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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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 (02-27-2016, 02:37 AM)Majingilane Wrote: @vizions The nature of this forum is to share our thoughts and our opinions. You don't have to censure me if my opinion doesn't suit yours. I did say the Londolozi articles contain a lot of exaggerations and accentuation. I don't think i'm insulting them or their work by saying that (a lot of blog/newspapers use this process to bring more attention to their articles). That's my opinion, and my criticism on them and it's only engaging myself. Everyone can have his own opinion on that subject. Anyways, let's just move on. 
@Majingilane,
beautiful photos of Hip Scar with his cubs, so nice, thanks! HS looks quite robust in the very recent videos, he appeared to be a little skinny in some videos posted some weeks ago, he probably needed a good meal.   
Idube Game Reserve:
The Majingilanes have left the very smelly elephant carcass and are sleeping  *This image is copyright of its original author Two of the Majingilane have returned to the elephant carcass  *This image is copyright of its original author
Leopard Hills Private Game Reserve:
It is probably one of the most amazing sounds to hear and feel in the bush. We watched in astonishment as two of the Majingilane males roared next to the vehicle.  *This image is copyright of its original author Hugo Breed Wildtography: Raising the roof.  *This image is copyright of its original author Both pics are of Black Mane.
Idube Game Reserve:
The three Majingilane are still lying in the same spot. The fourth, dark maned, male seems to have headed towards the area the Othawa pride was last seen  *This image is copyright of its original author  *This image is copyright of its original author
Idube Game Reserve:
Othawa pride with four Majingilane  *This image is copyright of its original author  *This image is copyright of its original author Cpar photography - Craig Parsons: Thirsty brothers. Hip Scar and Scar Nose  *This image is copyright of its original author Hugo Breed Wildtography: Cautiously looking at an approaching Elephant. Scar Nose  *This image is copyright of its original author One of the Majingilane males moving away from a couple of Bull Elephants close by.  *This image is copyright of its original author
 (03-03-2016, 01:07 AM)Majingilane Wrote: Black Mane, credits to Idube.. Check this ?one of the reasons buffaloes live in large herds is for defense against predators, but it is not hard to see why calf mortalities would be higher in big herds. Births are generally timed to coincide with the wet season’s optimal veld conditions and although a 26-54 kilogram newborn can stand after 10 minutes and can follow its mother within 2 hours, it needs several weeks to keep up with the herd. As the dry season advances grazing in the vicinity of perennial drinking water becomes trampled, forcing big herds to range up to 18 kilometers from surface water which they visit once or twice daily. A study partially done in MalaMala revealed that herds would trek up to 10 kilometers at night in search of better grazing. The long journeys at walking speeds of 5-6 kilometers an hour rapidly tired suckling calves and juveniles up to 2 years old. Distress, disease and parasitic infections exert their most profound impact at such stressful times. In their weakened state, calves lag behind or drop out of the herd altogether, becoming easy prey for lions and hyenas. I mentioned ‘disease’ earlier; allow me to elaborate as this is directly related to the question ‘What are the possible consequences?’ One will find few buffalo at MalaMala that are disease free, indeed, only 2.3% of all South Africa’s buffalo are disease free. Most in Kruger have corridor disease, foot-and-mouth, brucellosis and/or bovine tuberculosis (BTB). BTB first entered the Kruger ecosystem between 1950 and 1960, transmitted by infected cattle on 2 farms bordering the Crocodile River. Initial estimates predicted that it would take 40 years to spread through the Kruger’s buffalo population but it took just 15 years. As it spread its infection was also detected in lions, leopards, cheetah, hyenas, kudus, eland, impalas, bushbucks, baboons, warthogs, bushpigs, honey badgers and large-spotted genets. In these secondary hosts, infection often leads to severe loss of condition with large predators, especially lions, being particularly vulnerable as they are at the top of the food chain. In 2003 early symptoms of BTB-related ecological disturbances were being reported. For example, buffalo herds with a high BTB prevalence appeared more vulnerable to drought and because lions target the vulnerable their prey base accumulated a disproportionately high prevalence of BTB. Testing of sample lions in southern Kruger has shown that about 80% were infected or had been exposed to this highly contagious bacterial disease. BTB is having a big effect on lion social behavior. Male lions are dominant at kills and eat the choicest parts, such as lungs, which are a main sight for BTB lesions and bacteria. The disease weakens these dominant males and the knock on effect is not hard to imagine. (03-03-2016, 08:54 AM)Fredymrt Wrote:nclusion: History is repeating itself and this is not a once off or isolated incident. The drought we’re experiencing now is directly linked with the recent spike in buffalo kills made by lions. The Sand River is one of the few perennial water sources in this area and thus it has drawn a large number of buffaloes as they seek to quench their thirst. The lack of food and the increased distances herds have to travel between suitable grazing pastures and surface water is leading to increased fatigue and stress, which in turn affects particularly the young, old and weak as they become more susceptible to disease and predation. One could easily argue that Mother Nature is at work and the buffalo gene pool is being doused with chlorine ensuring no over-population and that only the fittest will survive thereby creating a healthier gene pool for the future. There is however serious cause for concern regarding the effects on lion populations as their increased intake of buffalo meat means increased exposure to BTB. As I mentioned in the previous paragraph, dominant male lions are at risk of getting weaker and this could lead to a higher turnover of dominant coalitions. Cub mortality then increases as they aren’t afforded the usual period of protection from their fathers. Younger coalitions become dominant prematurely and it can be argued that they aren’t yet equipped for it. Take humans for example, how many kids in their late teens or 20’s are in positions of power? Not many, because they’re not ready for that responsibility. The Gowrie males make for a good case study. Their immaturity was glaringly obvious during numerous mating attempts with the Styx pride- they didn’t seem to know quite how everything was supposed to work. They have also needlessly killed lionesses. It will be interesting to see how that dynamic plays out. Another argument being put forward is that lionesses are also entering adulthood prematurely leading to a possible trend in younger first time mothers. But more on that later.(03-03-2016, 01:07 AM)Majingilane Wrote: Black Mane, credits to Idube.. Check this ?one of the reasons buffaloes live in large herds is for defense against predators, but it is not hard to see why calf mortalities would be higher in big herds. Births are generally timed to coincide with the wet season’s optimal veld conditions and although a 26-54 kilogram newborn can stand after 10 minutes and can follow its mother within 2 hours, it needs several weeks to keep up with the herd. As the dry season advances grazing in the vicinity of perennial drinking water becomes trampled, forcing big herds to range up to 18 kilometers from surface water which they visit once or twice daily. A study partially done in MalaMala revealed that herds would trek up to 10 kilometers at night in search of better grazing. The long journeys at walking speeds of 5-6 kilometers an hour rapidly tired suckling calves and juveniles up to 2 years old. Distress, disease and parasitic infections exert their most profound impact at such stressful times. In their weakened state, calves lag behind or drop out of the herd altogether, becoming easy prey for lions and hyenas. 
Very interesting!
Have there been casualties to lions directly attributed to btb? (03-03-2016, 09:11 AM)Pckts Wrote: Very interesting! Pretty Boy died of BTB, all of them directly or indirectly die of this disease when they get old. I was wondering if the Lions kept in conservatories like the one of Kevin Richardson suffer from BTB.
This is horrible then, it could decimate an entire lion population to go a long with any scavengers.
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