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Lions of Sabi Sands
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One of the Nharu/Tumbela males
Image by: Roger Hlongwane  *This image is copyright of its original author
Deborah du Plessis
Nov 2020 Nkuhumas, Avocas & Cubs  *This image is copyright of its original author  *This image is copyright of its original author  *This image is copyright of its original author
The Ottawa male standing proud, having grown in size and associated dominance, this male is now pushing his territory further and further into Londolozi.
Image by: Sean Zeederberg  *This image is copyright of its original author
The Tsalala Lioness: Still Alive and Well For Now
The Tsalala female and her daughter dodged a proverbial bullet a few days ago, walking within 100 metres of the full Nkuhuma Pride where they were lying above the Manyelethi Riverbed. Had the two Tsalalas been spotted by the rival pride, things might not have ended well, as they would have been seriously outnumbered and the Nkuhuma females had their cubs to defend. As luck would have it, neither group realised the other was there and the Tsalala pair spent the day on the sands of the Manyelethi, sleeping peacefully only a few hundred metres from the danger of their rivals.  *This image is copyright of its original author A journey of giraffes keeps careful watch on the approaching Tsalala lions.
As evening fell the Nkuhumas got moving, walking down into the Manyelethi upstream from the Tsalala female, who actually caught sight of them. Wisely the two Tsalala lions opted to simply lie low in the sand, and they weren’t spotted.  *This image is copyright of its original author The Tsalala pride in the Manyelethi River. The Nkuhuma pride meanwhile were lying only 100m behind us and to the right.
The reality though is that we are seeing the Nkuhuma pride and the Avoca males (who were also close to the above incident) further and further south. The Nkuhuma pride would probably have been visible from the Londolozi camps as they set off into the dusk, and it seems like the clock must surely be ticking on the Tsalala lions’ time in the sun.  *This image is copyright of its original author One can see from the head sizes alone that there is still a significant size difference between mother and daughter. The younger lion is still a long way from adult hood and therefore from adding any real value to hunting or defending territory.
The status quo may remain unchanged for a few months or even a year, but I simply can’t see this single lioness (I’m discounting the sub-adult as it won’t add any value in a territorial scrap) being able to withstand mounting pressure from 8 big females. Or is it 9? I can never remember. Either way, I think the thing we have to accept is that prides’ tenures are always going to be finite. The once-mighty Sparta pride is down to one solitary female, and she is no longer viewed on Londolozi. Prides come and go, and whilst there certainly is a chance of the Tsalala pride growing once more if the current sub-adult survives to start breeding herself, the one thing that is not on their side is time. We’re looking at another year before the younger lion adds any real value on a hunt, and at least another two years but probably more before she comes into oestrus for the first time.  *This image is copyright of its original author The Tsalala lioness leads her daughter across the hill crests opposite the Londolozi camps.
Her mother may reproduce again, but with the current male dynamics poised to undergo a significant restructuring, it’ll likely be many months after that happens that the required amount of stability settles for any of the prides to successfully start reproducing again. I’m not trying to be a nay sayer here, I’m simply stating fact, or at least fact in the way I see it. Which I guess is opinion. There’s the result I want to see and there’s the result that is far more likely. The likely one doesn’t favour the Tsalalas…
I think Londolozi is being super pessimistic... Tsalala female is the lone female I think has the highest chance of succeeding... but still interesting. She’s definitely feeling the pressure.
(11-06-2020, 05:43 AM)Gijima Wrote: I think Londolozi is being super pessimistic... Tsalala female is the lone female I think has the highest chance of succeeding... but still interesting. She’s definitely feeling the pressure. That is rather just sad reality. With way larger pride moving into Tsalala's territory there is always possibility that Tsalalas gonna get cought and atacked by females from those bigger prides.  (11-06-2020, 05:41 AM)Gijima Wrote: The Tsalala Lioness: Still Alive and Well For Now Another Londolozi "bullshit" post.. Jesus.. The amount of miss information and false narratives in their posts is just sad to see at this point.. Its better to ignore it.. Tsalala young lioness is 1.5 yrs old and at that age lions already participate in hunts.. Also at that age she has way more chances to survive then before and encounters like this happens every week... 8,9 females in Nkuhuma pride? lol.. "Her mother may reproduce again, but with the current male dynamics poised to undergo a significant restructuring, it’ll likely be many months after that happens that the required amount of stability settles for any of the prides to successfully start reproducing again." ?? Male lion dynamics restructuring?? What??
Tumbela male:
Photo Credit : rangerstu24  *This image is copyright of its original author
(11-06-2020, 09:25 PM)Tr1x24 Wrote:(11-06-2020, 05:41 AM)Gijima Wrote: The Tsalala Lioness: Still Alive and Well For Now I think rather than Londolozi should be from James Tyrrell. The whole Londolozi team not should not be involved in this when just one of their guys is doing those posts. (11-06-2020, 09:54 PM)TinoArmando Wrote: I think rather than Londolozi should be from James Tyrrell. The whole Londolozi team not should not be involved in this when just one of their guys is doing those posts. Well idk who is in charge there, but obiviously James Tyrrell is the leading ranger, i have nothing against him, actually i think he is quite a cool dude, but holy his "narrative" and "dramatic" posts about lions are too much for me and i dont pay that much attention to what they say..  (11-06-2020, 05:41 AM)Gijima Wrote: The Tsalala Lioness: Still Alive and Well For Now Regardless of the accuracy, or inaccuracy as it may be, of the text, out of all the current stories, happenings, and drama in the lion kingdom, the tale of the Tsalala lioness and her cub are one of my favorites to follow, along with the Ximhungwe lioness and her cub as well. As it stands they are both such feel good stories.
Styx young male at Dudley in Sabi Sands
Image by: Röper Botes  *This image is copyright of its original author
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