There is a world somewhere between reality and fiction. Although ignored by many, it is very real and so are those living in it. This forum is about the natural world. Here, wild animals will be heard and respected. The forum offers a glimpse into an unknown world as well as a room with a view on the present and the future. Anyone able to speak on behalf of those living in the emerald forest and the deep blue sea is invited to join.
(08-05-2023, 09:50 PM)Tr1x24 Wrote: Ross males are 12.5 yrs old, but thats not slowing them down a bit.
Legends of Ngala and Timbavati, territorial for almost 7 straight years as a duo.
Two of the most successful males, certainly in current times. It is fantastic what they have accomplished as two males. One of the keys to their success, imo, is their eyes never got bigger than their stomachs. They were comfortable building the Birmingham and Birmingham Breakaway Prides, and never attempted to expand beyond that. Legendary duo, for sure!
(08-05-2023, 10:38 PM)BA0701 Wrote: Two of the most successful males, certainly in current times. It is fantastic what they have accomplished as two males. One of the keys to their success, imo, is their eyes never got bigger than their stomachs. They were comfortable building the Birmingham and Birmingham Breakaway Prides, and never attempted to expand beyond that. Legendary duo, for sure!
They started with Avocas in 2016/17, then expanded into Ngala in late 2017, unfortunatley none of their offspring in Avoca pride survived.
Their path was very similar to Avoca/Giraffes, but as you said, unlike them, they where satisfied with Ngala, obviously being only 2 males helped in that "decision".
This is again prof that duos and trios are most optimal numbers for raising offspring succesfully, as they stick on 1 territory longer then coalitions of 4+ males, who easily expand, ditching their previous offspring, or they split and scatter around, become vulnerable.
Just look at this area of Kruger how many succesfull duos in most recent years: Ross males (7 yrs) , Mbiris (6/7 yrs), Leeubrons (7/8 yrs), Mluwatis (8 yrs), Nsemanis (5/6 yrs), S. Avocas (5.5 yrs) etc.
(08-05-2023, 10:38 PM)BA0701 Wrote: Two of the most successful males, certainly in current times. It is fantastic what they have accomplished as two males. One of the keys to their success, imo, is their eyes never got bigger than their stomachs. They were comfortable building the Birmingham and Birmingham Breakaway Prides, and never attempted to expand beyond that. Legendary duo, for sure!
They started with Avocas in 2016/17, then expanded into Ngala in late 2017, unfortunatley none of their offspring in Avoca pride survived.
Their path was very similar to Avoca/Giraffes, but as you said, unlike them, they where satisfied with Ngala, obviously being only 2 males helped in that "decision".
This is again prof that duos and trios are most optimal numbers for raising offspring succesfully, as they stick on 1 territory longer then coalitions of 4+ males, who easily expand, ditching their previous offspring, or they split and scatter around, become vulnerable.
Just look at this area of Kruger how many succesfull duos in most recent years: Ross males (7 yrs) , Mbiris (6/7 yrs), Leeubrons (7/8 yrs), Mluwatis (8 yrs), Nsemanis (5/6 yrs), S. Avocas (5.5 yrs) etc.
Those are insane numbers for duos.
So they are not the fathers of the xikukutsu males? Born in the avoca pride right?
(08-05-2023, 09:15 PM)Potato Wrote: Birmingham breakaway's on a massive stroll. Had them south west the day before and they walked north east before they swing south east again. I am sure the Ross males thought they were crazy. They picked up on the Monwana pride and the Ross males chased them far up to the north east. I could not believe the pace these 2 males kept and distance covered in such a short period of time. ( I did post a short reel of the Monwana's running earlier the week)
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They actually chased the Mayambula pride and not to the Monwana pride
It wasn’t only the flowers that showed signs of change, but this week saw an interesting development in the lion dynamics in the area that could potentially signal the start of some big changes in this region. Whilst all five of the Vuyela males (in their different fragments) were seen during the week courting the River Pride lionesses, as well as the Sark Breakaways, it was six Birmingham Breakaway males that made more than a brief appearance in the south-east this week. We had a sighting of these males as they crossed through the south-eastern corner last week, but this time they spent a few days within our concession…and they weren’t alone. They had found the company of a lioness. A Mayambula lioness. As you may be aware, this pride has been on the run for a few months now trying to keep their eleven youngsters safe, but trips west bring them into contact with the five Vuyela males; trips north saw encounters with the three Birmingham males; and trips south brought them into contact with both the Birmingham Breakaways, as well as the Ross males. They couldn’t go anywhere without encountering some lions. Exactly what happens when we are not watching them is left to speculation, but at some point, one of the Mayambula lionesses (I still have to confirm if it is the lioness that lost her cubs last year) decided not to run anymore and made a move to appease the Birmingham Breakaway males. She spent a couple of days mating with one of the males whilst the other five young males looked on. If it was a ploy to distract the males to give the rest of the pride time to move off to safer surrounds, it worked, as the males remained in the area for the latter part of the week. If, however, it is a sign of things to come – that the Birmingham Breakaways could become the pride males of the Mayambula Pride – then we are in for some interesting times ahead. It would require a miracle of sorts for the youngsters of the Mayambula Pride to survive on their own, but with the oldest sub-adults only approaching 20-months of age, it is not impossible for them to be self-sufficient. Inexperience will count against them greatly, but I have seen equally young lions pull through after being chased out. The Mayambula females will likely do their best to keep distracting the six new males, and hopefully these tactics will give the sub-adults a little bit of extra time with the pride until they are better equipped to survive on their own. Sadly, a more likely scenario is that this could be the first real step towards a pride take-over of the Mayambula Pride, and that the Birmingham Breakaway males will continue to put pressure on the pride until either the pride leaves the area altogether; the sub-adults flee on their own and the adult lionesses stay behind, or more tragically, the Birmingham Breakaways shed blood.
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The Mayambula lionesses won’t be pushed over, so it is anyone’s guess as to how this will play out, but the potential future of this pride is exciting. Seven adult lionesses. Six young male lions with many years left in them. Both lineages likely to carry the white lion gene. I know I am dreaming, but this could be the first steps in creating a real ‘super-pride’ in our little corner of the Greater Kruger. We are a long, long way from this, and there are many paths that this story could take, but for now, I will allow myself to dream pleasant thoughts, as I know too well that this could also turn into a real nightmare for these lions. Only time will tell.
With regard to the other lions, it does indeed appear as though the River Pride lioness did lose her cubs, as nothing in her behaviour suggested she had any maternal duties. The pride was in the area for most of the week, accompanied by two or three Vuyela males. We caught up with them one morning as they were finishing off a kill, and a day later were still in the area chasing off a hyena that walked right into the pride! There were two other Vuyela males that popped up to say ‘hi’, but two days later these two males were back with the Sark Breakaway Pride in the west. I noticed that one of the lionesses had apparent suckle-marks around her teats, and sure enough, that afternoon four cubs popped up in the area that we had seen them that morning! Although we didn’t see them, we hope that they continue to keep the cubs in the Timbavati and that they can raise them successfully under the protection of the Vuyela males.
At this point, it doesn't matter what the Skorro Males do, 2 against 6 B'ham Breakaways, will not favor them even in their prime....should that be what the 6 boys choose to conquer, the Mayambula Pride.
And as we all witnessed not long ago, the Skorro Males are long past their prime and were physically declining, so it is likely that no good news is to be heard about them...or they simply have not been seen recently to get a good assessment because they are gone or in hiding....
Whatever the case, it is obvious that they cannot protect the Mayambula Pride anymore and that all their offspring in that pride are in big trouble. Only the very oldest probably have a fighting chance should a lioness (or two) try to save them by running off, forming a breakaway pride of sorts.
(08-07-2023, 08:57 PM)Cath2020 Wrote: the Skorro Males are long past their prime and were physically declining
The Skorro's aren't old males, they are in their prime years actually. They are recently being pressured from a few coalitions and got into a few fights which caused them to pickup injuries and lose condition. They don't have any life changing injuries though so I'd expect them to show up in great condition after this period of low activity.
(08-07-2023, 08:57 PM)Cath2020 Wrote: At this point, it doesn't matter what the Skorro Males do, 2 against 6 B'ham Breakaways, will not favor them even in their prime....should that be what the 6 boys choose to conquer, the Mayambula Pride.
And as we all witnessed not long ago, the Skorro Males are long past their prime and were physically declining, so it is likely that no good news is to be heard about them...or they simply have not been seen recently to get a good assessment because they are gone or in hiding....
Whatever the case, it is obvious that they cannot protect the Mayambula Pride anymore and that all their offspring in that pride are in big trouble. Only the very oldest probably have a fighting chance should a lioness (or two) try to save them by running off, forming a breakaway pride of sorts.
Skorros are not past their prime, they are born in 2014, in later stages i believe.
They where seen in battered condition, Rhasa even with wounds, after 5 Vuyelas where starting to pressure them, stress was also prob reason for poor condition aswell.
They didnt have luck, as they where getting pick on by far larger coalitions.
