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There has been some chaos this month with the lion sightings (particularly with the males). There have been intrusions by foreign males into the area. In the south, near the lodge, we have had a few sightings of two new males (known to the Kruger Park lion communities – on social media – as the Trichardt males). We have heard them roaring around the lodge most mornings this last month. In the far north we have seen three new males pushing south, roaring and spray-marking. There is going to be trouble soon. Our dominant males are now getting old and a take-over is on the cards.
The Maputo and Kumana males are still around. These two males are the dominant male lions in the area nearby the lodges. They are now in danger. The two Trichardt males have moved into their area, with the hopes of taking over the territory. Towards the beginning of the month the Maputo Male was seen mating with one of the Shish lionesses, close to camp. A few days later Maputo was seen again, this time sporting some injuries on his legs, back and inner thighs. He had obviously had a confrontation with the new males. After this he seemed to have lost condition and was looking very thin and was limping badly. Fortunately, he managed to find a carcass of a young buffalo that had been killed by a crocodile when it crossed the N’wanetsi River. One of our guides was lucky enough to witness him wrestling the carcass away from the crocodile. Kumana has also been seen a few times this last month. It appears that both he and Maputo are spending more time in the hills and possibly even in Mozambique as they are trying to avoid the new males.
The Trichardt males used to be a coalition of five but, since they arrived on the concession, we have only seen two of them. They are both magnificent lions, with dark manes. One of the two is more impressive than the other with a full mane, while the other one’s mane is more scraggly, with less body. The Trichardt males are named after the road which borders the south-west of the concession (Trichardt Rd / S37). This road was named after a Dutch Voortrekker who was one of the first recorded Europeans in the Kruger National Park area. He supposedly crossed the Kruger National Park in 1838 (this was long before the park was officially promulgated in 1898). Unfortunately for him and his party most succumbed to malaria during their journey. Towards the end of the month these two males came across one of the Shish lionesses with three subadults. The lioness tried to draw the attention of the males away from the youngsters, who quickly escaped into the hills. The two males then proceeded to attack the lioness who sustained wounds to both of her rear thighs and one of her front feet. She managed to escape from them as they turned their attention to finding the youngsters. Fortunately, they were unable to locate them. The lioness was seen again a few days later hiding in the sticky thorn thickets. Her wounds seem to be healing.
Xihamham and the other Shish male have been seen regularly in the western half of the concession (often in the company of the Mananga Pride). On the 8th of May both of these males were found feeding on a zebra, with the Mananga Pride, in the basalt grasslands. The males hogged the carcass and the pride got very little of it, but the next morning the pride was seen and the members had full bellies which means that they had managed to kill something else during the night. On the 10th of May the males and the pride were once again seen feeding. They had killed a buffalo in the central area of the concession.
We have seen some of the Shish lionesses a few times this last month. Towards the beginning of May two of these lionesses were seen in the company of the Maputo Male. He was mating with one of the lionesses. The Shish lionesses seem to have been divided and we have been seeing two lionesses together and then another group of four. During the early half of March the two Shish lionesses had six cubs. By the end of March only two remained (we believe that the other four cubs could have been killed by the Trichardt males). Towards the beginning of May we did see one of the Shish lionesses with the two remaining cubs. They looked healthy and were playing with each other and jumping on their mom. Towards the end of the month one of the Shish lionesses was involved in an altercation with the Trichardt males and sustained some injuries. We believe that these injuries will heal.
Mananga Pride have been seen on numerous occasions this last month. They have generally been seen on the western side of the concession, near Gudzani Dam. This pride is becoming very large now. There are approximately 26 members in the pride, including six young cubs. They are sometimes seen with the Shish males. The members of this pride were seen feeding on a zebra and on a buffalo this month.
Mountain Pride were seen on two occasions this month. It appears that they have been spending most of their time inside Mozambique. Both times that we saw these lions there were only eight members. On one of these occasions, they were seen feeding on a buffalo near the Mozambique border.
Two unknown, young, shy male lions were seen close to the camp on the 2nd. They obviously do not know cars and ran away as soon as they saw the game-drive vehicle. On the 4th two young males (possibly the same males) were seen heading out of the concession to the west. On the afternoon of the 4th, two more unknown male lions were seen near the granophyre ridge.
There has been some chaos this month with the lion sightings (particularly with the males). There have been intrusions by foreign males into the area. In the south, near the lodge, we have had a few sightings of two new males (known to the Kruger Park lion communities – on social media – as the Trichardt males). We have heard them roaring around the lodge most mornings this last month. In the far north we have seen three new males pushing south, roaring and spray-marking. There is going to be trouble soon. Our dominant males are now getting old and a take-over is on the cards.
The Maputo and Kumana males are still around. These two males are the dominant male lions in the area nearby the lodges. They are now in danger. The two Trichardt males have moved into their area, with the hopes of taking over the territory. Towards the beginning of the month the Maputo Male was seen mating with one of the Shish lionesses, close to camp. A few days later Maputo was seen again, this time sporting some injuries on his legs, back and inner thighs. He had obviously had a confrontation with the new males. After this he seemed to have lost condition and was looking very thin and was limping badly. Fortunately, he managed to find a carcass of a young buffalo that had been killed by a crocodile when it crossed the N’wanetsi River. One of our guides was lucky enough to witness him wrestling the carcass away from the crocodile. Kumana has also been seen a few times this last month. It appears that both he and Maputo are spending more time in the hills and possibly even in Mozambique as they are trying to avoid the new males.
The Trichardt males used to be a coalition of five but, since they arrived on the concession, we have only seen two of them. They are both magnificent lions, with dark manes. One of the two is more impressive than the other with a full mane, while the other one’s mane is more scraggly, with less body. The Trichardt males are named after the road which borders the south-west of the concession (Trichardt Rd / S37). This road was named after a Dutch Voortrekker who was one of the first recorded Europeans in the Kruger National Park area. He supposedly crossed the Kruger National Park in 1838 (this was long before the park was officially promulgated in 1898). Unfortunately for him and his party most succumbed to malaria during their journey. Towards the end of the month these two males came across one of the Shish lionesses with three subadults. The lioness tried to draw the attention of the males away from the youngsters, who quickly escaped into the hills. The two males then proceeded to attack the lioness who sustained wounds to both of her rear thighs and one of her front feet. She managed to escape from them as they turned their attention to finding the youngsters. Fortunately, they were unable to locate them. The lioness was seen again a few days later hiding in the sticky thorn thickets. Her wounds seem to be healing.
Xihamham and the other Shish male have been seen regularly in the western half of the concession (often in the company of the Mananga Pride). On the 8th of May both of these males were found feeding on a zebra, with the Mananga Pride, in the basalt grasslands. The males hogged the carcass and the pride got very little of it, but the next morning the pride was seen and the members had full bellies which means that they had managed to kill something else during the night. On the 10th of May the males and the pride were once again seen feeding. They had killed a buffalo in the central area of the concession.
We have seen some of the Shish lionesses a few times this last month. Towards the beginning of May two of these lionesses were seen in the company of the Maputo Male. He was mating with one of the lionesses. The Shish lionesses seem to have been divided and we have been seeing two lionesses together and then another group of four. During the early half of March the two Shish lionesses had six cubs. By the end of March only two remained (we believe that the other four cubs could have been killed by the Trichardt males). Towards the beginning of May we did see one of the Shish lionesses with the two remaining cubs. They looked healthy and were playing with each other and jumping on their mom. Towards the end of the month one of the Shish lionesses was involved in an altercation with the Trichardt males and sustained some injuries. We believe that these injuries will heal.
Mananga Pride have been seen on numerous occasions this last month. They have generally been seen on the western side of the concession, near Gudzani Dam. This pride is becoming very large now. There are approximately 26 members in the pride, including six young cubs. They are sometimes seen with the Shish males. The members of this pride were seen feeding on a zebra and on a buffalo this month.
Mountain Pride were seen on two occasions this month. It appears that they have been spending most of their time inside Mozambique. Both times that we saw these lions there were only eight members. On one of these occasions, they were seen feeding on a buffalo near the Mozambique border.
Two unknown, young, shy male lions were seen close to the camp on the 2nd. They obviously do not know cars and ran away as soon as they saw the game-drive vehicle. On the 4th two young males (possibly the same males) were seen heading out of the concession to the west. On the afternoon of the 4th, two more unknown male lions were seen near the granophyre ridge.
Also in full report (https://assets.ctfassets.net/wds1hqrprqxb/2y967yqdcDQ5dXmQr6AluZ/0ef42ce8295c0de94b64399c08c05a31/Read_the_full_report_here.pdf) there is picture of 2 of the 3 males which are pushing from the north into Singita concession.
06-04-2022, 01:38 PM( This post was last modified: 06-04-2022, 01:39 PM by Brahim )
So about Mo kingfisher said this, but I heard from someone else they're gonna shoot him if he stays on the farm, apparently its a Buffalo breeding farm and he killed a buffalo there already
06-04-2022, 01:58 PM( This post was last modified: 06-04-2022, 02:01 PM by lionuk )
(06-04-2022, 01:38 PM)Brahimlegend Wrote: So about Mo kingfisher said this, but I heard from someone else they're gonna shoot him if he stays on the farm, apparently its a Buffalo breeding farm and he killed a buffalo there already
Can't someone dart and bring him safely back to Kruger instead?
Thats a lot easier and safely said than done. Especially on bigger more dangerous animals like lions.
They probably will try first. But if all alternatives are exhousted and he doesnt move on to a nature reserve on his own. It will have to be done as they cant risk another Tsavo turning public opinion against the reserves.
(03-20-2022, 01:56 PM)Brahimlegend Wrote: So I heard yesteday old lubyelubye was seen running away from something on S130 and there was a report of 5 males fighting on s130 yesterday and later on the 5 Gomondwane males were there so something happened yesterday
Where is Vurhami s28 male? Lately not seen with them.
Coalitions of Kruger National Park
