WildFact
›
Information Section
›
Terrestrial Wild Animals
›
Wild Cats
›
Lion
Birmingham Pride of lions
Birmingham Pride of lions
|
Birmingham Pride of lions
|
 
Saw this screenshot and had to post it here. What a stunning lion BYM is turning into. (WildEarth)
 *This image is copyright of its original author
 (04-18-2021, 08:58 PM)Gijima Wrote: Saw this screenshot and had to post it here. What a stunning lion BYM is turning into. (WildEarth) While he is one of the lions I have been following very closely, have been ever since he got injured initially, he is truly a monster in size. I saw a video of him and the white male, along with a few others from the pride, laying at the water's edge, which was taken about a week ago, and he was double the nearest sized animal in the group. I just hope he is able to make or join a coalition, now that he seems to be close to being driven out. If he continues to hang around, especially if he gets caught by both the Ross males, mounting another lioness (2nd such incident in the past 6 months), he very well could get killed. I am just not clear how he can survive on his own, right now if ever, with that injury.  (04-18-2021, 11:56 PM)BA0701 Wrote: While he is one of the lions I have been following very closely, have been ever since he got injured initially, he is truly a monster in size. I saw a video of him and the white male, along with a few others from the pride, laying at the water's edge, which was taken about a week ago, and he was double the nearest sized animal in the group. I just hope he is able to make or join a coalition, now that he seems to be close to being driven out. If he continues to hang around, especially if he gets caught by both the Ross males, mounting another lioness (2nd such incident in the past 6 months), he very well could get killed. I am just not clear how he can survive on his own, right now if ever, with that injury. He needs to stick close to 3 subadult males until the end of this year, then those 3 will be 3 yrs old and start nomadic life, thats basically his only option.. But its a big question mark how big of a bond they have, they are 2 yrs in age difference and might not form a coalition.. (04-19-2021, 12:02 AM)Tr1x24 Wrote:(04-18-2021, 11:56 PM)BA0701 Wrote: While he is one of the lions I have been following very closely, have been ever since he got injured initially, he is truly a monster in size. I saw a video of him and the white male, along with a few others from the pride, laying at the water's edge, which was taken about a week ago, and he was double the nearest sized animal in the group. I just hope he is able to make or join a coalition, now that he seems to be close to being driven out. If he continues to hang around, especially if he gets caught by both the Ross males, mounting another lioness (2nd such incident in the past 6 months), he very well could get killed. I am just not clear how he can survive on his own, right now if ever, with that injury. I know for sure he seems rather close to the white male, I have seen countless videos of them sleeping/lying close to one another, and rubbing a lot. But, you are right, that might be his only option. Given that group has been spending a lot of time away from the pride lately, but remaining well fed (every video shows them all with full bellies, but nobody is sure of where the meals have been coming from given the distance from the rest of the pride), I was beginning to wonder if they hadn't all been driven off. I don't know if that group is feeding itself, which would be the best possibility, but if he gets caught mounting another pride lioness, by the two Ross males, then he may well have a very big problem. At this stage, I am not sure either Ross male would risk a full on fight, alone, with him, but the two of them together would likely be his demise. He has been weary of Tyson for a very long time, but I am not sure even Tyson would risk such a single encounter at this stage.
Some clips from todays stream. Guide mentioned that basically the whole pride was present aside from BYM, the year old cubs(probably hiding in the grass) and The oldest lioness, he said she is starting to lag behind the pride when they're walking.
(04-19-2021, 01:14 AM)Tonpa Wrote: Some clips from todays stream. Guide mentioned that basically the whole pride was present aside from BYM, the year old cubs(probably hiding in the grass) and The oldest lioness, he said she is starting to lag behind the pride when they're walking. If the Ross males are present, it's doubtful BYM is going to be anywhere close. Such an inopportune time for this to be happening, when it comes to BYM. The sub males are not old enough to leave yet, and he might well be too old to remain with the whole pride much longer, at least so long as the Ross males are nearby. He struck out a few months back, not sure if driven or if he simply decided to go on a walkabout on his own. Regardless, he immediately ran into the Mbiri males, who were on a kill. He sat off in the brush and watched them, and they were, of course, focused on their meal, but that should serve as the perfect example of the dangers he faces if he is forced to strike out on his own. With his injury, even with his tremendous size, he could not possibly confront multiple foes at once, nor could he hunt for himself either. When BYM returned from his walkabout he was battered by Tyson, who kept a constant eye on him for several days, it was a very tense situation.
@BA0701 You mentioned "nor could he hunt for himself either." This is something I brought up in another post but I'm starting to believe that lions are able to do a lot more hunting, even through injuries, than we give them credit for. Basically if BYM can sneak up on a prey he will just need to use brute force to bring it down. He can also dig warthogs out of their burrow. It's rutting season which means all the impalas are really distracted and easy picking. And of course scavenge from other animals.
BYM's biggest problem, like big boy mhangeni, is that he gets lonely. He's one of those males that really wants a family unlike Red Road, Ndhuna, DM Avoca who didn't mind wandering around alone. Even his half brother from the Breakaway pride moved off without much resistance so I think it's more than his injury at this point.. and hopefully this give him the confidence to be off on his own. (04-19-2021, 08:51 PM)Gijima Wrote: @BA0701 You mentioned "nor could he hunt for himself either." This is something I brought up in another post but I'm starting to believe that lions are able to do a lot more hunting, even through injuries, than we give them credit for. Basically if BYM can sneak up on a prey he will just need to use brute force to bring it down. He can also dig warthogs out of their burrow. It's rutting season which means all the impalas are really distracted and easy picking. And of course scavenge from other animals. I truly do hope you are right @Gijima , Big Boy is one of the saddest stories in recent memory. But, he was able to find a partner, and he introduced him to the Nkuhuma pride, so I am by no means giving up on him. He is resilient, of nothing else.
Oldest Birmingham Breakaway male with one of his younger brothers at Makany Lodge last week :
Photo Credit : heyjody_  *This image is copyright of its original author  *This image is copyright of its original author  *This image is copyright of its original author
(04-19-2021, 09:04 PM)Tr1x24 Wrote: Oldest Birmingham Breakaway male with one of his younger brothers at Makany Lodge last week : That male is one I mentioned some months back. He's almost the exact same age as BYM, I wo I ld love to see those two join up. They are in close enough proximity.
Birminghams on WildEarth Sunrise 20-04-2021
One of the Ross males and then the sub-adult group in two separate locations.  *This image is copyright of its original author  *This image is copyright of its original author  *This image is copyright of its original author  *This image is copyright of its original author  *This image is copyright of its original author
|
| Users browsing this thread: |
| 2 Guest(s) |