| EYREFIELD PRIDE Archives : 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 December 20007 ADULT FEMALES (between 7 years and 2
months & 6 years and 9 months of age) Location: WESTERN MALA MALA/ CENTRAL AND WESTERN FLOCKFIELD/ NW CHARLESTON Life for the Eyrefield Pride this month seemed to go on in much the same way as has been the situation for the last half-year or so. There were no sightings of alllions together, although on some occasions all eight females were in close proximity to one another. After the matings that occurred last month, there were none recorded during December and the West Street Males seemed to lose some interest in the lionesses of the Eyrefield Pride. Compared to preceding months, the lionesses of the Eyrefield Pride were seen quite often without any of the West Street Males in attendance. As with most other large and medium-sized carnivores, the lions of the Eyrefield Pride probably killed a good number of the still quite vulnerable baby impala. On one occasion four of the lionesses together with one of the West Street Males were seen chasing after a herd of impala and killing at least two, probably more. In the confusion of the various feeding areas, one of the young impala was killed and forgotten. Perhaps the lion which killed the impala heard furious feeding from another direction and, afraid that it was missing out on a bigger and better meal, dropped its kill and forgot about it. At present none of the lionesses of the Eyrefield Pride have cubs and none appear obviously pregnant. One of the lionesses was mating with the West Street Males in late September last year and if this mating was successful, then it may be that cubs could be expected in early January; time will tell. The young male lion which has been hovering within the ranks of the Eyrefield Pride for the past half-year or so hardly featured in sightings and it appears as if the lionesses of this family have intensified their efforts to get him to move on. For his part, the young male has continued to weather the aggression and behaves in as subordinate a manner as possible. If he has any hope of staying with these lions - and from a food provision point of view this is most important - this is simply the only course of action he has open to him. November 2000 7 ADULT FEMALES (between 7 years and 1 month
and 6 years & months of age) Location: WESTERN MALA MALA/ CENTRAL AND WESTERN FLOCKFIELD/ NW CHARLESTON Most of the lion viewing this month came from the Eyrefield Pride. Although there were times when up to six lionesses were seen at the same time, there were no sightings this momth of all 8 females of the Eyrefield Pride together. As can be expected with such a large family of lions, they do typically spend much time apart, getting together upon occasion for certain events like territory defence and big kills. But, as can also be expected from lions as a whole, these cats remain mercenary and are not overly concerned if some of the members are not present at a big kill and may miss out on some prize. This was seen at least twice during November with the Eyrefield Pride, first when some of the lionesses had killed a buffalo and made no effort to call the others and then later when four of them killed a pregnant female giraffe and spent nearly a week feeding off it. The only other lions to find this giraffe kill were the four West Street Males and they made the discovery only after the lionesses had already been at the carcass for four days. By this time of course the remains were alive with maggots and the lionesses were probably only too happy to let others help them finish it off. Strangely enough there were very few vultures at this large carcass and this may well have been why it took the other lions so long to find it. Very often descending vultures give the game away and lions spend much time watching vultures and waste no time in following them if they see them descending to eat something. Perhaps the abundance of baby impalas and afterbirths at this time of year are easier food for vultures or perhaps there was another large carcass somewhere else which had their attention. Whatever the reason, these four members of the Eyrefield Pride had it pretty much to themselves. Towards the end of the month at least three of the Eyrefield lionesses came into oestrus and mated with the West Street Males. These males look more scraggly by the day and it will not be surprising if they soon get kicked out by some younger more powerful lions. This would of course be sad for the lionesses of the Eyrefield Pride which would then have whaever cubs are born from this mating killed by these new males. October 2000 7 ADULT FEMALES (between 7 years and 6 years & 7 months
of age) Location: SE MARTHLY/ WESTERN MALA MALA/ CENTRAL AND WESTERN FLOCKFIELD The Eyrefield Pride delivered some good viewing this month. Although there were several sightings of all lions together and also some of these with four of the West Street Males, the Eyrefield Pride did tend to remain separated in smallish groups. The young male lion which joined the pride some months ago is still around and although typically stays on the peripheries of the pride, appears to be quite accepted - almost certainly much to its delight. The Eyrefield Pride, together with the West Street Males, accounted for at least three buffalo this month, one adult and two sub adults. The adult buffalo they killed close to the bridge and spent less than 24 hours feeding on the carcass. The night before they were found on the carcass, they had been left following a small group of buffalo. At this event seven of the lionesses were present, the eighth joining them the next day. Interestingly, after they had spent 36 hours sleeping things off, the lions headed south, only to make a dramatic about-turn and go north and west again. At the time the Windmill Pride was some ways south of them and something may have alerted the lions to their presence, causing them to exercise caution and avoid confrontation. The other two buffalo killed by some of these lions were sub adults and had been part of a group of four, two adult females and their approximately one-year-old youngsters. At the time the large herd of buffalo were some kilometres away from the four and it appeared as if they were trying to catch up with them. Just how the four buffalo had become separated from the protective body of the large herd is unclear, but it certainly cost them dearly. Unknown to the buffalo, they walked straight past the sleeping lions which, upon seeing such a vulnerable grouping, gave chase, killing both youngsters. This meat was plenty for the lions, but by the following day, they were many kilometres further south, apparently following the two adult female buffalo which, after the killing of their calves, had run south, towards the large herd of buffalo which they presumably found and joined. However, whatever designs the lions of the Eyrefield Pride and West Street Males had on these buffalo were soon scotched when they encountered other lions, including some adult males. The identity of these other lions is not known, but it is quite likely that they were from the southern parts of the reserve, perhaps the males which appear to be looking to take over control of this area. Whichever lions they were, they and the Eyrefield Pride appeared equally insecure in this central 'no-mans land'. It is not certain if any physical interaction actually transpired, but the buffalo were certainly left alone. September 2000 7 ADULT FEMALES (between 6 years & 11 months and 6 years
& 6 months of age) Location: MALA MALA (mostly western)/ FLOCKFIELD (mostly western)/ NORTHERN CHARLESTON Sightings of the lions of the Eyrefield Pride were particularly good during September with there being several of all 8 lionesses together. The West Street Males continued to spend much of their time with the Eyrefield Pride. Towards the beginning of this game report period the lionesses, the young male which has attached himself to the pride and four of the West Street Males made a devastating sortie against the buffalo of the large herd which were scattered in small units throughout the burned areas of the eastern parts of Mala Mala. Although this part of the reserve is probably not within their usual area of movement, the lions took on the buffalo with great confidence, killing an adult female on the first night and then four or five buffalo on the second night. Most of the latter kills were young calves, but at least two were also adult or close-to-adult female buffalo. Towards the end of the feeding the lions were so satiated that they tolerated great numbers of vultures and some hyaenas feeding off the still substantial remains of one of the kills. Perhaps this was the revenge for the killing of some of the cubs of the Eyrefield Pride by the large herd of buffalo in May this year. Two weeks later and in almost the same area, five of the lionesses and one of the West Street Males tried a similar attack but this time the buffalo stood their ground and the lions retreated. The young male which has managed to wheedle his way into the Eyrefield Pride has gained a great deal of acceptance and is not subject to the blatant hostility from the lionesses seen when he first tried to move in. Most of the scars on his lower back sustained from the beatings he received and withstood have disappeared and his condition is bordering on fat. Towards the end of September one of the lionesses of the Eyrefield Pride spent several days mating with one of the West Street Males. These male lions which have dominated the Eyrefield lionesses for several years now are really looking tired and it cannot be long now before they are ousted and new males establish themselves. This of course means that it will be highly unlikely for any cubs born in the next few months to survive as any new males would kill them off as soon as they could. Although September produced several sightings of the lionesses of the Eyrefield Pride together, the various females certainly spent more time apart than in one group. One of the lionesses seems to prefer spending time alone, completely separated from the others, whilst the composition of the other sub-groups which form seems to reflect a preference for certain companions. However, this is not always the case as was seen towards the end of this game report period when the youngest female was seen hunting with two of the other lionesses the one night, these all successfully killing an impala, and then the following day was found with other members of the pride on the remains of an adult female zebra. Just how they all effectively communicate and co-ordinate their movements cannot be easily explained. Mercenary behaviour is without doubt central in much of their survival motive. August 2000 7 ADULT FEMALES (between 6 years & 10 months and 6 years
& 5 months of age) Location: SOUTH EASTERN TOULON/ WESTERN MALA MALA/ WESTERN FLOCKFIELD/ NW CHARLESTON The woes of the Eyrefield Pride seem set to continue. There were no sightings this month of any cubs and the indications suggest that they are not in hiding somewhere being cared for by the females. Just what could have happened to them is uncertain. It is doubtful that they would have been killed by any male lions since the West Street Males are certainly still spending much time with the Eyrefield Pride, apparently still well able to protect this family at least. For much of the month the lions of the Eyrefield Pride, as expected, stayed in separate groups, the largest being one comprising 6 of the adult lionesses. As has been noted on previous occasions, one of the lionesses of this pride does have a tendency to stay alone for extended periods of time, joining with others as it suits her. On the occasions when these 6 females were together, the young lioness as well as the young male which has latched onto this pride accompanied them. Such a large group of lions would require more than just impala to satisfy them. Towards the beginning of this game-report period they were found with the remains of an adult female waterbuck, a kill which was reduced to bones in mere hours but kept them fat for several days. Some weeks later, this same group of lions, accompanied by one of the West Street Males, failed to catch a buffalo from the large herd but killed a young giraffe. Again this kill of several hundred kilograms was reduced to skin and bones in a matter of hours. At both of these kills, the young male lion which has muscled his way into the group was able to feed, eating much meat even in the presence of the single West Street Male. His strategy for survival seems quite simple; be subservient all the time except when feeding. He tolerates the aggression of the lionesses, never being slow to be beg and crawl and be as humble as possible. In this way the other lions seem satisfied that he poses no inordinate threat to them. From this young males' perspective, the wounds he has received from the beatings are a small price to pay. If he had to go out there and try to survive alone it would be impossible at his age. The lionesses are his only hope and he has adapted his behaviour so that this happens JULY 20007 ADULT FEMALES (between 6 years & 9 months and 6 years
& 4 months of age) Location: WESTERN MALA MALA/ WESTERN FLOCKFIELD The exact status of cubs of the Eyrefield Pride remains unclear. Last months viewing indicated that there were only two young cubs, these the survivors of five, the youngest of which had been killed by the buffalo of the large herd. However, at the beginning of July there was a brief appearance of three cubs of perhaps less than three months of age. This was the only encounter with these youngsters during July. Also confusing matters has been the fact that only one other cub was seen later in the month, indicating that perhaps the second older youngster may also have met with an untimely end. However, the fact that at most sightings of these lions at least one of the lionesses has been absent hints too that she has remained behind to care for any cubs. There was a quite distant sighting early in the month of two lionesses lying in the Manyelethi River, one of which appeared to be lactating. This area is very rocky and full of good cub repositories and also an area known to be used from time to time by the Eyrefield Pride, so maybe the lionesses seen were from this family. Hopefully viewing over the next few weeks will produce a clearer picture. Although the brother of the approximately two-year-old female was not seen during June, a young male of approximately this age made an appearance amongst the females of the pride this month. However, the lionesses made it quite clear that he was not welcome and although even the West Street Males also directed aggression towards this young male, it was the females that showed the greatest animosity. Nonetheless, the young male stayed on, the suffering obviously worth the food he was able to eke out from the group of females which would be the most successful hunters. At his age and particularly being alone, survival would be tough (he botched an attempt at stealing a cheetahs kill until much later when most of the meat had been consumed - a more experienced lion may well have known what was happening) and the option of staying on would be most desirable. The reaction of the females towards this young male is not easy to explain, but may have something to do with all of the young cubs suddenly making appearances and since he would be of little use as a hunter or defender of territory, would only be another mouth to feed. From the side of the West Street Males, however, this young male would be no threat to their dominance and could be tolerated. It could also be that this young male is not the brother of the young female of the Eyrefield Pride and is one which had simply become separated from his own pride and latched onto the Eyrefield Pride in the hopes that he would at least get food. Adding strength to this theory was a sighting of lions probably belonging to the Pride often confused with the Marthly Pride. These lions were only three in number, lacking one of the young males usually in attendance. This family, which has not been named due to the limited knowledge of their status, sometimes wanders into one of the peripheral areas of the Eyrefield Prides territory and it may be that in one of these wanderings they became separated and the young male found himself on his own and unable catch up with the others. June 2000 7 ADULT FEMALES (between 6 years & 8 months and 6 years
& 3 months of age) Location: WESTERN MALA MALA/ WESTERN & CENTRAL FLOCKFIELD Since the buffalo attacked and killed many of their young cubs late last month, life for the Eyrefield Pride has continued along expected lines. It has now emerged that of the five cubs seen in May, two one month or so older than the other three, there are now only two alive, one from each litter. It is not certain if the buffalo killed the older cub as well as the two youngsters, but at this stage it matters not. Ironically the deaths of these three cubs would minimise inter-cub competition and probably make it a great deal easier for the survivors to reach maturity. Another of the Eyrefield Pride lions which has not been seen of late is the brother of the nearly two-year-old female. Just what has happened to him is not known. This young lioness and the three other members of the Eyrefield Pride which she has taken to stay with is easily identified by one of her ears being badly cropped, this almost certainly the result of some or other fight. During June she gave a marvellous few minutes of entertainment when, whilst out hunting with her older relatives and one of the West Street Males, the lions chanced upon a Pangolin. These scaly anteaters probably encounter lions and other predators on a regular basis and although slow moving, roll up rapidly into an armour-plated ball which closely resembles a giant artichoke. As such they are practically impenetrable and adult lions don't even waste their energy on them. Nevertheless, for the young lioness the pangolin proved irresistible and her futile efforts to prise it open gave splendid viewing. This month there was finally confirmation that all seven lionesses of the Pride are still alive and well, this subsequent to the February floods. Four lionesses and three of the West Street Males were found lying close to the remains of an adult male Nyala, whilst the three other adult lionesses (and the young lioness) were some kilometres away finishing off the remains of a sub-adult zebra. MAY 2000 7 ADULT FEMALES (between 6 years & 7 months and 6 & 2
months of age) Location: WESTERN MALA MALA/ WESTERN & CENTRAL FLOCKFIELD Bad luck continues to dog the Eyrefield Pride. It has been known for some time now that at least one or two of the lionesses of the Eyrefield Pride have given birth, but up until the end of April, there had been no sight of any cubs until, at the carcass of an adult zebra, one of the lioness brought two youngsters to inspect the kill. The age of these cubs was estimated at three months. Then three weeks later, three more cubs were brought into the open, these approximately one month younger than the first pair. Such small cubs, barely at the meat-eating stage, can certainly constrain the movements of a group of lions and this was probably one of the reasons why the lionesses of the Eyrefield Pride have tended to split up in the last few months. Whilst these cubs were ambling around the north-western sectors of the reserve, further south and closer to the central areas, another group of the Eyrefield Pride, three lionesses and the two youngsters which are almost two years of age, were found eating an adult male giraffe. As could be expected, this group made absolutely no effort to contact any of the other lions from their Pride and they spent several days feeding from the kill. Strangely enough, although three of the West Street Males were found only a kilometre or so from this large kill, they apparently did not find it and the group of five lions from the Eyrefield Pride had it all to themselves. Soon after the giraffe had been consumed, tragedy struck the three smallest cubs when, upon having been left sheltering in some bushes whilst their mothers went off hunting, they were 'found' by the large herd of buffalo. The buffalo were simply out grazing when they scented the sheltering cubs and tore into them, trying to stamp them with their hooves and gore them with their horns. Once the buffalo had vented their fury, the area of shrubs had been completely devastated. By some miracle, at least one of the cubs was seen to crawl away after apparently being knocked unconscious. One cub had been killed instantly and there was no sight of the third. The following day, tracks indicated that the lionesses of this particular group of the Eyrefield Pride had returned to the area and one of them, presumably the mother, had departed with at least one cub following her. Upon following these tracks, the lioness and one cub were found sheltering in the reedbeds of the Sand River after having swum across. At this stage it was known that one cub was dead and one very much alive and apparently uninjured, but there was still no sign of the third. The lioness was very fat, apparently having eaten well. She soon left this probably highly traumatised youngster and walked off until she joined up with one of the West Street Male lions, the dominant male coalition of the area, which was guarding the carcass of a recently killed baby giraffe. After a long spell of 'lion diplomacy' the male allowed the lioness to feed. That afternoon, the lioness fetched the cub, which had been left in the reeds and brought it to the kill sight. The following day, however, the lions were still in the area, but this time also with another cub. It was the missing third youngster and badly injured, apparently carried to the area by the lioness. This injured cub could hardly move and barely responded to the coaxing grunts from the lioness and the curious attention from its sibling. That evening two other lionesses of the Eyrefield Pride joined in at the scraps of the kill and once finished, all except the mother and her two cubs remained. The following day she was still there, moving out only that afternoon, but returning again during the night with the other two lionesses. Nothing more was seen of the injured youngster so it is not known where the carcass was taken. So from five cubs they are again down to three, the two having died in a freakish manner which the mother could have done little to prevent. However, perhaps all is not doom and gloom. On average, the Eyrefield Pride is still made up of a good solid core of lionesses, most of which should have a good few more years ahead of them. FEBRUARY/ MARCH/ APRIL 20007 ADULT FEMALES between 6 years & 6 months and 6 years
& 1 month of age) Location: WESTERN MALA MALA/ WESTERN FLOCKFIELD As with the other families of lions with which contact has been had subsequent to the heavy rains, indications are that the Eyrefield Pride members have split into several smaller units and their exact status is not fully known. Just why the various lion prides have behaved thus is anyone's guess, but it may be as a result of hunting success. With abundant cover from the luxuriant growth and the wet conditions perhaps making things difficult for the prey animals to move at speeds which they are ordinarily accustomed to, hunting may be a great deal easier for the lions. This then should allow only a few lions to achieve what previously required greater numbers of hunters. Given this scenario then, it would pay to hunt with as few members as possible so that sharing would not have to be such a battle. This holds particularly true for this area where prey animals are typically small to medium-sized antelopes which do not usually require more than one or two lions to wrestle to the ground and competition from hyaenas is nearly unheard of. As conditions normalise and hunting success requires the presence of larger numbers of lions, then hopefully the various prides will consolidate into larger units. At least one of the Eyrefield Pride lionesses has given birth and whatever cubs are around should be approximately three months old, an age at which meat-eating should start. Hopefully this will then result in the youngsters moving about more regularly. The reproductive status of the remaining lionesses of this family is unknown. The West Street Males, the dominant coalition of this area, have continued to pay a great deal of attention to the Eyrefield Pride. JANUARY 2000 7 ADULT FEMALES (between 6 years & 3 months and 5 years
& 10 months of age) Location: WESTERN MALA MALA/ WESTERN FLOCKFIELD There were relatively few sightings of the Eyrefield Pride during January and most of these were on the western bank of the Sand River. The generally high level of the water was probably a major factor determining which bank they were on. At least one of the lionesses of the Pride is lactating, but it is not sure as to where the cubs have been concealed. It will probably be some weeks (or months) before these cubs are brought out into the open. Another of the lionesses of the Eyrefield Pride was by month's end looking as if she was about to give birth. The arrival of cubs, however, is not necessarily joyful news for the lionesses of the Eyrefield Pride which had the tragedy of losing so many cubs and adult lionesses to the anthrax outbreak last year. Not only are the cubs now being borne arriving at different times which will result in very one-sided competition favouring the first-borne, but their fathers, the West Street Males, are now getting old and may well not last long enough to see their offspring to independence. Any new male lions would then set about killing such not yet independent youngsters so that their mothers could come into oestrus in a short a time as possible. MalaMala
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