CHARLESTON PRIDE

Archives: 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008

CHARLESTON PRIDE = 7
1 ADULT FEMALE * 9 YEARS 10 MONTHS
3 LIONESSES * 6 YEARS 4 MONTHS
3 CUBS * 18 MONTHS

Location: NORTH-EASTERN TOULON (west of the Sand River)

The Charleston Pride was mostly absent this month, there being but one sighting of two lionesses and the three cubs. In their absence, the Windmill Pride made good use of the southeastern parts of the reserve.

November 2002

Location: SOUTHERN CHARLESTON/ NE TOULON

There was not a single sighting during November of all four of the Charleston Pride lionesses together and only one when three of them joined up. Otherwise the pride was very fragmented, moving around mostly in ones and two's, with the most stable grouping naturally being of the older lioness and her three cubs. One of the younger lionesses in particular seemed to spend more time on her own than was the case with the other members of the family.

One wonders just what has caused this break-up; at one stage it was thought that one or two of the younger lionesses might have been about to give birth. This would understandably cause them to separate from the others and become more secretive. But this does not appear to be the case. Not only was there no indication that any of the lionesses were lactating, but, also, none even appeared pregnant.

So why the split-up? Has the lioness with the cubs decided that the youngsters need to be taught how to hunt and has as a result moved away from the others? Is it perhaps a subtle change in available food which has resulted in the lions separating in order that they make optimum use of what is available? Who knows, but the behaviour of the Charleston Pride this month represented a radical change from what has been observed over the last year at least.

In spite of this, the lions all appear healthy and the three cubs seem well on their way to survival. The older lioness, in spite of mostly working alone or with only one of the younger lionesses to assist her, seems more than capable of securing enough food for both her and the cubs. At the beginning of this game-report-period, this oldest lioness single-handedly caught an adult zebra which she then shared with her three cubs before, a day later, one of the other lionesses also arrived on the scene.

Although at least two of the three male lions which dominate the Charleston Pride were seen within this families' territory this month, there was only one sighting of one of them actually with any of the lionesses.

October 2002

CHARLESTON PRIDE = 7
1 ADULT FEMALE * 9 YEARS 8 MONTHS
3 LIONESSES * 6 YEARS 2 MONTHS
3 CUBS * 16 MONTHS

Location: SOUTHERN CHARLESTON/ CENTRAL & NE TOULON

The Charleston Pride was certainly active this month, but much of their behaviour suggested that at least one of the lionesses may well be pregnant or could already have given birth. Few of the sightings of these lions during October were of all of them together and one of the lionesses was often alone, mostly close to the Sand River, an ideal place to conceal small cubs. As yet, however, there have been no obvious signs of small cubs.

The male lions which control the Charleston Pride are still around and seemingly strong. There were four sightings of the Charleston Pride when at least one of the three male lions of this coalition was present.

September 2002

CHARLESTON PRIDE = 7
1 ADULT FEMALE * 9 YEARS 7 MONTHS
3 LIONESSES * 6 YEARS 1 MONTH
3 CUBS * 15 MONTHS

Location: SOUTHERN CHARLESTON & NORTHERN TOULON

There were good sightings of the Charleston Pride during September and the pride seemed to prosper, killing regularly and getting plenty to eat. As conditions have dried up, the Charleston Pride has taken more and more to hunting along the river-course during the heat of the day, trying to catch animals as they come down to drink.

Sightings indicated that the Charleston Pride spent quite a bit of time in the western parts of their territory during September, this no doubt a result of an increasing need for food as the cubs grow, as well as the relative lack of activity of their western neighbours - the Selati Pride - in this area. Their old enemies, the Golf Course Males, which also used to patrol these parts, appear to have been thrown out by three other male lions, these perhaps the brothers of the three younger Charleston Pride lionesses. This change of male lions would certainly not discourage the Charleston Pride from moving further west.

Halfway through the month the Charleston Pride seemed to split up somewhat, but then regrouped and ended the month as a unit once more. It is not known whether the three younger females, which have all lost cubs this year, have mated again. Perhaps these times of parting observed this month were for mating purposes.

The three male lions that control the Charleston Pride seemed to spend relatively little time with them during September and there were only two sightings of any of them with the pride.

August 2002

CHARLESTON PRIDE = 9
1 ADULT FEMALE * 9 YEARS 6 MONTHS
3 LIONESSES * 6 YEARS
3 CUBS * 14 MONTHS
2 CUBS * 4 MONTHS

Location: SOUTH-CENTRAL CHARLESTON (east of the Sand River) & NORTH-CENTRAL & EASTERN TOULON

This month the Charleston Pride lost the four young cubs which had been seen during July. These cubs, born to two of the younger lionesses of the family, may well have died through a lack of experience in the art of raising cubs. The two young cubs still present at the beginning of August were moved all over the place as the rest of the lions hunted different areas of the southern parts of the reserve.

These movements of the cubs were not only over quite big distances and through rough riverine terrain, but also seemed unnecessarily frequent, as if their mother was not quite sure what to do with them. On one occasion, when the pride were lying in the riverbed of the Sand River, looking quite replete, the lactating lioness went off to look for the young cubs, returning to the spot in the reeds of the Sand River where it was thought that they had been left. When she called, the cubs did not respond, so she headed to another area, calling for them; again with no response. A small herd of buffaloes had been in the same reedbeds earlier in the day and perhaps they had chanced upon the cubs and, not wanting to waste an opportunity of ridding the buffalo world of lions, killed them. Hopefully this learning curve for these young lionesses will result in them being more capable of handling their next litters.

The three other cubs are looking good and with the food which they are getting, have a fine chance of making it to independence. These cubs are the first which the old lioness of the pride has raised to this level; all of her other litters have died soon after birth. Again, perhaps a case of inexperience.

Apart from seeing the Charleston Pride in action as they hunted this month, one other sighting of interest was when they and the Windmill Pride came face to face. At the time the Windmill Pride (6 lionesses and a less-than-one-year-old cub) was probably inside the Charleston Prides territory and so was without doubt the 'invading party' when they and the Charleston Pride came together. But no fighting was seen and there was no evidence later that such a physical interaction had eventually taken place. It is quite likely that the Windmill Pride, realising that they were the trespassers, simply retreated back to their turf, leaving the Charleston Pride behind. However, another reason for the lack of immediate aggression between the two groups of lions (they simply lay down less than one hundred meters from one another) was the fact that two of the three male lions which control both prides happened to be with the Windmill Pride. So although the Charleston and Windmill Prides are enemies, they are both controlled by the same coalition of three male lions. These male lions seem particularly dominant and could well have a moderating influence when it comes to aggression amongst the females.

July 2002

CHARLESTON PRIDE = 11

1 Adult Female * 9 years 5 months
3 Lionesses * 5 years 11 months
3 Cubs * 13 months
1 Cubs * 4 months
3 Cubs * 3 months

Location: SW CHARLESTON (east of the Sand River) & EASTERN TOULON

The Charleston Pride seemed to have had the best of months a lion family could hope for and, as things now stand, life looks good for them. They started this game-report period off in a dramatic manner. Three of the lionesses and the three older cubs were seen one afternoon, circling and killing an adult female kudu as well as a young male impala in one swoop. The lions were still nibbling on the remains the following day. As it turned out, the fourth lioness was away nursing small cubs and, later in July, these cubs were introduced to the outside world. In total, four other cubs were brought out, these thought to be from litter sizes of one and three respectively (the single cub three weeks or a month older than the other three). And in some ways this is a fine situation. Although the older cub will have a competitive advantage over the younger cubs, there is only so much that one youngster can do too three. So, in some ways, all four will have nearly identical requirements and the two lionesses that have given birth to them can share in many of the nursing and caring chores a lioness is faced with.

Last month some concern was raised as to where the fathers of these cubs were. The three male lions thought to be dominant over the Charleston Pride have probably been courting the Windmill Pride which lives mostly to the northeast of the Charleston Pride, but, towards the end of July, they were back with the Charleston Pride. Even though a coalition of male lions might expand the number of female-dominated prides under their control, they do need to keep contact with all of them so that other territory-hungry coalitions do not come in and kill off their offspring.

Hunting success seemed to continue for the Charleston Pride. Not long after they made the two kills mentioned earlier, they were seen one morning catching a young kudu along the banks of the Sand River. That afternoon, they were still in the area, but sitting on the carcass of a freshly killed adult zebra. With the Sand River becoming the main source of water for many animals, the Charleston Pride (and other lions) are perhaps finding that they do not have to move so far in search of game. Of course there are limits; if the lions are hunting an area too regularly and drinking spots are ambushed on a daily basis, then prey animals will seek water elsewhere. Towards the end of July it seemed as if the Charleston Pride would be moving north and west, exploring parts of their range which have remained relatively under-utilised over the last year and which have been subject to 'invasions' by others such as the Windmill and Selati Prides. But with the need for food increasing as their cubs mature and with 'overutilisation' of certain areas perhaps a concern, the Charleston Pride will soon have to look ahead and make the necessary changes in their hunting.

June 2002

1 Adult Female * 9 years 4 months
3 Lionesses * 5 years 10 months
3 Cubs * 12 months

Location:CENTRAL-EASTERN TOULON

Sightings of the Charleston Pride were relatively few over June and spread throughout the month. All seem to be in good condition, and indications are that at least one lioness (other than the oldest female of the pride) has cubs. These cubs be small and not yet at the meat-eating stage. Any cubs are probably hidden in the reedbeds of the Sand River towards the south of the reserve, this area having been used over the last year or so for security for other litters too. Indications are that the three male lions thought to be the fathers of the cubs of the Charleston Pride have turned their attentions to the Windmill Pride which reside to the north of the Charleston Pride. Such male lion behaviour is not uncommon. As long as they can still maintain an effective presence over the entire area in which lionesses under their influence reside, other territory-hungry male lions should stay away and whatever cubs they have sired should be safe.

May 2002

1 Adult Female * 9 years 3 months
3 Lionesses * 5 years 9 months
3 Cubs * 11 months

Location: SOUTHEASTERN CHARLESTON/ EASTERN TOULON

The Charleston Pride virtually confined themselves to the lower reaches of the Sand River where it is suspected that one of the younger lionesses has recently given birth. Her small cubs are thought to be hidden amongst a jumble of boulders and reeds in an area which has recently become a favourite for this family to hide youngsters. There was one sighting of all four lionesses together and with them the three older cubs. Cubs of vastly different ages in a family have different requirements and capabilities and this can, at least on a temporary basis, cause families to split up.

April 2002

1 Adult Female * 9 years +
3 Lionesses * 5 years 8 months
3 Cubs * 10 months

Location: SOUTH EASTERN TOULON

Sightings of the Charleston Pride were few and scattered throughout the month. The three cubs, now nearing a year of age, seem to be doing well. The male lion of the coalition of three which is thought to control the Charleston Pride was seen with this family on two occasions. There were no sightings of all four lionesses together, perhaps this a suggestion that another of the lionesses has given birth and has her movements restricted by the small cubs.

March 2002

1 Adult Female * 9 years
3 Lionesses * 5 years 7 months
3 Cubs * 9 months

Location: CENTRAL CHARLESTON/ NORTH-EASTERN TOULON

Although at one stage it was suspected that one of the younger females of the Charleston Pride had given birth, evidence is now not so certain. A couple of months ago this lionesses appeared pregnant and on the verge of giving birth. Subsequent sightings of some of the lionesses close to an area of the Sand River where it is known that they have hidden recent litters as well as separation of the four lionesses at times have also hinted that a new batch of youngsters has been born. But all of this is sketchy and sightings this month failed to clarify. Of the other cubs, however, all looks fine for them. They still seem to be under the protection of their fathers, one of which was seen with the pride at one sighting this month. Interestingly, when four other male lions entered the area usually patrolled by the Charleston Pride, the lionesses showed no alarm. There have been some suggestions that these four lions were once members of the Charleston Pride, brothers of the younger females. The fact that the Charleston Pride failed to flee the area when the male lions were around suggests that they were indeed familiar with them and did not consider them a threat to their cubs.

February 2002

1 Adult Female * 9 years
3 Lionesses * 5 years 6 months
3 Cubs * 8 months

Towards the beginning of this game report period, the 7 members of the Charleston Pride (four lionesses and three cubs) were seen on successive days with an adult male lion. This lion is almost certainly one of the three which are thought to dominate the Charleston Pride. The other two are not as relaxed in the presence of landrovers. Sightings this month of the Charleston Pride also confirmed that there are only three cubs still alive, these all belonging to the 9-year-old lioness. At least one of the other lionesses looked pregnant and later on in the month there was one sighting of only three of the lionesses and the three cubs. Has this other lioness given birth? Although the earlier sightings of the Charleston Pride this month suggested that they are making more use of the central areas of the reserve, parts which were historically Charleston Pride domain, this was not the case during the latter parts of February.

January 2002

1 Adult Female * 8 years 11 months
3 Lionesses * 5 years 5 months
3 Cubs * 7 months
2 Cubs * 5 months

There were only two sightings of members of the Charleston Pride over the January report-period, both of these on southeastern Charleston, north of the Sand River. Only three cubs were seen, these the cubs belonging to the older lioness. If the younger cubs are no longer alive it would come as no surprise; they represented first litters for the younger females and maternal inexperience would be a major factor threatening their lives. But now that the Charleston Pride have moved north over the Sand River, hopefully they will continue to work in these areas which have in the past been their old haunts. But it cannot be expected that they would simply retake them, particularly since the Windmill Pride have been active in them too. Time will tell, but hopefully the four lionesses, their surviving cubs and the male lions which fathered the youngsters will be seen on a more regular basis, particularly since the cubs are growing fast, are more mobile and will be needing more and more food.

MalaMala Game Reserve, PO Box 55514, Northlands, 2116, South Africa.
Telephone: + 27 11 442 2267 or 0861 SAFARI.
Facsimile: + 27 11 442 2318
e-Mail: reservations@malamala.com

Copyright © Rattray Reserves