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History's most brutal killers, the Majingilane Male Lions
History's most brutal killers, the Majingilane Male Lions
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History's most brutal killers, the Majingilane Male Lions
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Credits to Kelwan Kaiser - Idube.
Golden mane.  *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
Credits to Kelwan Kaiser.
The focused stare of the King.  *This image is copyright of its original author
Credits to Stuart Buy - Leopard Hills.
The very serious and regal old Kings of the west.  *This image is copyright of its original author  *This image is copyright of its original author  *This image is copyright of its original author
Credits to Kelwan Kaiser.
 *This image is copyright of its original author  *This image is copyright of its original author  *This image is copyright of its original author
Credits: Londolozi
Mhangeni Lionesses with Birmingham Males: What Does This Mean? The rather subdued roar of a male lion came from near the Londolozi airstrip early in the morning. Within minutes ranger Mrisho Lugenge had found one of the Birmingham males in company with what looked to be a Mhangeni lioness, lying on the high bank of a waterhole to the south of the Londolozi camps. After a couple of mating bouts in the thickets, they moved out towards the tarmac of the airstrip, where they would continue to mate throughout the morning, by the end of which a second mating pair had been found only a few hundred metres further west, also comprised of a Birmingham male and a Mhangeni lioness.  *This image is copyright of its original author The first mating pair of Mhangeni lioness and Birmoingham male copulate near the Londolozi airstrip. This raises a few questions. Firstly, why do these Mhangeni lionesses not want their female offspring to stay with them? The traditional understanding of lion prides has females remaining in the pride they are born into, adding to the hunting numbers which ultimately helps in cub survival. At least that’s the gist of it. Yet it seems like for the second time the adult Mhangeni females are about to force out what could be some potentially valuable pride-members. It’s too early to make that call, but what has been happening is a remarkable case of bush deja vu. The best explanation I can come up with – if this is going to be the pride’s M.O. – is that the Mhangeni females themselves left their own pride at a young age. It’s too long a history to get into for now, but you can read about their formation by clicking here.  *This image is copyright of its original author Four Mhangeni sub-adults and one adult female(second from right) look towards where a kudu was barking at them. Well, apart from the male on the left. Last time a big group of group of sub-adults split from the pride, we saw both males and females staying together for a few months before the males left and the females formed the Ntsevu pride.  *This image is copyright of its original author A Mhangeni sub-adult female looks back towards the rest of the pride. We may well see her and the other two young females striking out on their own over the next year. Secondly – and this is a big one – why are two Mhangeni lionesses coming all the way east to mate with two Birmingham males? For years the pride has had the Majingilane as their dominant coalition, and both big groups of cubs (2013 and 2016) were sired by these males. Now, the lionesses are leaving their territory to mate with what for them are essentially new males. Does this mean that there is some sort of recognition that the Majingilane are well past their prime? Is this investment into what the Mhangeni females believe may be their next dominant coalition? If trends of the past are anything to go by, the Birmingham males may well end up moving west, as we’ve seen both the Majingilane and Mapogo spending their last days as dominant males in the western sector of the Sabi Sand Reserve. The Majingilane spread themselves very thin at one point, controlling a massive area that included practically all of Londolozi, a significant chunk of Mala Mala, eastern Singita, and territory up into the Northern Sector of the reserve. Big territory means a lot of energy expended to patrol it and control it though, so if the Birmingham males end up doing the same and taking over a territory of comparable size, we will most likely see similar behaviour to the Majingilane circa 2012-2013; a lot of vocalisation and the males covering big distances as they demarcate their boundaries.  *This image is copyright of its original author We have hardly ever seen all the Birmingham males together, but that is typical of a big coalition. It’s nice to dream though.
Majingilanes need to set authority over the mhagheni females and they need to regroup and mark more profoundly their territory close to the east.
(02-28-2018, 12:18 AM)Chris Wrote: Majingilanes need to set authority over the mhagheni females and they need to regroup and mark more profoundly their territory close to the east.i think the magheni lionesses are starting to notice that the magingalanes males are starting lose their strength! and starting to see the young Birmingham as the new upcoming kings. 
There has been cases of lionesses in captive killing the "pride" male, might be a similar behavior but in the wild, where the lionesses identify the males weaknesses due to old age and decide to search for younger more dominant males, since they are not in captive in a enclosed space they don't need to do something as dangerous as trying to kill the males.
It's just amazing that the Majingilane were so sucessful that behavior only seen in captive lions due to old age is being displayed, normally male lions either get pushed into a nomadic life or get killed by other males, reaching a point where they are too old naturally is amazing.
That kinda explains scar-nose spending time with the kambulas out in malamala recently. Probably instinctually realized that he soon might be living as an old nomad without any chance at furthering his bloodline, might as well take the risk of running into the birminghams at the opportunity of fathering more offspring.
photo by @rangerstu24
Golden Mane Legends remain victorious in spite of history
The mhangeni always were very promiscuos and nomadic girls. Majingilanes had to kill and expelled the selatis from west to not allow mhangenis mate with them. Also in 2014, matimba hairy belly mated with one mhangeni at elephant plains. But it was a fake estrus. Lets wait and see with this event was just a simple fake estrus of mhangenis or if majingilanes are too old to follow the pride or with majingis will try to do something at londolozi. Anyway the majingi east border land is until singita. Out of there is not their business.
From the Youtube channel S. D. H. 3T.
Videos credit: bushlife_q.p.j ‘The King’ tracking down his pride!• Feb 11 bushlife_q.p.j The integrity of the pride lies within its strongest members! Here the dominant Majingilane Lion cleans his dark mane. His tongue is covered in tiny spines that face backward and are used in this way to groom himself and scrape meat off bone when feeding! • Feb 16 hanseljon Lion in hunting mode • Feb 21 bonvoyage_love The king and his queen • Feb 22 charmainemichel Lion kill - chased the #buffalo into the water for an easy take down • Feb 23 megandcampbell SOUND ON!!!! The video is pretty dark... but tonight we found this gorgeous older male lion sleeping and we sat and watched him until the sun went down. Then we got to witness him calling out to his pride while sitting 30 feet away. It was probably the most incredible (and luckiest) thing we have experienced so far. What a beautifully majestic creature. It made me feel so small and powerless in such a perfect way :) #Mufasa#oursingita • Feb 25 megandcampbell Super close-ups with 3 sleeping male lions and one Ellie on this morning’s drive... these two animals are by far my favorite and SUCH gorgeous creatures in person. These videos do no justice. And yeah, this is how it happens... sometimes you just drive right up on these wonders and all you can do is drop your jaw. • Feb 25 |
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