CHARLESTON PRIDE
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Charleston lioness - Photograph taken by ranger Anthony Harding
CHARLESTON PRIDE Archives: 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008
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| December 2007 CHARLESTON PRIDE = 5 2 ADULT FEMALES * 11 YEARS 4 MONTHS SOUTHEASTERN TOULON The Charleston Pride had another slow month, they were only seen three times and all sightings were at the end of the report period. The good news is that they seem to have a dominant male with them and so it could mean that cubs might be appearing soon, which would be excellent news for this once powerful pride. November 2007 CHARLESTON PRIDE = 5 2 ADULT FEMALES * 11 YEARS 3 MONTHS Location: SOUTH-EASTERN TOULON The first reported sighting of the Charleston pride involved three lionesses being discovered at Calabash crossing, and a fourth lioness of the pride mating with one of the Selati males at Island crossing. The mating session lasted for close on four days, in which the female moved as far west as the Kingston break, and she was followed as she made her way back east in search of her pride. Unfortunately, all five lionesses were not seen together during the report period. October 2007 CHARLESTON PRIDE = 5 2 ADULT FEMALES * 11 YEARS 2 MONTHS Location: SOUTH-EASTERN TOULON The Charleston pride had an interesting month this report period. They were not seen all that often but when ever they were found something exciting was afoot. Near the beginning of the month one of the females was seen to mate with one of the Kruger males. Interestingly, the old male that had attached himself to the pride seems to have joined up with another male. Upon closer inspection of photos of the badly conditioned male that was mating with the female, rangers made a startling discovery. The male mating was the Split Rock male; he was in a badly malnourished state and was only skin and bones but had the stamina to mate for two days. This goes to show the tenacity of old male lions and their will to carry on. On another occasion rangers found the five females feeding off the remains of a juvenile giraffe, the pride was half way through the giraffe when located and finished it off before the next day. The pride was in fact seen to feed off another freshly killed juvenile giraffe just days after the first kill had been made. Perhaps this is a sign for things to come in the following report periods.
September 2007 CHARLESTON PRIDE = 5 2 ADULT FEMALES * 11 YEARS 1 MONTHS Location: SOUTH-EASTERN TOULON The Charleston Pride has provided some quality viewing during the report period with all five females looking in very good condition and spending most of their time close to the Sand River in central and eastern Toulon. There were also a number of occasions where females were seen to mate with males from the Kruger National Park and there are at least two relatively old males that were seen in association with this pride on a few occasions. Notable sightings of this pride included them unsuccessfully hunting buffaloes in the vicinity of Rocky Crossing as well as in the early period of the month where they were seen to kill an adult wildebeest in Eastern Toulon. They fed off the carcass for the day and returned back to the river where they have been found lying up on most days due to the hot dry conditions. Interestingly this pride has come close to the vicinity of the Selati Pride on a number of occasions and it will be interesting to see if any territorial disputes occur within the next month or so. August 2007 CHARLESTON PRIDE = 5 2 ADULT FEMALES * 10 YEARS 12 MONTHS Location: SOUTH-EASTERN TOULON
This has been a slow month for the Charleston pride. When found, this pride appeared to be operating in the Sand River between Kirkmans camp and the eastern Kruger National Park (KNP) boundary. The pride does not seem to be spending much time on MalaMala at the moment and this could be attributed to the mounting pressure from the Selati pride from the west.
The Charleston pride was found in the early part of the report period south of the Sand River in a gully system with a giraffe kill. They partook of this feast for a number of days, being joined by two male lions from the KNP. July 2007 CHARLESTON PRIDE = 5 2 ADULT FEMALES * 10 YEARS 11 MONTHS Location: SOUTH-EASTERN TOULON The Charleston Pride has had a quiet month, but during that time they were able to produce some entertaining viewing. Around the middle of the month they were located just south of the Sand River on Toulon. They were actively hunting a small journey of giraffe. The hunt proved unsuccessful and the lions were located in the same area that afternoon, busy stalking an old buffalo bull. After what seemed like an immeasurable period of time, the lions ran in. But again it was not to be. On one memorable occasion five lionesses were located close to the buffalo carcass where the Selati Pride lions and lionesses were feeding. During the morning the lionesses were watched as they approached the carcass. The ensuing interaction between the members of the two prides provided some excellent viewing with the Charleston lionesses finally giving way. It is possible that with the increase in activity of the Selati Pride on eastern Charleston, the members of the two prides may interact more often, and with the Charleston lionesses not having any accompanying males, they may be driven further east.
June 2007 CHARLESTON PRIDE = 5 2 ADULT FEMALES *10 YEARS 10 MONTHS Location: SOUTH-EASTERN TOULON It was another very successful month for the Charleston Pride. They have regularly been viewed with the same old male lion in attendance and they seem to accepting his presence all the more. There were regular sightings of the Charleston Pride throughout the month, they were found early on in the report period on Charleston where, on a particularly exciting morning, four females were seen to hunt and bring down a young female kudu. The lions remained on Charleston for most of the early days of this month and then were seen to move south and westwards towards the Golf Courses. The pride was seen leaving Toulon into the Kruger National Park around the Skukuza airport. About a week later a single lioness was found along with the older lion feeding on the remains of a buffalo carcass on eastern Toulon, close to the old Harry’s Camp. The next day, 4 females were found at the carcass along with the old male lion. May 2007 CHARLESTON PRIDE = 5 2 ADULT FEMALES * 10 YEARS 9 MONTHS Location: SOUTH-EASTERN TOULON
This report period was a successful one for the Charleston pride, with them being the most frequently viewed pride. The pride was seen to frequent old Selati pride and Eyrefield pride territories, extending their territory far north and west. The pride was seen on several occasions with a large male in attendance, however he does appear quite old, and the pride does not appear to show a strong allegiance to him.
Importantly the three youngsters have come of age in the past few months, evidently adding strength to the pride. They enjoyed hunting success during the report period, catching an adult wildebeest on one occasion and a memorable sighting involving the pride hunting a herd of buffalo. The pride singled out a youngster, and successfully brought it to the ground. Fortunately for the buffalo, it had a very protective mother and even more protective dagga boys.
April 2007 CHARLESTON PRIDE = 5 2 ADULT FEMALES * 10 YEARS 8 MONTHS Location: SOUTH-EASTERN TOULON The Charleston pride was one of the more frequently seen prides during the month. All five of the lionesses as well a male lion were found resting in some shade close to Lion Crossing. It was not long before several lionesses noticed some impala not far off from where they lying down. In one attempt the lionesses killed an adult male impala during the mid morning. The male lion dominated the kill and the lionesses were left squabbling for the remains. The pride moved further south and east and was not seen again for a couple of days. The Charleston pride are making a come back and claiming their previously acquired territory. With the Eyrefield pride and the Rollercoaster males spending more time in the west (who have been in the past been pushing the pride south and east towards the Kruger National Park), the pride has been seen more frequently in Toulon and Charleston. The pride could potentially become the more dominant pride in this region, as in the past. March 2007 CHARLESTON PRIDE = 5 2 ADULT FEMALES * 10 YEARS 7 MONTHS Location: SOUTH-EASTERN TOULON A slow start to the report period for the Charleston Pride of lions, with no sightings until the 10 th day of March. Even so, these lions are making a fast comeback to the reserve and in the second half of this month they were viewed even more than the Selati pride, which has not been the case for quite some time. The Charleston Pride territory is believed to be around the eastern parts of Toulon and slightly north into the southeastern parts of Charleston. The lions originally acquired the territorial name of “Charleston Pride”, because they frequented the Charleston block of the reserve, yet pressure from the much larger Eyrefield Pride in the north pushed them south and east towards the Kruger National Park.
In the past the three sub adult females of this Pride have not been able to contribute as needed as to the fact that they were immature and inexperienced. These youngsters are only now showing signs of confidence and hopefully as time goes on this once very stable lion pride will grow healthy in size and number.
February 2007 CHARLESTON PRIDE = 5 2 ADULT FEMALES * 10 YEARS 6 MONTHS Location: SOUTH-EASTERN TOULON Although the Charleston pride were only viewed on three occasions, with the first reported sighting being on the seventeen day of February. They were noted to be in good health on all occasions. The pride was evidently more active in the report period than the previous report period. On more than one occasion, rangers found the tracks of several lionesses believed to be those of the Charleston pride on eastern Toulon, but were unable to locate the lions, suggesting that they were more active on the property than initially believed. January 2007 CHARLESTON PRIDE = 5 2 ADULT FEMALES * 10 YEARS 5 MONTHS Location: SOUTH-EASTERN TOULON There was one sighting of the Charleston pride during the game report period. They were found on the 27th of Dec on the southern parts of the reserve eating a wildebeest, all five members were present. This is good news as it shows that they are in good health and show signs of a good future on the reserve. MalaMala
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