CHARLESTON PRIDE
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December 2004
CHARLESTON PRIDE =
4
2 LIONESSES *8 YEARS 4 MONTHS
2 CUBS *5 MONTHS
Location: CENTRAL TOULON, CHARLESTON
There were only three sightings of the Charleston Pride in December, and these were on Toulon. All seemed well with the two lionesses and two cubs when seen. The fact that they were not seen on Charleston this month was possibly due to the presence, for lengthy periods of time, of three of the male lions from the Eyrefield Pride in the south of the reserve. Not yet clearly territorial, these male lions are certainly in the process of looking to establish themselves, and if they could dominate a small pride such as the Charleston Pride, this would be a start for them. Of course, such a take-over of the pride by these male lions would almost certainly mean death for the cubs, as they were not sired by the Eyrefield Males.
November 2004
CHARLESTON PRIDE =
4
2 LIONESSES *8 YEARS 3 MONTHS
2 CUBS *4 MONTHS
Location: CENTRAL TOULON, CHARLESTON
The two lionesses and two cubs of the Charleston Pride seem to be doing well, and provided some good viewing on the few occasions that they were seen in November. Just how the cubs will fare remains to be seen, and all depends on to what extent the lionesses of the pride are able to keep them away from the various male lions that have been spending time in the south of the reserve. Certainly one of the coalitions of males will show paternal instincts, as these males would have mated with the mother of the cubs. However, the young and adventurous males of the Eyrefield Pride, including the 6 year old male, have been spending a great deal of time in the south of the reserve, and if they are looking to establish themselves territorially, they would want to gain control of a pride such as the Charleston Pride.
October 2004
CHARLESTON
PRIDE = 4
2 LIONESSES *8 YEARS 2 MONTHS
2 CUBS *3 MONTHS
Location: CENTRAL TOULON, SOUTHERN CHARLESTON
Exciting news regarding the Charleston Pride is that the new cubs have been seen. The little youngsters, about 3 months old, were spotted on a rocky island with plenty of cover, in the Sand River bed on Toulon. Both lionesses are spending a good deal of time in that area, but they have also been seen separately. It seems likely that the cubs were sired by a male lion from the coalition of three, seen occasionally on south-eastern Toulon. Obviously, the cubs' chances of survival depend quite heavily on the extent to which the lionesses keep them within the territory of these males.
September 2004
CHARLESTON PRIDE = 2
2
LIONESSES *8
YEARS
Location: CENTRAL TOULON
There were several sightings of the two Charleston Pride females, and one of the lionesses is very definitely still lactating. Sightings of this pride were mainly concentrated along the Sand River on Toulon, but one sighting that was well to the west of the Sand River on southern Toulon, gave an inkling that the cubs may well be stashed in this area. When encountered in this area, the lactating lioness was distinctly edgy, and even showed some aggression towards the vehicle, which was immediately withdrawn from the area. Otherwise, the sightings along the Sand River were both west and south of Rocky Crossing, in traditional Charleston Pride land.
It was interesting to see, on one occasion, that two male lions of unknown origin met up with one of the Charleston Pride females, and the three of them moved off together, going east into the Kruger National Park. Clearly she was familiar with these males, and it is likely that one of them sired the cubs.
August 2004
CHARLESTON PRIDE = 3
2
LIONESSES *8
YEARS 0 MONTHS
1
CUB * 5-6 MONTHS
Location: CENTRAL TOULON
There has been no sign of the single cub of the Charleston Pride for several weeks now, but of the two lionesses, one is now lactating heavily, which means that a new litter of cubs has been born. Perhaps this time the lionesses will have greater success in the rearing of these cubs. It seems that these cubs were born towards the end of August.
Near the beginning of this game report period, the two Charleston Pride females were seen to catch and kill a giraffe calf, probably about 6 months old. This took place shortly before sunset one evening. During the night, the lionesses were not alone at the carcass. The mother of the baby giraffe looked on, as did a male giraffe. A young leopard was seen in the background for much of the time as well. The feeding also drew the attention of four hyenas, which managed to chase the lionesses off the kill, and start feeding. The next morning, there was not much left of the kill, and two of the Rollercoaster Male lions were in attendance.
July 2004
2
LIONESSES *
7 YEARS 11 MONTHS
Location:
Sightings of the Charleston Pride were mostly over the first half of the game report period. As has often been the case with this pride over the years, the lionesses were active during the day. The most recent sighting of the two lionesses was without the cub, and it appeared that the mother of the cub was no longer lactating. This could well mean that the cub has died. In the long term interests of the pride, this may not be a bad thing, as it is very doubtful whether it is worth a lioness investing her energy and efforts to raising a single cub. Perhaps both lionesses will come into oestrus again soon, and, with luck, larger litters will be born.
June 2004
Members of the Charleston Pride seen during June 2004
May 2004
CHARLESTON PRIDE = 3
2 LIONESSES * 7 YEARS 9 MONTHS
1 CUB *
2 MONTHS
Location: CENTRAL TOULON
One of the two Charleston Pride lionesses has a single cub which was kept for some weeks in a rocky 'lair' on southwestern Toulon. The cub was then moved north and eastwards, over the Sand River and for a while stayed on NW Toulon. Understandably, the lionesses behaved quite secretively and both of them appeared to be working together towards the raising of the cub. Viewing of this trio was done cautiously.
The big concern facing the Charleston Pride lionesses, of course, is the fact that the father of this cub was probably one of the Ridge Rocks Males and with all three of them now dead and other male lions trying to get in and establish themselves and dominate over whatever lionesses are in the area, Charleston Pride included, the chances of this cub surviving to maturity won't be good.
April 2004
CHARLESTON PRIDE = 2
2
LIONESSES *
7 YEARS 8 MONTHS
Location: CENTRAL TOULON
The only confirmed sighting of the lionesses of the Charleston Pride was at the very end of the report-period when both were found with the freshly killed carcass of an adult male impala.
This has been the first encounter with both lionesses in many weeks and at least serves to confirm that both are still alive. Viewing over the last couple of months hasn't revealed much, but hints have been that one might have died or, on a more positive note, that one might have had cubs and that this has resulted in the recent sketchy viewing.
Unfortunately this single sighting was not enough to provide clarity on whether one of the lionesses is lactating or not.
March 2004
CHARLESTON PRIDE = 2
2 LIONESSES * 7 YEARS 7 MONTHS
Location: SOUTH-CENTRAL TOULON
Has some other tragedy struck the Charleston Pride and is this the final nail in their coffin, the end of what was once a mighty family of lions? Sightings over the last month at least (including last months report-period too) have been of but a single Charleston Pride lioness. What has happened to the second one?
Just over a year ago, the family was made up of four adult lionesses and three nearly two-year-old cubs and seemed about to go from strength to strength. Then, mysteriously, the oldest lioness and her three youngsters simply vanished, leaving the three younger females behind. For a while this trio seemed to be maintaining, but then one of them disappeared, leaving only two. And now there seems to be but a single one. What has happened? A positive option would be to hope that the second one has perhaps had cubs and is somewhere looking after these, behaving secretively and joining her sister for hunting at only certain times. From a negative point of view, it could be that this missing female has suffered some terrible disaster and this then leaves a last representative of the Charleston Pride to wander around, unlikely to succeed.
One fine sighting of this single Charleston Pride lioness this month was when, whilst on the move, she found herself amongst the small herd of buffaloes. Alone she could do absolutely nothing against these large creatures, so she tried to move through them with at least some dignity. The buffaloes of course weren't too impressed and chased after her, fortunately with not too much aggression.
February 2004
CHARLESTON
PRIDE = 2
2 LIONESSES * 7 YEARS 6 MONTHS
Location: SW TOULON
There were few encounters with the two surviving members of the Charleston Pride over the course of this game-report-period.
Perhaps the most dramatic sighting occurred when one of the lionesses approached a zebra carcass which was being fed upon by members of the Selati Pride and Rollercoaster Males. Upon seeing the Charleston Pride lioness, the females from the Selati Pride chased her off.
With the deaths of the Ridge Rocks Males, it will be interesting to see just what happens with the Charleston Pride. Will the Rollercoaster Males seek to move into the territory which they occupy or, since they could very well be the Charleston Pride lioness' brothers, will they avoid doing this?
January 2004
CHARLESTON PRIDE = 2
2 LIONESSES *
7 YEARS 5 MONTHS
Location: SOUTHERN & CENTRAL TOULON
Little was seen of the 2 lionesses of the Charleston Pride this month and indications are that they have been operating in the southern parts of their range.
With the Windmill Pride occupying some of their areas and the decline of the Ridge Rocks Males, these two lionesses probably have good reasons to avoid the more northern and central parts of their territory.
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