CLARENDON PRIDE
November 2008
2 Male lions from Clarendon (1 aged +/- 6 years 6 months, 1 aged +/- 7 years):
( 2 sightings)
The arrival of a new male coalition always makes for exiting times and, even though most of them end up moving on, there is always a chance that they might end up expanding their territories deeper into our property. We had two sightings of these pale lions (larger than average, both almost completely blonde - one still to develop some mane on his forehead) at Clarendon. One of these sightings involved them mating with a lioness from Gowrie (easily identified by her droopy bottom lip and seen frequently with her pride in and around Clarendon) and were seen to roar confidently on both occasions. Reports from Gowrie suggest that these lions have come into contact with the Eyrefield males before and have come out tops. No small feat. Believing such rumours or not, these lions have just entered their prime and we wait with baited breath to see where next they choose to move to.
August / September / October 2005
CLARENDON PRIDE = 5
5 ADULT LIONESSES
No sightings in August.
July 2005
CLARENDON PRIDE = 5
5 ADULT LIONESSES
After making a couple of appearances in the vicinity of Clarendon Dam in June, the Clarendon Pride lionesses were not seen at all on Mala Mala in July.
June 2005
CLARENDON PRIDE = 5
5 ADULT LIONESSES
For the first time in many months, members of the Clarendon Pride were seen. Three lionesses pitched up in the vicinity of Clarendon Dam, where there have been large numbers of zebra of late. One of them was an easily recognisable old lioness, light in colour and with a bad eye and a mangled ear. The other two lionesses seen with her appeared young and healthy. These lionesses were seen twice in successive days. On the first day, they were hunting around mid-morning, but they were seen by some zebra, and were not seen to catch anything. The next day, the lionesses appeared well fed, but one of them had a number of porcupine quills embedded in her face and chest.
May 2005
CLARENDON PRIDE = 5
5 ADULT LIONESSES
No sightings of any of these lionesses on Mala Mala for a few months.
January / February / March / April 2005
CLARENDON
PRIDE = 5
5 ADULT LIONESSES
Location: NE EYREFIELD
No sightings
May/ June/ July / August / September / October / November / December 2004
CLARENDON
PRIDE = 5
5 ADULT LIONESSES
Location: NE EYREFIELD
No sightings
April 2004
CLARENDON
PRIDE = 5
5 ADULT LIONESSES
Location: NE EYREFIELD
Three lionesses of the Clarendon Pride were seen this month, all quite young members of the Pride and including the female with the twisted tail. At least one of them appeared to be lactating, but since they mostly spent their time sleeping in long grass, this wasn't very clear.
The lionesses were accompanied by a male lion, apparently not one of the Split Rock Males, the coalition which at one stage is thought to have controlled them.
August 2003 - March 2004
CLARENDON PRIDE = 5
5 ADULT LIONESSES
Location: NE EYREFIELD
No sightings of this pride this month
July 2003
CLARENDON
PRIDE = 5
5 ADULT LIONESSES
Location: NE EYREFIELD
There was but a single sighting of this pride over this report-period, when all five lionesses were seen devouring an adult male warthog near the northeastern parts of Mala Mala. A large male leopard, the Newington Male, which has a history of tangling with warthogs, was watching them from the safety of a nearby tree. Chances are good that he was the catcher of the warthog and that the lions had stolen it from him.
May - June 2003
CLARENDON
PRIDE = 5
5 ADULT LIONESSES
Location: NE EYREFIELD
There were no encounters with the Clarendon Pride this month.
April 2003
CLARENDON PRIDE = 5
5 ADULT LIONESSES
Location: NE EYREFIELD
Only
two or three lionesses of the Clarendon Pride were seen this month, and
all within a few days of one another around the carcass of a dead rhino. This rhino had apparently been killed in a fight with another and presented
the lions with a fine feast.
Amongst the lionesses was the one with the 'corkscrew' tail. Accompanying them were two of the Split Rock Males.
March 2003
CLARENDON PRIDE
= 5
5 ADULT LIONESSES
Location: NE EYREFIELD
No members of this family were seen this month.
February 2003
CLARENDON
PRIDE = 5
5 ADULT LIONESSES
Location: NE EYREFIELD
The single sighting of the Clarendon Pride was at the very beginning of this game report period. They were with the three Split Rock Males, lying around one of the last productive waterholes in the area. Although the lions had full stomachs on this occasion, they had no flesh on their bones and were in poor condition. With little water and food in their area, game must be scarce and these lions cannot be having a good time.
What a difference from this time last year when two big groups of buffaloes were almost camping in their territory and these lions were regularly making kills.
January 2003
CLARENDON PRIDE = 5
5 ADULT LIONESSES
Location: NE EYREFIELD
Five
of the lionesses of the Clarendon Pride were seen this month, together
with the three Split Rock Males. The lions were towards the northeastern
corner of the reserve and all were looking very thin. This has been the
first sighting of any members of this family in many months. When last
seen there were six lionesses, but one of the older ones could well have
died over the last half-year. The area in which the Clarendon Pride lives
is currently very dry and has had little rain this year and as a result
game seems to be very scarce. Last year when the Clarendon Pride was seen
regularly, also in this same area, they were constantly after buffaloes
and other large items of prey which were then very plentiful. Time will
tell as to whether these lions will stay put or head out and search for
food in other areas.
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
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