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.
08-16-2021, 01:21 PM( This post was last modified: 08-19-2021, 02:18 AM by Herekitty )
Here we have the 9 Skybeds seen individually, ordered roughly from least to most well known (or photographed): the first three shots were the guys who dominated the Timbavati Picnic Spot, which was some distance northeast of the other Skybeds. The last 6 photos are the boys who controlled a large area around Orpen Gate. There were four Skybeds with the "C" brand, all on their right hindlegs. They are: the first guys had the "C" facing backwards, the second guy photographed here by Michel Rademaker had the "C" facing forward. The fourth guy photographed by Roy Craig had the "C" facing up like a cup. The fifth guy (the most scarred Skybed) photographed by Ronesh Parbhoo had the "C" facing down.
This guy was photographed by Dave Pusey in 2018, I've only seen two other shots of him, one as a subadult.
*This image is copyright of its original author
Image by Michel Rademaker in 2014. Apart from the few shots by Rademaker, I've only seen him as a subadult.
*This image is copyright of its original author
Image by Leo Bargiacchi, 2015. This guy had his own beauty.
*This image is copyright of its original author
Image by Roy Craig in 2013. There are a handful of shots of this guy, easily identified by his left ear and branding.
*This image is copyright of its original author
Image by Ronesh Parbhoo in 2014. Ronesh Parbhoo flipped this shot horizontally when he published it. This guy is easily recognisable by his facial scars.
*This image is copyright of its original author
Image by Balule River Lodge, 2014. Quite a few shots of this handsome guy with the upturned eyes, he's also seen in Ronesh Parbhoo's shots of the Skybeds.
*This image is copyright of its original author
Image by Lisa Moolman, 2014. This was the big darkmaned guy also seen in Ronesh Parbhoo's series. He was attacked by some of the Matimbas in 2012.
*This image is copyright of its original author
Image by Balule River Lodge. This is the tall guy who was often seen with Scar.
*This image is copyright of its original author
Image by Bernard Dupont in 2014. Scar the rockstar.
Here are more individual shots of the 9 Skybeds. I made an error in the previous post, there were in fact four Skybeds with the "C" branding. The first guy below (and in the previous post photographed by Dave Pusey) had the "C" brand facing backwards. Again, the first three males were the Timbavati Picnic Spot Skybeds, and the last 6 controlled a large area around Orpen Gate. Image by Retiefs, near the H7/S39 juncture, 2014.
*This image is copyright of its original author
Image by Elmarie Malan, 2012
*This image is copyright of its original author
Image by Marcel Span, 2015
*This image is copyright of its original author
Image by Custom African Travel and Tours at Orpen, 2015
*This image is copyright of its original author
Image by Nicole Meiring, 2015. This was from when two of the Skybeds killed a Kudu on the H7.
Old Skybed male by Leon Marais from Lawson's Birding, Wildlife & Custom Safaris on the Sweni Road (S126) just west of the Welverdient Waterhole. This was posted 2015, but is more likely from 2012 - as Marais was the same photographer of the photo that Tino posted above. This white faced boy; I initially thought he was the number three after Peter Betts named the other brother number two (and everyone assumed the massive bro was number one right?), but this guy may have fathered up to four of the Matimbas by my inexpert calculation.
Old Skybed male in northern Manyeleti in 2012. This guy was the fierce looking male photographed by Peter Betts in 2011, as well as by Jean-Marc Deschamps near Phelwane viewing area. Image by Jay Van Rensburg.
(08-19-2021, 01:35 AM)Herekitty Wrote: Old Skybed male by Leon Marais from Lawson's Birding, Wildlife & Custom Safaris on the Sweni Road (S126) just west of the Welverdient Waterhole. This was posted 2015, but is more likely from 2012 - as Marais was the same photographer of the photo that Tino posted above. This white faced boy; I initially thought he was the number three after Peter Betts named the other brother number two (and everyone assumed the massive bro was number one right?), but this guy may have fathered up to four of the Matimbas by my inexpert calculation.
*This image is copyright of its original author
Great information, mate. Great have you back in town. You'll delight us with posts in WildFact now
(08-19-2021, 01:35 AM)Herekitty Wrote: Old Skybed male by Leon Marais from Lawson's Birding, Wildlife & Custom Safaris on the Sweni Road (S126) just west of the Welverdient Waterhole. This was posted 2015, but is more likely from 2012 - as Marais was the same photographer of the photo that Tino posted above. This white faced boy; I initially thought he was the number three after Peter Betts named the other brother number two (and everyone assumed the massive bro was number one right?), but this guy may have fathered up to four of the Matimbas by my inexpert calculation.
*This image is copyright of its original author
Great information, mate. Great have you back in town. You'll delight us with posts in WildFact now
Thanks for the kind words brother! What a pleasure to be a part of this crew of Kruger lion enthusiasts. So here's some more individual shots of our nine Skybeds. Same as before with the three Timbavati Picnic boys up first followed by the six Orpen crew. Image by Elmarie Malan in 2012, the boy with the backwards "C" brand.
10-31-2021, 04:19 AM( This post was last modified: 10-31-2021, 04:21 AM by Timbavati )
One of the two Skybed sons seen between Imbali & Hoyo Hoyo Safari Lodge on the Mluwati concession
caption by the photograher: We saw this beautiful male between Imbali & Hoyo Hoyo Safari Lodge on the Mluwati concession
It was the first time I’ve seen him before, and I was completely fascinated by his colouring. He’s so fair, that it almost seems as if he could be carrying the white lion gene.
He was a man on a mission, and was roaring and marking territory as he went.
Photo credits: Danielle Sheedy
(10-31-2021, 04:19 AM)Timbavati Wrote: One of the two Skybed sons seen between Imbali & Hoyo Hoyo Safari Lodge on the Mluwati concession
caption by the photograher: We saw this beautiful male between Imbali & Hoyo Hoyo Safari Lodge on the Mluwati concession
It was the first time I’ve seen him before, and I was completely fascinated by his colouring. He’s so fair, that it almost seems as if he could be carrying the white lion gene.
He was a man on a mission, and was roaring and marking territory as he went.
Photo credits: Danielle Sheedy
*This image is copyright of its original author
Looks like he is filling the empty space of Imbali male, im still concerned about his brother, no sign of him..
