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(02-06-2021, 04:20 AM)Psyckoo Wrote: Still good to see them around Sabi sands, but apart trying to take over of Mangheni pride i don't see which coaliton they can try ?
It's a waiting game for them now, they need to mature more and evne more importantly muster confidence to challenge other males. Last month they didn't chase Hairy Belly from a giraffe carcass, which was even their kill. They know how whole Sabi Sands or rather how it was, it might be different when they get ready. Fro now they are probably ok with having a territory to hunto on without being at risk ofbeing hunted don by a big mature coalition. They could possibly get more chances outside of Sabi Sands right now but besides of having similar luck like Tintswalos had in Manyeleti, it doesn't get better then 2 v 1 scenario.
We should keep in mind, than an incident can happen that changes the coalition numbers, not even a man caused one, hunt injury, snakebite, other injuries or infections, loss of condition due to age, other coalitions killing each other,... some might be instant, some might take time (like tubercolosis). Then 2 male colitions might become solo males and might be even easier opponents than Ottawa. There are Timbavatis who might end up being without a dominant male, which might take a while for these two to find out, but they are 14 and at this point they would not be able to kill the subadults, and probably not be able assert themsleves as dominant males filling the void - and Avocas might come back if they find out. There are also single lioness prides like Ximungwe or Tsalala, which don't have resident males and if met outside of established coalitions territory might lead to some thing (they would to kill the young cub though).
Then there is a chance they won't be two forever, one can parish as any lion can, or they can meet other nomadic individuals which can lead to anything from conflict to joining up forces. They certainly could be expected to meet Ottawa youngsters if they haven't already, there was a lone unidentified young nomacdic male at Gowrie gate not that long ago and as we have coalitions in Sabi Sands coming from as far as beign born in Timbavati, Birmingham Young Male, white lion splinter group, Torchwood young male and whoever we know or don't knwoof from Kruger can wonder into Sabi Sands and potentially meet them (or vice versa, but Styx/Nkuhuma moving to Kruger, we wont know much about their endeavours) or mth aking an impact on Sabi Sand coalition dynamics - Mantimahle (5th+sons) moving into Mala Mala, 4 Tintswalos might decide to move eventually.
Manyeleti is currently quite open area wise, with Orpen males and Koppie pride gone, there is a room for someone to move in, whoever there are no unruled prides and as long s Tintswalos stay put they are numerically dangerous neighbourous to have. Numbers wise, Nharus have 1 Red Road Male and east from him in Kruger there are other prides ruled by solo males like Imbali. That being said Red Road Male is a beast, Ottawa male no matter how well looking should be easier option to challenge anyway, afaik the biggest altercation he had was chasing forsaken Mhangeni subadults from his natal Ottawa pride.
We probably have a new breakaway pride and colalition readjustments before they push somebody. I kind of hope Tumbelas would last a bit from the genetic POV, the western sector is susceptible to genetic bottleneck, most lions there are some kind of Mapogo/Majingilane blood mixes, the further the reigning coalition there is from, the better imho.