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Lions of Sabi Sands
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4 Kambula males are back in Chitwa Chitwa and Deon said the BDMs have went further South and guessed the Kambula males may have chased them.
 (12-07-2023, 01:04 AM)Mapokser Wrote: They had met Gijimas and PCM before, they can probably sense the BDM aren't as strong, and usually these takeovers happen against the weakest coalition in the area. We cant judge coalition strenght by this. 4 Kambulas can easily take Gijimas, PC males and Ndhzengas aswell, key roll prob played NK females in estrus, who linked with Kambulas, so they are attracted to BDMs territory. PC males have no females in estrus atm, so Kambulas are less attracted to that area. Talamati females were in estrus recently, but looks like Kambulas never really link with them, prob where not confident enough, and Gijimas took them. Without NK females in estrus, its very questionable if Kambulas would target BDMs territory. 
@Tr1x24 they can probably take Gijimas and PCM, but it'd probably not be as easy. There're females in estrus back in the south too, Gijimas are currently mating.
Lions can sense each other's strength, probably by scent, roaring and stuff. Londolozi aside they'd spent most of their time in the south and west, rarely going north, but at the end seems to have chosen the north, probably because they felt it was the easiest target. We've seen this happening many times, Selatis challenging the old Mapogo instead of Matimbas or Majingis; Tumbelas challenging old HB instead of the Othawa male; Nhenha/NK challenging Tumbelas instead of PCM... When a new coalition roams around a certain area and get to know the resident males, they generally challenge the weakest/most vulnerable ones... Look at the Gijimas, they successfully repelled a coalition of 6 aggressive males who were all the same age of the 3 elder Kambulas, + one prime experiment male. The S.Avocas resisted for months, also repelled 6 and later chased 5, catching DeLaporte and almost killing him. The BDM seemingly gave up and got chased after 2 days of pressure from a much weaker coalition compared to the Nkhulus. I'm not saying BDM had the obligation of doing more against 4 males, but it seems that part of the reason they were targeted instead of Gijimas or PCM is because they aren't as strong. (12-07-2023, 07:59 PM)Tr1x24 Wrote:(12-07-2023, 01:04 AM)Mapokser Wrote: They had met Gijimas and PCM before, they can probably sense the BDM aren't as strong, and usually these takeovers happen against the weakest coalition in the area. Not sure about them being able to easily take on a coalition like the PCMs or they would have done it already, there’s a reason we’ve not heard of any conflict between the two coalitions and it’s because the Kambula males have never sought out the PCMs. (12-07-2023, 11:38 PM)Mapokser Wrote: The BDM seemingly gave up and got chased after 2 days of pressure from a much weaker coalition compared to the Nkhulus. Feel like you’re delving too much into this based on a guess by Deon that is no way confirmed. I agree out of all the dominant coalitions in Sabi Sand, the BDMs seem the weakest but even if they were chased it doesn’t ruin their credibility especially if they still have the same 3 Nkuhuma females with them. Now if they were to rapidly get pushed out their territory by a coalition with this little experience… that’s a different convo.
@KM600 PCM have met the Kambulas already, some 2 months or so ago, the PCM chased them off a carcass which made them reluctant to go further west for a while according to Singita.
And I'm not treating this situation as an absolute fact, but the fact 2 Kambulas were seen with the same 2 females the BDM were hanging out with a day earlier after the clash and the fact the BDM went further south while the Kambulas are in Djuma, makes the guide's guess quite likely to be accurate. Smaller coalitions can't compete with larger ones if they lose a single clash. Smaller coalitions are completely reliant on intimidation, the moment they lose their first clash, it's over. Look at the BDM themselves, after the first time Mohawk was unable to chase them, everything was over. Things like losing a clash today but winning against the same opppnents next week only happens when both sides have even numbers so confidence levels and the stakes can vary.
@Mapokser Theres also plenty examples of coalitions not targeting weakest coalition in the area.
By that logic, 4 Majigilanes taught that 4 Selatis where weaker then 2 S.Matimbas. Or idk, just recently 3 young BBoys taking on 3 RP males at Umbatat, while they had easier targets in Timbavati where they hanged around. So I think its definetly more to it. For those young nomadic coalitions, it might be just coinciedence where they are at the moment when they become ready and confident.
@Tr1x24
Majingis were dominant over northern SS already, taking it from Mapogos and Gijimas, but lost it to 6 Matimbas in 2011 and started challenging Selatis in 2012, having their new and largest pride, Mangheni, in the Selati's border. So it makes sense for them to not go back north, a territory they knew they lost to 6 lions that were still together throughout 2012 and 2013. Also by the end of 2012 or very start of 2013, one of the Selatis got injured by a buffalo, making things easier for Majingis. I'm not very knowledgeable on the Timbavati situation but isn't the Nhahru male the only other option there? I'm not sure Birminghams are aware of him, but they got an opportunity of attacking the lone River male, but after that they quit, the 2 remaining River pride males are still dominant. Not saying that exceptions don't happen but it makes sense for the lions to go for the easiest target.  
I think its important to remember that lions mostly are opportunistic animals. They don't sit in a cave moving lion figurines around, plotting their next conquest.
But rather just do their thing and see which risks and opportunities present themselves. 
That’s what being a nomad is seeing what is near and around you I guess they just liked the north although I’ve never seen them go north before but nkuhuma girls are the first pride they’ve came across and stayed with so I guess that’s why
[i]https://blog.londolozi.com/2023/12/08/the-week-in-pictures-626/?fbclid=IwAR1FSsBOh0sKGle8X_-1-f891zj8oQwf10jwP2FIA1KHegnfyCYKHHbsUEo[/i]
[i]The morning started with fresh tracks of the Ntsevu Breakaway Pride. The tracks had covered a large distance and led us straight to the Sand River where ranger Keagan had found them lying on the banks of the river. There were only three of the four males with the female found. We assumed that they might have separated during a chase as the Nkuhuma Male and the Skorro Male were close by which could mean that they chased these younger lions the night before.[/i]  *This image is copyright of its original author The Skorro Male watches vultures soar in the skies in the distance. Over the last few weeks, this young male has been seen with the Nkhuhuma Male. It is still far too early to consider these two in a permanent coalition, but that would drastically improve their chances of survival in this incredibly competitive battle among the male lions for territory and dominance.  *This image is copyright of its original author [i]The Nkhuhuma Male stands on top of a termite mound to watch the Skorro Male as he walks off towards a herd of impala. I have noticed that the Nkuhuma Male has been the less dominant male of the two and is often following the Skorro Male. [/i] 
New Londolozi Week in pics shared that Skorro of Orpen and Nkuhuma Nwalungu have been in each other’s company for a few weeks now.
Could we finally see a new coalition for Nkuhuma that actually sticks this time? Time will tell https://blog.londolozi.com/2023/12/08/th...tures-626/ “The Skorro Male watches vultures soar in the skies in the distance. Over the last few weeks, this young male has been seen with the Nkhuhuma Male. It is still far too early to consider these two in a permanent coalition, but that would drastically improve their chances of survival in this incredibly competitive battle among the male lions for territory and dominance.”
Got to say I’m quite surprised at this move from Skorro YM, didn’t think he’d be accepting another male while he’s still with Tsalala female but seems like he’s fine with it and them chasing the Kambula males would mean their bond is already quite strong.
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