Lions of Sabi Sands

[fursan syed]

West Street Males

2001

January 2001

Sightings of the West Street Males during this game report period were relatively few, particularly in the latter parts of the month. Although there were several sightings of members of this coalition on their own or in pairs, they continued to spend much time with the females of the Eyrefield Pride. At least two of the lionesses of this pride have given birth over the last month. These new arrivals for some of the lionesses would cause the pride to separate out for at least some of the time, and this too would perhaps fragment the coalition. At the beginning of this game report period one of the West Street Males was mating with one of the lionesses of the Eyrefield Pride. Sightings of the Mlowathi Males to the north of the area controlled by the West Street Males were more frequent than has perhaps been the case in the past. This may signify a greater willingness from these younger males to probe south towards the West Street Males which then might encourage the older less secure lions to move away.

February 2001

This month saw the first sighting in many weeks of all four of the West Street Males in one group. At this sighting they were together with two lionesses of the Eyrefield Pride and the young male which has been with these lions for many months now. Two of the West Street Males were guarding these two lionesses and following whenever they moved. It is highly likely that they were approaching oestrus. On another occasion the four males were in close proximity to one another, roaring back and forth. All were very fat, probably having eaten a buffalo or some other such large item of prey. As usual, many of the encounters with the West Street Males this month were of them in close attendance to the lionesses of the Eyrefield Pride. Several of the lionesses of the Eyrefield Pride are lactating and others showing signs of being pregnant and so it is not surprising that the West Street Males are continuing to show great interest in the proceedings.

March 2001

These old males continue to hold onto power and the Eyrefield Pride, the question is when will they be overthrown and which lions will do it. March saw little change in the lives of these four lions, with them still patrolling the borders of their territory and still spending much time with the lionesses of the Eyrefield Pride. Quite surprisingly, the West Street Males seemed to do a fair amount of roaring this month. Roaring is generally regarded as being a sign of confidence and the more vocal a coalition of males, the less likely others will challenge them. Have the West Street Males found a second wind, or is this perhaps desperation stage? There was only one sighting this month of all four males together, and this with 6 of the lionesses. Towards the end of the month, three of the male lions were with five of the females of the Eyrefield Pride when an adult female waterbuck was killed. In spite of the fact that this antelope would have probably weighed at least 150 kilograms, it was quite clear that all the work was done by the females and the males received the proverbial 'lions share'.

April 2001

The four West Street Males appear to have a second-wind and seem to be maintaining well. Perhaps it will not last long, but, in general, their physical condition appears somewhat better than was the case some months ago. This month, particularly towards the beginning, there were several sightings of all four of these males together, on one occasion accompanying four of the lionesses of the Eyrefield Pride. Later in the month one of the males was mating with one of the lionesses of this same family. There were several sightings during April when these lions set about with tremendous roaring displays, advertising their presence to all around.

May 2001

As has become expected of these lions now, the four West Street Males, they spent much of their time with the lionesses of the Eyrefield Pride. Particularly towards the beginning of the game report period there were several sightings of all four males together and in each case they were also in the company of lionesses of the Eyrefield Pride. When the Eyrefield Prides cubs were seen for the first time, this at a buffalo kill, the four males were also there. It is quite likely that they in fact assisted in the killing of this large bull. Interestingly, these males do not appear that interested in the cubs and the youngsters seem to deliberately stay well away from them. Speculation as to how long it is before these old males get replaced is continuing. Although the Mlowathi Males, which control the area to the north and east of the West Street Males, did not venture far from this area, there was some indication that at least one of the West Street Males made contact with them and was chased off.

June 2001

It is quite likely that all four of the West Street Males were alive towards the end of May, but certainly before mid-June, one had died. It is not known what happened to it but reports from a neighbour were of finding hyaenas nibbling from the carcass of an adult male lion. Perhaps it was killed by other lions, or even in a potential every-day mishap which could happen whilst trying to subdue some powerful prey animal such as a buffalo, giraffe or zebra. Who knows, but the lion is dead and only three remain. What was interesting to notice was the reaction of the remaining trio as not all responded in the same fashion. One of the survivors seemed to take the death of their companion quite badly - not only was it very nervous when approached by a vehicle, but it would frequently stare westwards towards where his companions remains lay, and would walk that way, roaring loudly. The other two males hardly seemed to notice his absence. With big coalitions of male lions - and the West Street Males were no exception, there being five initially - cliques seem to form and certain animals have a stronger affection for one another than with the other members. These sub-groups would frequently been seen together as they hunted or patrolled within the coalitions domain. So it is quite likely that, while they were all alive, the male lion which displayed such a sense of loss was indeed closer to the dead lion than the others had been. This behaviour persisted for a week or so and then all settled down again. Even the Eyrefield Pride, the lionesses with which these males have stayed during their reign over the area, noticed that something was amiss and they and their cubs went as far from the scene as possible, way to the south and east of their known range. Just what will happen now is not known - although it is highly likely that the remaining three old lions will soon be kicked out, the question is when and by what 'new' lions. Interestingly, the surviving three lions have not given up entirely. When five young males ventured into the southern areas of their range (these being the approximately 5-year-old males from the Charleston Pride which made a surprise reappearance) the trio of West Street Males were there in a flash, going all the way down to the southern-most point of their domain. Although they were not heard to roar as powerfully as could have been expected, they certainly did muster a suitable show of force in response to the intrusion. So, for all their decrepit appearances and the whittling away of their numbers, it appears that they West Street Males will not give in without a fight.

July 2001

The three remaining West Street Males still seem to be holding on. Although they certainly appear more beaten up by the day, their bellies are nearly always full, this probably mostly courtesy of the Eyrefield Pride which they still spend much time with, particularly the male with the very torn nose. Although this latter male lion spends so much time with the cubs of the Eyrefield Pride - this when compared with his two companions - the young lions usually give him a wide berth, evidently highly respectful of him. When the other two lions are around, they usually command a fair amount of attention from the cubs and have even been seen playing with them.

August 2001

Three adult males - West Street Males:
The surviving West Street Males continued to survive, but the threat of challengers appears greater every day. Towards the beginning of the month the male considered the most dominant was found at the very southern part of their range, badly beaten and limping badly. He stayed here for two days, licking his wounds and then moved north to join the others. On another occasion, two young male lions 'joined' the West Street Males and the lions of the Eyrefield Pride on a buffalo kill. This blatant invasion, although not an immediate threat, serves warning of the lack of confidence developing amongst the West Street Males. Although the West Street Males spent much of the time with the lionesses of the Eyrefield Pride, they were on occasion seen by themselves.

September 2001

The West Street Males had an interesting month. Five young male lions were seen several times towards the southerly parts of where they are known to roam and this may have encouraged them to keep clear of this area. But, to the north of the West Street Males' domain, their neighbours, the Mlowathi Males, were strangely absent. The combination of these two factors probably contributed towards the West Street Males moving further north than they have been for many months. As old and failing as the West Street Male coalition may be, this did not stop them from proclaiming their presence and continuing to act like powerful dominant males. There was no evidence to suggest that the Mlowathi Males responded to this incursion in the lower parts of their domain. There were several sighting of the West Street Males together with the lionesses of the Eyrefield Pride.

October 2001

Three adult males - West Street Males: These old males found a new lease on life with the almost overnight disappearance of the Mlowathi Males from the northern parts of the reserve. Perhaps with some pressure being felt to their south, this was exactly what they were looking for, a vacancy which could be occupied with scarcely a fight. Two of the lions in particular spent almost all of October patrolling to and fro along northern Mala Mala boundary, roaring and scent-marking for all to know about. And the Mlowathi Males failed to respond. They did not come rushing back to reclaim territory and this of course caused the Styx Pride to rush north, towards where it has been assumed that the Mlowathi Males have gone and away from the West Street Males. The third West Street Male spent most of the month with the 2 lionesses of the Eyrefield Pride which have the five cubs, joining his companions upon occasion or having them join him at others.

November 2001

Three adult males - The West Street Males spent most of the month away from the Eyrefield Pride, with two of them patrolling the north-eastern parts of Mala Mala, the area recently vacated by the Mlowathi Males. The West Street Male with the torn nose, which usually stays with the Eyrefield Pride lionesses and their cubs, was often on his own, seemingly torn between going northeast to join with his two companions in their patrols and following the Eyrefield Pride which apparently moved west. The first sighting of all three male lions together was when they chased other lions off a buffalo kill on central Eyrefield. Then, towards the end of this report period and after the male with the torn nose had gone for many days without the females, all three again joined forces and set about following the large herd of buffalo. And for at least four days and many kilometres they followed the buffalo before realising that they were onto a hiding for nothing. Towards months end the buffalo were getting good quantities of grass and were fit and healthy, the fragmented herds had amalgamated and they were suddenly big and dangerous again. But others have noticed the absence of the Mlowathi Males too and the West Street Males will have to really make an effort if they are to hang onto this area. Other young male lions have been seen on the northeastern parts of the reserve and these will also have noticed the availability of the territory. Just why the West Street Males seemed reluctant to venture west to follow the Eyrefield Pride is not known - either they see a major threat in the area or no threat at all; perhaps the latter if the Eyrefield Pride and cubs are prepared to venture that way.

December 2001

The West Street Males started the month off on a bad note when they were routed by a group of four young male lions which appear to be moving into the north-eastern parts of the reserve, part of the area vacated by the Mlowathi Males some months ago. The West Street Males have up to now also been vying for this particular piece of land. The clash happened when the two West Street Males which had been patrolling the northern parts of the reserve for the last few months came face to face with four younger male lions. The four young males - three looking to be brothers of approximately 5 or 6 years of age and another male with a large mane - were fat and full, probably having killed a buffalo during the night. They were lying with the old Emsagwen lioness which was not as fat as they were and looking somewhat perturbed by the presence of the young males. When the five lions were found, they seemed more concerned about sheltering against a fine drizzle which was falling than on anything else. Suddenly, the two old West Street Males arrived from the north, perhaps following the large herd of buffalo which had evidently been sent packing by the five the night before. Upon seeing the younger lions, the two West Street Males froze. They were still sixty or so meters away and the young lions had not yet seen them. After studying the opposition for a while and urinating in the area and scratching the soil, the West Street Males slowly advanced upon the other lions. They approached with a deliberate, stiff-legged gait, body-upright position - all designed to intimidate the opposition. They also separated slightly so that they were 15 or so meters apart. When they were approximately 30 meters from the younger males, they were spotted. The younger lions' hackles went up and they raised their heads to alert status, glaring at the approaching bigger lions. But they did not panic - at least this was not noticed in their behaviour - and this may have saved them. One or two of them started licking themselves and one stood up and simulated mating with one of his brothers - acts which showed near indifference to the approaching older males. The Emsagwen lioness knew what was coming and wanted to be anyplace but in the immediate area. As one of the West Street Males was rubbing his mane into a tree and scrape-marking, his companion turned away, this probably a fatal move. The younger lions noticed the hesitation and, led by the biggest male, started towards the two West Street Males, first at a slow walk and then at a run. The West Street Males tried to make a stand, but it was too much. One was cornered and briefly mauled, but then managed to flee and the rout was on! The two West Street Males ran as fast as they could with the large-maned male of the four in hot pursuit, roaring as he went. The three younger males appeared to be slightly overwhelmed at what had been achieved and regrouped in the original area, leaving the pursuit to the older and most dominant of their group. And the West Street Males fled, the one following the other by 100 or so meters and perhaps fooling the leading male that he was the enemy and causing it to sprint away from him, not just run with the easy lope which lions use to cover great distances at deceptively fast speeds. The pursuit did not last for more than a kilometre before the roaring victor returned to his companions. Surprisingly, these two West Street Males were seen the next day, still on the eastern bank of the Sand River and many kilometres further south and watching the large herd of buffalo. Nothing came of this and for the next couple of weeks all three of the West Street Males were on the western bank of the Sand River, spending some quality time with the Eyrefield Pride. Then two of them crossed the river again, but did not go anywhere near the northeastern parts where the four young male lions seem to be concentrating their efforts. Nevertheless, once these two West Street Males crossed, the Styx Pride moved off. But for the rest of the month the West Street Males seemed to spend time doing what they did before trying to move into the northern and eastern areas.

All Credits goes to MALA MALA Reply