would roar- then the Matshapiri male would stop, turn around and roar back before moving north again. 2 lionesses from the Kambula pride also appeared on the scene and they had clearly been feeding off a kill. One of the lionesses ran off but the other approached the new males- the same lioness who lured the Matshapiri males away during their altercation with the Clarendon males some months back. She then proceeded to 'mate' with the young males as she had done with Matshapiri males. The other 4 lionesses of the Kambula pride were located just south of Main Camp in the Sand River. We watched the Fourways pride were catch an impala east of Fourways Open Area. 3 leopards: the cubs of the Kikilezi female spent the day chasing Guinea Fowl north and west of Main Camp as they waited for their mother to return from a hunt. The Treehouse male was in front of Main Camp.

May 21st. 3 lion sightings: the 2 young unidentified male lions are still with the lioness from the Kambula pride north of Karen Open Area. The fuller maned Matshapiri male and the other 5 lionesses from the Kambula pride are in the Sand River near Maxim's Lookout. 2 large males (Mantimahle) were viewed along the Tjellehanga River. 3 leopards: we watched the Treehouse male catch a duiker north of Rattray's Camp. The Piccadilly female is opposite Main Camp feeding off a young baboon kill. The Tamboti female was seen at Maxim's Lookout. Cape hunting dogs: The Toulon pack were viewed in the south.

Looks like these males are in real trouble from 2 diff set of lions...  Reply