CHARLESTON PRIDE

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Photograph by ranger Giles Kelmanson

December 2006

CHARLESTON PRIDE = 5

2 ADULT FEMALES                                        * 10 YEARS 4 MONTHS
2 SUB ADULT FEMALES                                * 2 YEARS 5 MONTHS
1 SUB ADULT FEMALE                                  * 1 YEAR 11 MONTHS

Location: SOUTH-EASTERN TOULON
(3 sightings)

Some fine tracking from rangers and trackers led to 3 members of the Charleston Pride and two male lions being located in the Sand River, not far from Boomers Crossing. Rangers followed tracks from Skukuza Road, northwards towards Hlarulini, and then east into the Sand River. The Charleston Pride has experienced difficult times over the previous few years. They were originally a force to be reckoned with, as a strong pride of females controlled by the impressive Ridge Rocks Males. The pride was then decimated, presumably by bovine tuberculosis, and was reduced to two females. These two females have displayed significant resilience, and have survived with some success with cubs. Perhaps the two male lions will form a permanent association with these females, and hopefully father and protect several litters of cubs. Later in the report period, three members of this pride and the two adult male lions were seen sleeping on the southern bank of the Sand River, just west of Rocky Crossing.

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November 2006

CHARLESTON PRIDE = 5

2 ADULT FEMALES                                        * 10 YEARS 3 MONTHS
2 SUB ADULT FEMALES                               * 2 YEARS 4 MONTHS
1 SUB ADULT FEMALE                                 * 1 YEAR 10 MONTHS

Location: SOUTH-EASTERN TOULON
(4 sightings)

Photograph by ranger Giles Kelmanson

The two adult females and three sub-adult females of the Charleston Pride appear to be in good health. They were seen on several occasions during the game report period, in the south eastern parts of the reserve, where they have spent most of their time over the last two years. It was interesting to note that on three out of the four times that the pride was seen, they were accompanied by an adult male lion. It is difficult to know whether this lion is the father of the sub-adults, but it is a possibility. Hopefully this male will continue to establish himself with the Charleston Pride with some degree of permanence.

Photograph by ranger Giles Kelmanson

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October 2006

CHARLESTON PRIDE = 5

2 ADULT FEMALES                                       *10 YEARS 2 MONTHS
2 SUB ADULT FEMALES                              *2 YEARS 3 MONTHS
1 SUB ADULT FEMALE                                 *1 YEAR 9 MONTHS

Location: SOUTH-EASTERN TOULON
(3 sightings)

Charleston lioness - Photograph taken by ranger Sheldon Williams

The Charleston Pride were only seen on 3 occasions this past month. On the 3 occasions the Pride was located, the Lions were found in the Sand River around the Rocky Crossing area. The lions became active on these occasions late in the evening, but were not seen to make any kills.

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September 2006

CHARLESTON PRIDE = 5

2 ADULT FEMALES                                       * 10 YEARS 1 MONTHS
2 SUB ADULT FEMALES                              * 2 YEARS 2 MONTHS
1 SUB ADULT FEMALE                                * 1 YEAR 8 MONTHS

Location: SOUTH-EASTERN TOULON
(3 sightings)

The Charleston Pride provided some fine viewing in the south of the reserve when they were seen. The lions maintained their relative absence, only being seen on three occasions. The highlight of the month was when they discovered the Chellahanga Male leopard with a zebra foal in a tree. The lions wasted no time in climbing up the tree and stealing the kill from the leopard. All appears well with this pride and the youngsters are really starting to come of age, being very active and partaking in the tree climbing and stealing of the kill.

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August 2006

CHARLESTON PRIDE = 5

2 ADULT FEMALES                          * 10 YEARS
2 FEMALE CUBS                                *2 YEARS 1 MONTHS
1 FEMALE CUB                                  *1 YEAR 7 MONTHS

Location: SOUTH-EASTERN TOULON

(8 sightings)

The Charleston Pride had a good month and provided some fine viewing in the south of the reserve. This pride has a tendency of being rather elusive and spending a lot of time in the Kruger National Park but provided some consistent viewing this month. With water drying up rapidly the Sand River is not only an important source of water for the lions, but is a great place to lie in wait and ambush prey. The lions were followed on the hunt on a few occasions but were not seen to catch anything. However all the lions appeared to be in great condition and it would seem that finding food is certainly not a problem for these lions.

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July 2006

CHARLESTON PRIDE = 5

2 ADULT FEMALES                          * 9 YEARS 11 MONTHS
2 FEMALE CUBS                                * 2 YEARS
1 FEMALE CUB                                  * 1 YEAR 6 MONTHS

SOUTH-EASTERN TOULON

(4 sightings)

The Charleston Pride again frequented eastern Toulon , and was seen four times this report period. Although no kills were witnessed, these lions appeared to be well fed on most occasions. The cubs are also looking in good condition, and may well be on their way to becoming the next generation in this long-standing pride.

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June 2006

CHARLESTON PRIDE = 5

2 ADULT FEMALES                         * 9 YEARS 11 MONTHS
2 FEMALE CUBS                               * 1 YEAR 11 MONTHS
1 FEMALE CUB                                  * 1 YEAR 5 MONTHS

Location: SOUTH-EASTERN TOULON

The Charleston Pride was not seen very frequently during the month of June. However all the lions look well, and when they were viewed provided much excitement as they hunted, without success, on Toulon . The youngsters of this pride are all doing well and look set to survive to adolescence.

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May 2006

CHARLESTON PRIDE = 5

2 ADULT FEMALES                          * 9 YEARS 9 MONTHS
2 FEMALE CUBS                                * 1 YEAR 10 MONTHS
1 FEMALE CUB                                  * 1 YEAR 4 MONTHS

Location: SOUTH-EASTERN TOULON

The Charleston Pride were only seen once during the May report period, hunting impala on Toulon . The lions all looked well, and it is hoped that they spend more of time on Toulon in the future.

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April 2006

CHARLESTON PRIDE = 5

2 ADULT FEMALES                                 * 9 YEARS 8 MONTHS
2 CUBS                                                         * 1 YEAR 9 MONTHS
1 CUB                                                           * 1 YEAR 3 MONTHS

Location: SOUTH-EASTERN TOULON

The Charleston Pride was seen 9 times in April, again all on south-eastern Toulon . There was nothing untoward or exciting to report, and all appears well with this small pride of lions. They appear to be enjoying a high degree of hunting success and were found well fed on most occasions, although no actual kills were seen.

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March 2006

CHARLESTON PRIDE = 5

2 ADULT FEMALES                                   * 9 YEARS 7 MONTHS
2 CUBS                                                           * 1 YEAR 8 MONTHS
1 CUB                                                             * 1 YEAR 2 MONTHS

Location: SOUTH-EASTERN TOULON

The Charleston Pride was only seen twice in this game report period. As is known, the bulk of this pride’s territory lies to the south and east of Mala Mala in the Kruger National Park , and consequently the two sightings that were recorded were on the south-eastern parts of the property. All appears well with these two lionesses and their three cubs and hopefully this pride can grow and attain the numbers that it used to in the past.

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February 2006

CHARLESTON PRIDE = 5

2 LIONESSES                                                *9 YEARS 6 MONTHS
2 CUBS                                                          *19 MONTHS
1 CUB                                                            *13 MONTHS

Location: SOUTH-EASTERN TOULON

The Charleston Pride was seen only once during this game report period around Toulon Camp in the south. As is often the case, these lions appear to spend a lot of time in the Kruger National Park to the east of Mala Mala. All seems well with this pride and the future of this long standing Mala Mala pride seems secure with the healthy development of the three youngsters.

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January 2006

CHARLESTON PRIDE = 5

2 LIONESSES                                                *9 YEARS 5 MONTHS
2 CUBS                                                          *18 MONTHS
1 CUB                                                            *12 MONTHS

Location: SOUTH-EASTERN TOULON

Only seen on one occasion, all members were still in good health.