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(04-14-2025, 05:44 PM)sunless Wrote: Styx Male with K12, he seems to be testing the waters again like on how he did on his fathers territory at Londolozi and now roaring in Gijima Males/Ndhzenga Males territory now at Umkumbe area. (Not 100% sure if Ndhzenga has a territory at Umkumbe but Kambula Pride have been sighted visiting the area from time to time.)
Umkumbe is pretty much "no man's" land between Ndhzengas and Gijimas, because of it we often see nomads hanging there.
K12 is looking at him like : "thats not good idea bro".
Btw, do you guys think K12 might be infertile? She will be 6 yrs old now.
Lone nomadic lionesses tend to slower go in estrus, but even Tsalala started mating regulary at 5 and had cubs shortly after.
If not inferile, her female hormons might be very low because of her situation and behaviour.
I don't know if she is, infertile, or not, but it is strange. I have just been hoping it has to do with her nomadic lifestyle. If she is, first K6, and then K12, that would be very odd indeed. K6, for all she has done for the pride over the years, has been the cause of many wars, a real Helen of Kambula, for sure.
(04-14-2025, 09:14 PM)Mapokser Wrote: If she hasn't had cubs and lost them already, I think she doesn't get pregnant because of her situation.
Tsalala at least found a small territory in Northern Singita under dominant PCM.
K12 is a full nomad weirdly bonding and living with a young nomadic male, she's as unique as her brothers in her more rare behavior.
I'd never seen a female spend so much time with her brothers and then leaves them to live the exact same lifestyle, but with a young male.
Maybe 1 male bullies her less than 4 males haha
Thats definetly the case, as except that 4 bros got quite pushy towards her for mating, its also quite easier for her to get her share of food with 1 male, than with 4.
Her chosing another young male is "logic" from her standpoint, as more than half her life, and whole adult life, she was only in company of males.
On the other hand, FE Styx was lately only in company of females, his brothers disappeared when they where small subs.
Will be interesting to follow these 2, they are together for more than half a year now.
(04-14-2025, 09:14 PM)Mapokser Wrote: If she hasn't had cubs and lost them already, I think she doesn't get pregnant because of her situation.
Tsalala at least found a small territory in Northern Singita under dominant PCM.
K12 is a full nomad weirdly bonding and living with a young nomadic male, she's as unique as her brothers in her more rare behavior.
I'd never seen a female spend so much time with her brothers and then leaves them to live the exact same lifestyle, but with a young male.
Maybe 1 male bullies her less than 4 males haha
Thats definetly the case, as except that 4 bros got quite pushy towards her for mating, its also quite easier for her to get her share of food with 1 male, than with 4.
Her chosing another young male is "logic" from her standpoint, as more than half her life, and whole adult life, she was only in company of males.
On the other hand, FE Styx was lately only in company of females, his brothers disappeared when they where small subs.
Will be interesting to follow these 2, they are together for more than half a year now.
"Coalition" of unrelated male and female.
Interesting point. Wouldn’t it be harder for her a lone lioness to find a partner? She was with around Talamatie lioness for I am not sure how long. Talamati lioness and K12 could have been good friends. I am thinking about how four Kambula male lions started liking Nukhuma, Imbali, and Talamati. K12 may have seen it is not in her best interest to be around many lionesses and four brothers. Talamati lioness and K12 could have been like Gingerella and Ximhungwe lioness. Maybe is what you said her experience has been with male lions. As a lone lioness, experience maybe saw more benefits around male lions. A lone lioness is probably better with male lions; might be more food with male lions, male lions may not hurt K12 .
04-15-2025, 07:03 PM( This post was last modified: 04-15-2025, 07:07 PM by sunless )
*Seems like Ndhzenga Males is frequenting more in their visit in the North as today sighted trailing the path where the Kruger Male walked in yesterday.
*Also it was said that the Nkuhuma Female mating with Amahle (Amber 2) were at Mala Mala with the Ndhzenga the other night.
*Kambula Males still at North at Elephant Plains and other Nkuhuma members were seen at Simbambili.
*Kruger Male is said to be far North as the Mantimahle is going east towards Hoffmans, while the bigger SBDM and Avoca Male was last seen in Mala Mala.
*Smaller SBDM last seen at Manyeleti, also both the Nkuhuma Boy and Monwana Boy is also seen at Manyeleti do not know how far are they to small SBDM.
*Also seems like the theory of Mantimahle Males leaving the area when the Ndhzenga Males arrive or maybe the Ndhzenga Males run them off again do holds some truth as Tendai Moyo also commented the the males that chased the Kambula Males and Nkuhuma Pride came from the North from Djuma Gowrie Gate Area where Mantimahle Males is residing more with the Imbali Pride.
*Seems like Ndhzenga Males is frequenting more in their visit in the North as today sighted trailing the path where the Kruger Male walked in yesterday.
*Also it was said that the Nkuhuma Female mating with Amahle (Amber 2) were at Mala Mala with the Ndhzenga the other night.
*Kambula Males still at North at Elephant Plains and other Nkuhuma members were seen at Simbambili.
*Kruger Male is said to be far North as the Mantimahle is going east towards Hoffmans, while the bigger SBDM and Avoca Male was last seen in Mala Mala.
*Smaller SBDM last seen at Manyeleti, also both the Nkuhuma Boy and Monwana Boy is also seen at Manyeleti do not know how far are they to small SBDM.
*Also seems like the theory of Mantimahle Males leaving the area when the Ndhzenga Males arrive or maybe the Ndhzenga Males run them off again do holds some truth as Tendai Moyo also commented the the males that chased the Kambula Males and Nkuhuma Pride came from the North from Djuma Gowrie Gate Area where Mantimahle Males is residing more with the Imbali Pride.
*Seems like Ndhzenga Males is frequenting more in their visit in the North as today sighted trailing the path where the Kruger Male walked in yesterday.
*Also it was said that the Nkuhuma Female mating with Amahle (Amber 2) were at Mala Mala with the Ndhzenga the other night.
*Kambula Males still at North at Elephant Plains and other Nkuhuma members were seen at Simbambili.
*Kruger Male is said to be far North as the Mantimahle is going east towards Hoffmans, while the bigger SBDM and Avoca Male was last seen in Mala Mala.
*Smaller SBDM last seen at Manyeleti, also both the Nkuhuma Boy and Monwana Boy is also seen at Manyeleti do not know how far are they to small SBDM.
*Also seems like the theory of Mantimahle Males leaving the area when the Ndhzenga Males arrive or maybe the Ndhzenga Males run them off again do holds some truth as Tendai Moyo also commented the the males that chased the Kambula Males and Nkuhuma Pride came from the North from Djuma Gowrie Gate Area where Mantimahle Males is residing more with the Imbali Pride.
Ndhzengas might actually commit in expanding north and taking NKs.
They are not affraid of 2 Mantimahles or Kambulas, and only rivals who can match them, PCMs, give up from that area.
*Seems like Ndhzenga Males is frequenting more in their visit in the North as today sighted trailing the path where the Kruger Male walked in yesterday.
*Also it was said that the Nkuhuma Female mating with Amahle (Amber 2) were at Mala Mala with the Ndhzenga the other night.
*Kambula Males still at North at Elephant Plains and other Nkuhuma members were seen at Simbambili.
*Kruger Male is said to be far North as the Mantimahle is going east towards Hoffmans, while the bigger SBDM and Avoca Male was last seen in Mala Mala.
*Smaller SBDM last seen at Manyeleti, also both the Nkuhuma Boy and Monwana Boy is also seen at Manyeleti do not know how far are they to small SBDM.
*Also seems like the theory of Mantimahle Males leaving the area when the Ndhzenga Males arrive or maybe the Ndhzenga Males run them off again do holds some truth as Tendai Moyo also commented the the males that chased the Kambula Males and Nkuhuma Pride came from the North from Djuma Gowrie Gate Area where Mantimahle Males is residing more with the Imbali Pride.
Ndhzengas might actually commit in expanding north and taking NKs.
They are not affraid of 2 Mantimahles or Kambulas, and only rivals who can match them, PCMs, give up from that area.
I'd like the Ndhzengas to take the NKs, but they are a little bit old. By the time they fully take over the pride and have cubs with the lionesses, it'd be close to the end of 2025 and they'd be ~10 years old. I'm not entirely convinced they could take care of both the NKs and the Kambula pride - they'd have to give one of them up, I suspect.
Both Monwana Boy and Nkuhuma Boy is seen in Manyeleti, good for them to move there as lion dynamics in Manyeleti is more stable compared to Northern Sabi Sands only problem they would get is Red Road and of course snares.
*Seems like Ndhzenga Males is frequenting more in their visit in the North as today sighted trailing the path where the Kruger Male walked in yesterday.
*Also it was said that the Nkuhuma Female mating with Amahle (Amber 2) were at Mala Mala with the Ndhzenga the other night.
*Kambula Males still at North at Elephant Plains and other Nkuhuma members were seen at Simbambili.
*Kruger Male is said to be far North as the Mantimahle is going east towards Hoffmans, while the bigger SBDM and Avoca Male was last seen in Mala Mala.
*Smaller SBDM last seen at Manyeleti, also both the Nkuhuma Boy and Monwana Boy is also seen at Manyeleti do not know how far are they to small SBDM.
*Also seems like the theory of Mantimahle Males leaving the area when the Ndhzenga Males arrive or maybe the Ndhzenga Males run them off again do holds some truth as Tendai Moyo also commented the the males that chased the Kambula Males and Nkuhuma Pride came from the North from Djuma Gowrie Gate Area where Mantimahle Males is residing more with the Imbali Pride.
Ndhzengas might actually commit in expanding north and taking NKs.
They are not affraid of 2 Mantimahles or Kambulas, and only rivals who can match them, PCMs, give up from that area.
I'd like the Ndhzengas to take the NKs, but they are a little bit old. By the time they fully take over the pride and have cubs with the lionesses, it'd be close to the end of 2025 and they'd be ~10 years old. I'm not entirely convinced they could take care of both the NKs and the Kambula pride - they'd have to give one of them up, I suspect.
Both Ndhzengas look in excellent condition, with no health problems on horizon, so barring unexpected injuries or something, they are on good track to reach atleast 12 yrs of age.
Which would be enough time to rise another generation of new cubs.
Most coalitions, young or old, spend 2-3 years with certain pride anyways, which is rising 1 generation of cubs there, before going elsewhere.
Ndhzengas where very young in late 2021, and they abandon Styx and SP after ~1 year, leaving their offspring unprotected.
So being young coalition doesnt mean they will be long time with the certain pride.
Yes, they would prob abandon Kambulas in this scenario, as they are 3 yrs now with them, so they might chose to sire new offspring in another pride, over 2nd generation in Kambula.
It's likely the Mantimahle have no interest in competing with Ndhzenga.
First time they got chased off the carcass, we could say it was only one encounter, that they may have been ambushed... but this time it's clear they left the area and mating female once the Ndhzenga arrived, taking the female, roaring, marking... And that's despite that area in Northern Sabi Sands is either Mantimahle territory or at least their backyard.
Kambula males are non-factors so if Ndhzengas want to take over, nobody will stop them.
Issue is that, as already stated, Kambula pride would've to be abandoned, and maybe even the Ntsevu pride despite them being in Northern MalaMala.
Other issue is that Ndhzengas are 10yo already and it's rare for males to remain as healthy and strong going through their 11th, 12th, 13th birthday, which would be the minimum needed to raise a generation of cubs.
04-16-2025, 12:14 AM( This post was last modified: 04-16-2025, 01:14 AM by Mapokser )
(04-15-2025, 11:09 PM)Tr1x24 Wrote:
(04-15-2025, 11:02 PM)Mapokser Wrote: Other issue is that Ndhzengas are 10yo already
They are not.
We've talked about this before, alongside with the facebook guys who found the photos of the Ndhzenga as cubs and subs, I don't believe the cub photos shared in 2016 are from that same date, but rather, older. Photographers post old photos all the time.
But I don't want to get into this again, so let's go with them being the age they were believed when the photos were found, I think it'd make them around 9.5yo right now?
As already stated, at the time they'd have properly established themselves and the cubs were born ( say the first litters make it which is not a given by any means ), they'd still be over 10yo.
It's one thing to reach 12, maybe 13yo, it's rare, but it does happen often enough, another thing is reach such age while strong and confident enough to defend the territory.
Even legendary males with amazing longevity such as the Ross males, in great shape, could barely match Guernsey and Avoca, or handle 3 very young Monwana males once they were 12, 12,5yo. They were even sharing their females with their son, the Birmingham Nephew. We see Red Road accepting his son out sudden too despite him being a very strong male in great shape, I don't even know if he has turned 11 already... once age hits in most lions, even if looking good, they lose a big portion of their stamina, confidence, drive, that "fire" for dominance they once had.
Ndhzenga's confidence in their prime is off the charts, but age-wise they are at the very end of their prime, once turning 10, these would be old lions by any standard.
