Coalitions of Kruger National Park

[widmerk]

Thanks friend, and big thanks to you BA07, Timbavati, Tr1, Brahim, and everyone else that makes this site what it is.
Can’t tell you how much more enjoyable and productive it is tracking these legends with the help of all the info here. Reply

[Gavskrr]

(08-23-2023, 09:11 PM)widmerk Wrote: Oct 2022 H3 just South of S118, Mjejane Male I believe

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great sightings and photos, it must have been amazing to witness it all.

this is a 1/3 Berg en dal male. Reply

[BA0701]

(08-24-2023, 02:24 AM)widmerk Wrote: Thanks friend, and big thanks to you BA07, Timbavati, Tr1, Brahim, and everyone else that makes this site what it is.
Can’t tell you how much more enjoyable and productive it is tracking these legends with the help of all the info here.

Thank you for the kind words. I personally believe that WildFact has the best community on the web, all biases aside, I truly believe that. I literally learn something new each and every day on this site, and get the chance to interact with some fantastic and very knowledgeable people. Reply

[widmerk]

Mapokser; I love thinking about that, but honestly I don't think it's possible to say; so much depends on the exact angle and our (faulty) memories. For example; there are times I'm watching Tank and think he's clearly bigger than Split Nose, but then they move around and suddenly Split Nose looks bigger; so "in the moment" the perspective, who's in front of who etc. can play a big role. Factor in who's recently eaten more, and gets more complicated. Even mane size can change a lot (if a male loses a fight, he loses mane). Height is certainly easier to tell if they are side by side. As for comparing different lions from memory of different days; well that's practically impossible given, again, the perspectives (who was closer, etc.) and our bad memories. Certainly Tank, the Sweni male on the S100, and  Leeubron males come to mind but these are basically wild guesses. 
As an example of how perspective changes things; check out this pic of Lubye Lubye son (front) and Dad (back). Dad looks tiny compared to son; but a big part of that is because son is in front.....Also, in the first pic you'd say Dad's paws look bigger, but in the second picture the son's paws look way bigger.

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[widmerk]

Thanks for the clarification, Gavskrr. I always try using the map and previous pics myself before asking; but you guys know better than I (knew the Mejejane's were close to the area then but also young Beng En Dahl's territory as you say). 

Do you guys agree post 9,968 was the S79 males? I picked them up first crossing the H4-1 from South to North a little South of the S21, and then guessed correctly where they would pop out on the S79. They headed North in the riverbed from there.

Is there a name for the 3rd Eastern Gomondwane in post 9,966?

Tr1, Timbavati, Brahim,  the maps you guys put together for the "Maps of Coalitions and Prides" page are incredible, and go into the bush with me every trip. Would be amazing to update the Kruger wide map in post # 254 from that forum. 

BTW- was in the Kalahari this May; while the lions there deserve their reputation of having enormous, dark manes, in my opinion the Kruger males' manes are every bit as dark and full as the Kalahari. Reply

[widmerk]

June 2021, found these two on the S21, about 1.5 km below the H4-1. Not sure if they have gone on to bigger things? Pretty good scarring for their age.

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[widmerk]

Funny story about Casper, in May 2019 Casper had last been seen near his natal pride around the H6/S41, etc. I spent days circling the area looking for the white lion with no luck. Few days later, I'd spent the entire morning traveling the S39 and H1-4 and hardly saw a bird. Thought "Damn, you wasted that day". It was hot, 11:00 am, and I thought "F- it" I'll take one more drive on the S126, and there I pick up these three hunting. I'd always wanted to see a kill, and watched as these three set up by the waterhole, waiting, and then a zebra heads right for them. They immediately start crouching and the hunt is on, and I'm like "here we go!"...

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[Tr1x24]

(08-24-2023, 03:56 AM)widmerk Wrote: Mapokser; I love thinking about that, but honestly I don't think it's possible to say; so much depends on the exact angle and our (faulty) memories. For example; there are times I'm watching Tank and think he's clearly bigger than Split Nose, but then they move around and suddenly Split Nose looks bigger; so "in the moment" the perspective, who's in front of who etc. can play a big role. Factor in who's recently eaten more, and gets more complicated. Even mane size can change a lot (if a male loses a fight, he loses mane). Height is certainly easier to tell if they are side by side. As for comparing different lions from memory of different days; well that's practically impossible given, again, the perspectives (who was closer, etc.) and our bad memories. Certainly Tank, the Sweni male on the S100, and  Leeubron males come to mind but these are basically wild guesses. 
As an example of how perspective changes things; check out this pic of Lubye Lubye son (front) and Dad (back). Dad looks tiny compared to son; but a big part of that is because son is in front.....Also, in the first pic you'd say Dad's paws bigger, but in the second sons paws look way bigger.

Thats what im always saying, that even a person/guide/ranger who sees lions in person, cant exactly "judge" and compare their size.

Most lions are around the same size, even if they are side by side, its hard to see who is bigger, let alone to compare 2 lions who where never seen together and are close in size..

Ofc there are above average smaller and bigger lions, but those are rare, ok, you can judge size of those lions approx, when you see them with other lions (for example if male is smaller or around the same size as all females he hangs with, or compared to his brothers, he is obiviously smaller lion, and other way around).

I remember when someone from Manyeleti said first that RRM was bigger then both DM Avoca and Junior Matimba, and when they saw Scar Mbiri, they said he is bigger then RRM.

And we saw that DM Avocas dwarfs his brother Mohawk, and Junior Matimba was at 3.5 yrs of age the same size as Ginger Matimba, who was not even noticable smaller then his bro HB, who is regarded as biggest male this area was seen in recent time.

If we go by that, Scar Mbiri should be the size of a Jeep, while Mohawk should be leopard size lol...

While in reality, Scar MbirI, RRM, Junior and DM are prob very close in size, impossible to tell unless you put them side by side and compare.

Those ranger and people rankings are in most cases subjective views, and as you said many factors came to play (mane is very big factor, belly fat, recent meals, view angle etc..)

I bet if we would put all those unrelated males side by side, in most cases outcomes would be different then what we taught before.

Biggest lions in Kruger are prob ones we dont even think they are. Reply

[widmerk]

Continuing post 9984:
So I'm thinking "here we go, this is it; these three are gonna nail this Zebra" and as the lion gets close a different lion from these three, behind me, roars out of no where, zebra gets spooked and runs away. I'm like "Damn it, who is this idiot lion who just roared and ruined the hunt ?!?" And just then this fella emerges:

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So, Casper ruined me seeing the kill, but I finally saw Casper.... Reply

[widmerk]

(08-24-2023, 04:31 AM)Tr1x24, Wrote:

(08-24-2023, 03:56 AM)widmerk Wrote: Mapokser; I love thinking about that, but honestly I don't think it's possible to say; so much depends on the exact angle and our (faulty) memories. For example; there are times I'm watching Tank and think he's clearly bigger than Split Nose, but then they move around and suddenly Split Nose looks bigger; so "in the moment" the perspective, who's in front of who etc. can play a big role. Factor in who's recently eaten more, and gets more complicated. Even mane size can change a lot (if a male loses a fight, he loses mane). Height is certainly easier to tell if they are side by side. As for comparing different lions from memory of different days; well that's practically impossible given, again, the perspectives (who was closer, etc.) and our bad memories. Certainly Tank, the Sweni male on the S100, and  Leeubron males come to mind but these are basically wild guesses. 
As an example of how perspective changes things; check out this pic of Lubye Lubye son (front) and Dad (back). Dad looks tiny compared to son; but a big part of that is because son is in front.....Also, in the first pic you'd say Dad's paws bigger, but in the second sons paws look way bigger.

Thats what im always saying, that even a person/guide/ranger who sees lions in person, cant exactly "judge" and compare their size.

Most lions are around the same size, even if they are side by side, its hard to see who is bigger, let alone to compare 2 lions who where never seen together and are close in size..

Ofc there are above average smaller and bigger lions, but those are rare, ok, you can judge size of those lions approx, when you see them with other lions (for example if male is smaller or around the same size as all females he hangs with, or compared to his brothers, he is obiviously smaller lion, and other way around).

I remember when someone from Manyeleti said first that RRM was bigger then both DM Avoca and Junior Matimba, and when they saw Scar Mbiri, they said he is bigger then RRM.

And we saw that DM Avocas dwarfs his brother Mohawk, and Junior Matimba was at 3.5 yrs of age the same size as Ginger Matimba, who was not even noticable smaller then his bro HB, who is regarded as biggest male this area was seen in recent time.

If we go by that, Scar Mbiri should be the size of a Jeep, while Mohawk should be leopard size lol...

While in reality, Scar MbirI, RRM, Junior and DM are prob very close in size, impossible to tell unless you put them side by side and compare.

Those ranger and people rankings are in most cases subjective views, and as you said many factors came to play (mane is very big factor, belly fat, recent meals, view angle etc..)

I bet if we would put all those unrelated males side by side, in most cases outcomes would be different then what we taught before.

Biggest lions in Kruger are prob ones we dont even think they are.

Tr1, Agree completely. Fun to think about but damn near impossible unless we dart them, weigh them, and then correct for last meal, age, etc. Reply

[BA0701]

(08-24-2023, 03:56 AM)widmerk Wrote: Mapokser; I love thinking about that, but honestly I don't think it's possible to say; so much depends on the exact angle and our (faulty) memories. For example; there are times I'm watching Tank and think he's clearly bigger than Split Nose, but then they move around and suddenly Split Nose looks bigger; so "in the moment" the perspective, who's in front of who etc. can play a big role. Factor in who's recently eaten more, and gets more complicated. Even mane size can change a lot (if a male loses a fight, he loses mane). Height is certainly easier to tell if they are side by side. As for comparing different lions from memory of different days; well that's practically impossible given, again, the perspectives (who was closer, etc.) and our bad memories. Certainly Tank, the Sweni male on the S100, and  Leeubron males come to mind but these are basically wild guesses. 
As an example of how perspective changes things; check out this pic of Lubye Lubye son (front) and Dad (back). Dad looks tiny compared to son; but a big part of that is because son is in front.....Also, in the first pic you'd say Dad's paws look bigger, but in the second picture the son's paws look way bigger.

*This image is copyright of its original author

*This image is copyright of its original author

A great take on the age old biggest lion debate. Reply

[Ahmed Ali]

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Throwback 2005/2006 .

I know this post should be post in Majingilane Thread but i will posted her becouse Majingilane males from Kruger National Park spically from Mantimahle Dam pride .

This Very Rare photo from my research By :- By Daniela Konefke .

This one of the sinèor Mantimahle pride lionesses with her 2 cubs ( One male and female ) .

The male is the Hip scar of Majingilane and the female is his littilmate sister . Reply

[T I N O]

(08-24-2023, 04:38 AM)widmerk Wrote: Continuing post 9984:
So I'm thinking "here we go, this is it; these three are gonna nail this Zebra" and as the lion gets close a different lion from these three, behind me, roars out of no where, zebra gets spooked and runs away. I'm like "Damn it, who is this idiot lion who just roared and ruined the hunt ?!?" And just then this fella emerges:

*This image is copyright of its original author

*This image is copyright of its original author

*This image is copyright of its original author

So, Casper ruined me seeing the kill, but I finally saw Casper....

Great pics my friend. Can't wait to visit the bush soon, I'm going to Timbavati in about 1 and half years. Very exciting indeed!! 
Thank you for the kind words in your previous post, your words are greatly appreciated. WildFact is one of the best website I have ever come across Reply

[Tr1x24]

(08-24-2023, 04:17 AM)widmerk Wrote: Do you guys agree post 9,968 was the S79 males?

Yes, those are s79/Mazithi males.

(08-24-2023, 04:17 AM)widmerk Wrote: Is there a name for the 3rd Eastern Gomondwane in post 9,966?

They call him Blondie.

Those are your photos of Lubyelubye father and son? If are, when did you took those?

Son was such a fine specimen, shame he disappeared so early in his life. Reply

[Tr1x24]

1/3 Imbali males on H1-2 :

Photo credits: Big on Wild

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