There is a world somewhere between reality and fiction. Although ignored by many, it is very real and so are those living in it. This forum is about the natural world. Here, wild animals will be heard and respected. The forum offers a glimpse into an unknown world as well as a room with a view on the present and the future. Anyone able to speak on behalf of those living in the emerald forest and the deep blue sea is invited to join.
2 Lion stationary
"Two male lions sleeping next to the road"
S83, 3.4km N of the H1-2 S entrance
Near Skukuza
5/5
Tinged by Cheryl&Kassie + Alison&Pat + Abdullah
(11-20-2022, 05:39 PM)WildLeonis Wrote: Out of the three N.Avocas he’s the only one that has remained healthy and injury free.
If we look at Avoca brothers as whole, their 2 Southern brothers are still going strong, healthy and without any serious injuries.
In few months they will be 10 yrs old, and soon after are coming into their 5th year as territorial males.
5 continuous years for a duo would be excellent achievement, which not many duos managed to accomplish.
Although, i kinda feel that they will have serious challenge soon in those Nkuhlu young males.
True. The S.Avocas have done very well for themselves. Luck is a big part of that. But also from reports they sound more aggressive than their northern brothers and of course their very strong bond is no doubt a factor. I have never seen any footage or pictures of them apart. Though I’m sure they do split up from time to time to do territorial patrols.
The gorgeous young Darkmane Avoca back in October 2015 at Shindzela Tented Camp at around fifteen months old. It was sad to see him go out in such a violent fashion. He never really fulfilled his potential as one of the biggest and best looking lions around; due to injury, but he did live to see his sons grow up, and he was seldom seen without a pride, in particular the Talamati pride who helped keep him fed. He originated from one of the Timbavati royal lines that possessed the leucistic gene. His paternal line was the Giraffe pride through Brutus and The Good (who I believe was Brutus's father), and his maternal line, the Avocas, were originally a Giraffe pride breakaway.
The gorgeous young Darkmane Avoca back in October 2015 at Shindzela Tented Camp at around fifteen months old. It was sad to see him go out in such a violent fashion. He never really fulfilled his potential as one of the biggest and best looking lions around; due to injury, but he did live to see his sons grow up, and he was seldom seen without a pride, in particular the Talamati pride who helped keep him fed. He originated from one of the Timbavati royal lines that possessed the leucistic gene. His paternal line was the Giraffe pride through Brutus and The Good (who I believe was Brutus's father), and his maternal line, the Avocas, were originally a Giraffe pride breakaway.
Credit: Glen McPherson Photography
October 2015
You're like a lion encyclopedia bro. Very nice pic!!
The gorgeous young Darkmane Avoca back in October 2015 at Shindzela Tented Camp at around fifteen months old. It was sad to see him go out in such a violent fashion. He never really fulfilled his potential as one of the biggest and best looking lions around; due to injury, but he did live to see his sons grow up, and he was seldom seen without a pride, in particular the Talamati pride who helped keep him fed. He originated from one of the Timbavati royal lines that possessed the leucistic gene. His paternal line was the Giraffe pride through Brutus and The Good (who I believe was Brutus's father), and his maternal line, the Avocas, were originally a Giraffe pride breakaway.
Credit: Glen McPherson Photography
October 2015
You're like a lion encyclopedia bro. Very nice pic!!
Hehehe. Not really. I just know people who are. Lol.
I’m almost in tears reading these tributes on Facebook. dark maned avoca impacted so many people. There will never again be another lion like him. A gentle giant, an amazing father, and a resilient warrior till end. I’ll miss him like I miss his beautiful queen, silver eye, and his daughter stompie. At least nature gave us one final sighting of the avoca brothers together.
I’ll leave everyone with one of my favorite photos of dark mane with blondie as a cub.
11-21-2022, 06:46 PM( This post was last modified: 11-21-2022, 06:56 PM by criollo2mil )
Sorry, I can’t get the images to all load. :
THROWBACK TUESDAY, on a MONDAY!
The Battle of Imbali – Matimbas vs Avoca Males -
- PART 1
One of the shortest nights of 2017 would become one of the longest nights for two of the Matimba males on the Mluwati concession. The confrontation between them and the three Avoca males had been building up for a couple of days already. The Avoca males spent three days on a buffalo kill just off the S36 during the previous week, while the Matimbas were somewhere in the North of the concession.
We realized that there was a showdown looming when the two Matimbas showed up at the Imbali waterhole early on the morning of the 20th of December. They declared their arrival with loud roars and in the distance, there was an ominous answer from the three Avoca males. The Matimbas flopped down in the shade but stayed alert and watchful as they heard the roars of the Avoca males getting closer. Our guides followed the approaching Avoca males until they too, lay down and went quiet. The scene had been set, but the action stopped, as both groups of lions decided to rest during the heat of the day.
Picture: One of the Matimbas listening to the approaching roars of the Avoca Males.
*This image is copyright of its original author
- PART 2
Later that afternoon the roars from both groups of lions can be heard as the Matimbas against all odds win a small intimidation victory driving the Avoca males back North towards Ridge Road. It becomes very obvious that one of the Matimba males is severely hampered by an injured back leg. Even though he can’t keep up with his stronger coalition partner he joins in the roaring battle and it looks like the Avoca males are retreating. The stronger of the two Matimbas shows us again why they are such legends to all that know them and have spent time with them. He walks head on towards the Avoca males, his partner lying down as his leg injury slows him down.
Picture: One of the Matimbas resting
*This image is copyright of its original author
- PART 3
The Avoca males in the meantime look very focused and calm, watching every move the two older males make. They are attached at the hip at this point, sticking close together. The lions are now close enough to see each other but the Avoca males move into a very thick patch of bush with no visibility. The stronger of the two Matimbas follow, roaring as he goes into the thickets. The injured Matimba watches on and drags himself to his feet trying to follow with wobbly steps. The guides are unable to follow through the dense bush but it looks like the Matimbas are standing their ground against a much younger and stronger coalition.
No one knows exactly what happened during the night but it becomes evident that the Avoca males were not retreating when we hear them roaring early the next morning very close to Imbali. It seems they might have separated the Matimbas on purpose by trying to draw away the stronger one. The guides find them lying just south of the lodge. Less than a hundred meters away, one of the Matimba males is also found. He has been injured and he does not move much. The guides leave him alone and we close the area to let nature take its course. There is no sign of the second Matimba male but he could possibly just be lying in the thick bush close by.
The Avoca males spend the whole day sleeping in the exact same place and as night falls they roar only once and then silently get up. Miraculously there is no sign of the Matimba male at the spot that he was last seen in the morning. The Avoca Males come to drink at the Imbali waterhole, then move purposefully south towards where the Matimba male was last seen. Late during the night, we hear the roars of the three males again, this time further to the south-west. We don’t see any of the lions the next day and we don’t know what the fate of the Matimbas are. On the morning of the 23rd, we find the Avoca males in the eastern section of the concession, close to the S36. We also find two sets of lion tracks heading south-west down the Mluwati river…
Pictures: One of the Matimbas walking in to face the younger males + The injured Matimba looking on.
Pictures courtesy of field guide Wesley Lovell and guest Cois de Wit.
*This image is copyright of its original author
*This image is copyright of its original author
- PART 4
The challengers – Avoca Males coalition.
These young males first walked onto the Imbali concession at the end of November 2017. We suspected that they could possibly be looking to move into this territory permanently. It was confirmed that these males came from further north in Greater Kruger Park area and they were known as the Avoca male coalition. The Mluwati males who are resident males on the concession have recently been active only in the southern part of the concession and to the north the two old Matimbas were keeping a low profile. The perfect opportunity for these three to establish a territory of their own. Over the next couple of weeks, it became clear that they meant business as they became more vocal and started scent marking everywhere they went. They killed a buffalo just off the S36 on the far eastern side of the concession a couple of days before the confrontation with the Matimbas.
- Part 5 (more imágenes)
The nighttime images show the Avoca Males just before the confrontation with the Matimbas, and listening to the Matimabs roar.
Photos courtesy of field guide Wesley Lovell and guest Cois de Wit. #imbalimoments
11-21-2022, 10:47 PM( This post was last modified: 11-21-2022, 11:17 PM by afortich )
(11-21-2022, 10:33 PM)criollo2mil Wrote: New publication from the SCAR YouTube Channel
The video says DM "along with the Nkuhuma youngsters were on a hunt", the first posting say "they" were hunting. Therefore, DM was actually participating in hunt.
Awesome summary by Scar.
(11-21-2022, 10:33 PM)criollo2mil Wrote: New publication from the SCAR YouTube Channel
At 1:48 , it is said that nkuhuma subadults are sons of Mohawk and blonde.
To me also, along with nkuhuma subadults, even the bigger talamatis boys seems to resemble more like Mohawk.
Not to mention, great story by SCAR.
The Talamati males are sired by dark maned avoca, who was the most dominant brother at the time. The big Talamati male looks like his mother, the late silver eye lioness, who had the same orange eyes.
The Nkuhuma pride is a mix of sub adults from all the Avocas and the youngest Birmingham daughters all gave birth 3.5 months after mating with dark-mane although the other brothers could have sired cubs as well.
Avoca Male Lions and Their Male Lineage
