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N'waswitshaka males
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MalaMala 7 December 2023 — Victoria Nuttall-Smith
Some time has passed since we have written a blog on the Ndhzenga males, the coalition dominant across the majority of MalaMala. What started as a coalition of four has been whittled down to a team of two. But let it be known this team of two is nothing to scoff at. Life as a male lion is fraught with challenges. Constant competition for territory and mating rights means battles with rival males are inevitable. Maintaining dominance demands physical prowess and endurance. This is a concept the Ndhzenga males are intimately acquainted with. Recently, we have seen them move vast distances in short periods, roaring and scent-marking as they move. Leaving them around Mlowathi Dam at the end of the afternoon drive has become the norm, only to find them in northern Charleston the next day. As the crow flies, these males seem to be travelling upwards of 10km some nights, and they seldom walk as the crow flies. But what does this mean? Several factors could be influencing the seemingly haphazard movements of these males: 1) Pressure is mounting: We have witnessed the Black Dam males skirting around in the northern parts of MalaMala. Though this younger coalition is roaring and mating with obliging lionesses, to date, they have always fled from the resounding roars of the Ndhzenga males. In the south, the six Nkhulu males have already displaced the Southern Avoca male, but we haven’t seen them press into Ndhzenga male territory; even so, the calls of a coalition of six might be the reason these males are stretching south to create a buffer. Our eastern boundary is always a mystery, but males in the Kruger may be pressing west. Finally, the Kambula males, offspring of the late Gowrie males, have been back lately, roaring and investigating their natal grounds. 2) They have relied on grit and numbers; their tactic when there were four of them was to divide and conquer. It was rare to see all four of them together. These days, one is never without the other, completing all their dominant duties as a duo. Their new tactic is undoubtedly wise, but it means they’re doing double the work with half the initial workforce. 3) The Kambula lionesses are raising 13 of their cubs, meaning the stakes are higher than ever for these males. It took a while for the Ndhzenga males to produce a promising cohort of cubs with the Kambula pride, but now, their current cubs range between four months and a year. Since these males are well into their prime, this group of cubs are the best chance these males have at perpetuating their genetics. Unfortunately, for male lions, size matters, and they have never been revered as large males. Hopefully, their efforts will be successful, and they can raise these cubs with Kambula pride.  *This image is copyright of its original author https://malamala.com/2023/12/07/an-updat...nga-males/
MalaMala November report:
Compiled by the Rangers of MalaMala Game Reserve MALE LIONS THE NDHZENGA MALES = 2 1 ADULT MALE ± 8 YEARS 9 MONTHS 1 ADULT MALE ± 8 YEARS 4 MONTHS WESTERN MALAMALA, FLOCKFIELD & CHARLESTON Dominant over the Kambula and Styx Prides. First Encountered on MalaMala September 2020 (24 sightings) Still, in their prime, the two Ndhzenga males are healthy and are successfully defending their large territory against potential invaders, providing a safe environment for their offspring to grow. They spent more than half their recorded sightings with members of the Kambula pride. Noteworthy sightings: • On the 2nd, they were stretching north, and were on the Gowrie Boundary north of Mlowathi Dam. • The next day they had travelled to the southern end of their territory, Hyena Waterhole, where they stayed until the 4th. • On the 5th, they shared a zebra carcass with the Kambula pride at the confluence of the Ngoboswan Donga and the Sand River. They followed the pride to the Airstrip the next day. • They joined the Kambula pride at West Street Bridge on the 10th and 11th, where they shared a waterbuck kill with them. • On the 13th, they were with the members of the Kambula pride along the western regions of the Rock Drift Donga, and they moved with them to Lion Rocks the next day. • On the 16th, they were with one lioness of the Kambula pride at Mlowathi Dam. • On the 18th, they were with the five lionesses and 13 cubs at the Old Airstrip. • The next day they were with one lioness from the Kambula pride north of the Sausage Spot, when they caught and killed an impala lamb. • On the 23rd, the larger of the two males was with five lionesses and 11 cubs in the Sand River, south of Kikilezihash Crossing while the smaller of the two males was with another lioness at Mlowathi Dam, unsuccessfully attempting to mate. In the afternoon the larger male trailed two lionesses who stole an impala lamb carcass from a leopard nearby. • On the 25th, the smaller male was at Mlowathi Dam again in the morning before moving south to Piccadilly Triangle where his roaring was interrupted by a pair of mating tortoises. On his diversion, he linked up with two of the Kambula lionesses resting nearby. • The two males were back together on the 26th east of the Tamboti Thickets. • On the 27th, they finished a zebra carcass with the Kambula pride on Dudley Lookout and spent the next day resting in the area. • On the 29th, they were roaring in front of MalaMala Camp across the Sand River. • On the 30th, they joined a Kambula lioness and the three youngest cubs south of the Tamboti Thickets and followed them to the rest of the pride at Kapen Rocks.
It's interesting how be it rangers from Londolozi or MalaMala, they all worry about the Ndhzengas being ousted because they are small, and say that size is very important, while our perception here is that size doesn't matter much, if at all.
And seeing how well the remaining Ndhzengas are doing since they got down to 2, idk why Londolozi and MalaMala talk like if they wouldn't be a proper match in case of larger males showing up.  (12-12-2023, 04:02 AM)Mapokser Wrote: It's interesting how be it rangers from Londolozi or MalaMala, they all worry about the Ndhzengas being ousted because they are small, and say that size is very important, while our perception here is that size doesn't matter much, if at all. I think they mean more along the lines of them being stretched too thin as they have to patrol a large, huge area....and traverse about 10 km per day. Plus, the rangers have a point, what with the 6 Nkhulus maybe putting some pressure on them now or have occasionally, possibly one or more coalitions on their eastern edge, not to mention lots of nomads. And they have many cubs, so their lineage is at stake....not that this would take away from their offspring in the Styx/Southern Pride. But, for these 2 personally, they have more of their OWN offspring, shared between them, 50/50, roughly speaking, whereas with the other two prides, they had to share mating rights with 2 of their erstwhile coalition partners, so had around a 25% paternity chance. Just recently saw 4 of the Styx female subs, and I'd say 2 look a bit different from the others....looking more like Ubuso, while one, I could swear, reminded me of Gore, but it's all fun to compare without solid genetics.
@Cath2020 but they specifically mention how they worry about them losing because they aren't big in body:
"Unfortunately, for male lions, size matters, and they have never been revered as large males. Hopefully, their efforts will be successful, and they can raise these cubs with Kambula pride." (12-12-2023, 03:35 AM)Mapokser Wrote: MalaMala November report: Bit surprised they still consider them dominate over the Styx Pride. I mean, the last encounter that I recall them having with the Styxs' is the Kambula/Styx run in from earlier this year. (12-12-2023, 06:28 AM)Mapokser Wrote: @Cath2020 but they specifically mention how they worry about them losing because they aren't big in body: The rangers are referring to their size as not being very big, but at the same time, they didn't imply that they were small. I think that only Orange Eyes is smaller than average, perhaps....while the dominant one is pretty normal looking. Anyway, size wasn't the only thing they mentioned as to why the males are all over the place, covering a lot of kilometers. They do have a big territory in Mala Mala with many lionesses and cubs, so they have to protect the members, plus patrol all over the place. This is why they hope their efforts will pay off, irrespective of their size, in my opinion. I don't think it's making a difference, the size of Orange Eyes, in terms of them being at risk of a takeover very soon. As long as he's in his prime and avoids battle injuries, then he has as good a chance as any.  (12-12-2023, 06:28 AM)Mapokser Wrote: @Cath2020 but they specifically mention how they worry about them losing because they aren't big in body: Yes, rangers can overdramatize things. Just remember how Londolozi was bashing Nhenha and Tinyo at every occasion. Size barelys matters in territorial competition, we have seen big males getting ousted by smaller ones, just as other way around. In actual fight it might matter more, but even threre we saw smaller males beating bigger ones. 2 Ndhzengas didnt show any weakness as a duo yet, so this is just overdramatization. |
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