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Nkuhlu males
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Nkhulu x Sand River
MALAMALA GAME RESERVE | GAME REPORT | August -2024
THE SAND RIVER PRIDE = 6
(7 sightings) "Five lionesses were with four Nkuhlu males in the Sand River, at Charleston Rock on the 4th. Later that day, they killed a nyala at Tjellahanga Pans. On the 8th, four lionesses were at Flat Rocks and at Island Crossing the next day. Five lionesses were at Rocky Crossing on the 20th. On the 24th, they killed an impala with two Nkuhlu males at Calabash Crossing. One lioness was with four Nkuhlu males along Ingwe Donga on the 25th, while two other lionesses were on the closer to KK Pans." THE NKUHLU MALES = 6
First encountered on Mala Mala Game Reserve in 2022 (8 sightings) "We will be introducing the Nkuhlu male coalition to the main section of the game report, as they seem to have settled in as the dominant males in Charleston. On the 4th, four males were seen with members of the Sand River pride in the Sand River, west of Charleston Rock and killed a nyala at Tjellahanga Pans later that afternoon. Two males were in the Sand River at Ingwe Donga the next day. On the 8th, five males were at the confluence of the Sand River and the Tjellahanga River and four males were in the Sand River, south of Beaumont's Camp on the 16th. On the 21st, three of the males ventured northwards into Ndhzenga male territory and were roaring at Flockfield Camp, but the Ndhzenga males responding roar from the north sent the Nkuhlu males back south. On the 24th, two males were at Calabash Crossing with four Sand River lionesses and the next day, four of the males were with a single Sand River lioness at Ingwe Donga. On the 26th, on male was at F Bend Open Area." 
Interesting stuff on the Nkhulu, now they are recognized as resident males in MalaMala, with their own section.
Sightings of 4 and 5 of them together, as well as being listed as 6 males in total which could be "common sense" from them being 6 or MalaMala truly counted/ID 6 of them. They also mention the sighting of them invading Ndhzenga territory roaring before retreating from their enemies roars. Ngl, it's worrying to have 6 ( or at least 5 ) Nkhulus so close, the Kambula and Ntsevu cubs still need much more time. Now having Gore or Ubuso to at least add their roars to their partners would have made a huge difference.  (09-11-2024, 11:51 PM)Ngonya Wrote: Nkhulu x Sand RiverIts easy to forget they are still very young, some people expect to much of them, but some of them were barely 4 years old when they started to take over their first pride wich is already incredible in itself They had some health problems but now things seem to be starting to take a new and better direction Most of them are younger than the youngest Kambula male just to put into prespective, the majority of people who claim that they are not meeting the expectations, have in mind big coalitions like the Mapogos, Manjis, Birminghams etc.... But most of them ( including me) werent following the lions day by day like we are doing now, so it seems those legendary coalitions became what we know, from night to day Of course we can see coalitions taking over prides and etc much quicker than what these 6 boys are doing, but the context of where they are and how they are is very important to take into cosideration But I gotta be sincere, I do find quite intriguing why they dont have cubs yet, they already had but lost it ( it happends) but since than I havent seen even other SR lionesses pregnant The health of most members dont explain that, because you have Smudge and Snip Tail who seem to be always better than their brothers Its not like they are under a big stress, as far as I know the only coalition who enters their territory are the Gijimas, and lets be real Nkhulus asked for that Interesting times ahead and Im sure this is one of those threads that are going to be like 300 pages by the time the last Nkhulu takes his last breath  (09-12-2024, 02:49 AM)Ngonya Wrote:(09-12-2024, 01:35 AM)BA0701 Wrote: Posting for @Mapokser, the August MalaMala Report, borrowed from here:already posted here. Whats the point? Got carried away, apparently, in trying to give Mapokser the assist he asked for.
I don't think any Nkhulu is younger than the youngest Kambula.
The health issues makes them look younger than they really are, but before that they were always more impressive than the Kambulas... Of course, genes are a thing but I'm pretty sure they are all around the age of the 5 older Kambulas, roughly a year younger than the PCM. 
The only one that I thought was that young was #6 I thought he had probably just now turned 4 in a half
(09-12-2024, 06:46 AM)Mapokser Wrote: I don't think any Nkhulu is younger than the youngest Kambula. I was guided by the MalaMala report who said 4 of them to be 5 years old and 0 months +- I dont know if its exactly 0 months so lets give or take 1 month, 2 if you will so lets say the 4 boys were born between July 2019 and november 2019 ( most likely from july to september) K6 was born in may 2019 so that makes him still older than the 4 Again Im going from the MalaMala reports In the other hand the 2 older are roughly the same age as K3, K4 and K5, if we go by the same report 
Nkhulu male #6 at Kirkman's Kamp (he has a floppy ear by the looks of it)
 *This image is copyright of its original author  *This image is copyright of its original author  *This image is copyright of its original author by Josie Romer-Lee
Snip Tail Nkhulu #2 at Tengile  *This image is copyright of its original author by Nomita Khanna
September 1st:
Crooked Tail Nkhulu #5 mating with a Sand River female in Kirkman's Kamp  *This image is copyright of its original author by @oursoulmap
September 6: Nkhulu #3 with a not so-pretty limp by @dbach12
3 months since andbeyondkirkmanskamp posted Nkhulu male #4 latest picture that i know of, looking just fine. Unfortunately since then we had no photos or videos on him.
June 15th, #483  *This image is copyright of its original author Hopefully he is still around since guides claim there are six Nkhulus accounted for, but still thats quite a long time without a trace of him especially when his five brothers are all often seen and pictured, even all together earlier this month. Can't help but be a little concerned. Anyways here some quick throwback phots of the 4th Nkhulu male October 15th, 2022 | by Bilco  *This image is copyright of its original author June 11th, 2022 | by Bernard Dupont  *This image is copyright of its original author  *This image is copyright of its original author
09-17-2024, 12:54 AM
( This post was last modified: 10-14-2024, 06:57 AM by Ngonya
Edit Reason: footage data edit, actually taken around december 2023 instead of may 2024
)
December 2023, by N'wavujaha Safari and Wildlife photography
Nkhulu male #4 was with two of his brothers near Skukuza Airport road |
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