EYREFIELD PRIDE

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December 2002

EYREFIELD PRIDE = 16
5 ADULT FEMALES (mostly between 9 years and 8 years & 6 months)
1 FEMALE * 4 YEARS 1 MONTH
1 SUB ADULT MALE * 4 YEARS 1 MONTH
2 CUBS * 22-and-a-half MONTHS
2 CUBS * 20 MONTHS
5 CUBS * 12 MONTHS

Location: SW MALA MALA/ W & CENTRAL FLOCKFIELD/ NW CHARLESTON

Near the beginning of December, all 6 lionesses and 9 cubs of the Eyrefield Pride were accounted for on a single day, these in three different groups; the three West Street Males and the young male of the Eyrefield Pride were also scattered amongst these groups.

Otherwise there were no sightings this month of all lions of this large family together as they wandered the length and breadth of their territory looking for food. And food did not appear plentiful. Although there were days when groups of these lionesses and their cubs were about as well-fed as any lions could hope to be, many were the days when they were lean.

But for rapidly growing cubs, food is always scarce and it is not surprisng to see rather raggedy looking youngsters. What will of course compound the food problem is that some of the nearly 2-year-olds will no doubt be wanting to start learning to hunt and their over-eager inexperience will no doubt contribute to hunting failures and exacerbate the food situation.

Towards the end of the December-game-report-period, there was one sighting of the young female of the Eyrefield Pride, all alone and seemingly looking for a male lion. She was walking away from an area where most of the other members of the pride were resting after a meal of buffalo which had been killed by one of the West Street Males and was calling softly and frequently scent-marking. She was in was the same general area where last April she was mating with the Rollercoaster Males. Although the West Street Males control the Eyrefield Pride and have sent the Rollercoaster Males packing, they fathered the young female of the Eyrefield Pride and she seems set to avoid them when mating is the objective.

One of the finer sightings of the Eyrefield Pride and West Street Males occurred when five of the lionesses, all three adult males, the young male and 7 of the cubs surrounded a group of giraffe in a thicket. Perhaps if the West Street Males had shown more enthusiasm, things would have been different, but the giraffe went thundering away, unscathed, when the lionesses rushed in. Later that evening, the lions again all set out, but when they tried to creep up on a herd of impala, baboons noticed them and shouted a warning for all to hear.

But the big concern for the Eyrefield Pride must surely be the West Street Males; although they are still around and seemingly well in control, they are looking more bedraggled by the day. One of the trio - which single-handedly this month killed a nearly two-year-old buffalo and shared it with most of the other lions - is looking particularly skinny. Perhaps most of the Eyrefield Prides cubs still remain vulnerable to infanticide should the West Street Males be replaced by a stronger coalition at this stage.

November 2002

EYREFIELD PRIDE = 17
5 ADULT FEMALES (mostly between 8 years & 11 months and 8 years & 5 months)
1 FEMALE * 4 YEARS
1 SUB ADULT MALE * 4 YEARS
2 CUBS * 21-and-a-half MONTHS
2 CUBS * 19 MONTHS
5 CUBS * 11 MONTHS

Location: W MALA MALA/ W FLOCKFIELD/ NW CHARLESTON

The Eyrefield Pride seemed to have had a conflict-free month and stuck to the primary task of finding enough food for all. As usual, they had various members of the West Street Male coalition with them from time to time. These old males, the fathers of many of the cubs, are, contrary to expectations, still firmly in charge and for them to be around is so much part of the process of maintaining dominance and keeping competing male lions at bay.

There were no sightings of all members of the Eyrefield Pride together and the various members seemed to wander around their territory in two or three groups. One of these groupings comprised a single lioness and her two under-two-year-old youngsters. This particular group really seems to stay alone, joining other members of their family only if conditions are satisfactory, and this really means if food is present. At one time during November, the young male lion of the Eyrefield Pride, which seems to be spending more and more time alone, killed an adult female buffalo all by himself. It was two days before other members of the Eyrefield Pride, travelling with one of the West Street Males, discovered the carcass and joined in the feast. On the third day, the single lioness and her two youngsters also appeared on the scene, but had to be content with the scraps. When the carcass was more or less finished, the lions headed off, the lone lioness and her pair going east and the others west.

The biggest gathering of members of the Eyrefield Pride was of five of the lionesses and seven of the cubs. All three of the West Street Males were also with them. This occurred on the day after the five lionesses and the two oldest cubs had caught an adult warthog. As could be expected, the feeding was fast and furious and the three West Street Males, which were some distance away when things happened, arrived just too late to get any of the spoils.

One wonders just what causes these break-ups; is it simply a time in the lives of the growing cubs which makes the separation necessary for 'education' purposes, is it perhaps a reflection on the status of the general food supply, or is it perhaps simply the character of an individual lion of family of lions? Whatever it is, the situation seems to work for them. All lions seem healthy and are finding enough food to survive. Now that sufficient rain has fallen to influence the movements of prey species, particularly with respect to grazing conditions on areas of veld which have been burned, the pattern of movement of the Eyrefield Pride may well change again over the next month or so.

October 2002

EYREFIELD PRIDE = 17
6 ADULT FEMALES
1 FEMALE * 3 YEARS 11 MONTHS
1 SUB ADULT MALE * 3 YEARS 11 MONTHS
2 CUBS * 20-and-a-half MONTHS
2 CUBS * 18 MONTHS
5 CUBS * 10 MONTHS

Location: W MALA MALA/ W FLOCKFIELD/ NW CHARLESTON

The number of lionesses in the Eyrefield Pride seems to be getting less and less and may now be down to six. At the beginning of the month, one of the very old lionesses of the pride, one of the mothers of the oldest cubs, was found close to the Main Camp. She had just stolen the remains of a leopards kill, but had not eaten the entire carcass, even though she was still thin. The lioness was clearly dying and the act of stealing the kill was perhaps one last futile effort to remain alive. The rest of the pride had already rejected her and she was struggling on alone. This same lioness was badly beaten up by the Golf Course Males in May when they drove the Eyrefield Pride from a buffalo which they had just killed. In this skirmish, three of the older cubs were also killed. Following this beating, the old lioness seemed to go downhill rapidly. Veterinarians from the Kruger National Park found her riddled with Bovine Tuberculosis and she was put down, a perhaps kinder death than would otherwise have happened within only a few weeks.

But, for the rest of the pride, things went well. One of the surprises of the month was the 'discovery' that the Eyrefield Pride has more cubs than has so far been thought to have been the case. Whilst five of the lionesses were seen with 7 cubs, another was all alone with two male cubs, these perhaps getting on for two-years of age. This lioness seems to have taken her cubs and, perhaps in order to train them, has kept them apart from the others. On one occasion, she and the cubs tackled the large herd of buffaloes which came walking past them as they lay in the river. The lions chased the buffaloes on several occasions, panicking them as they ran behind them. Most of the charges towards the buffaloes were initiated by the young lions and at one time the lioness actually jumped up onto the back of a large buffalo bull before he threw her off. But, when the buffaloes realised the strength of the attacking lions, they halted and turned on the lions. And this is where the fun for the lions stopped and they retreated, a lesson for the young lions perhaps in just what could go wrong if tempted to try to catch a buffalo.

Towards the beginning of the game-report-period, one of the younger cubs had what was probably quite a frightening experience of nearly being abandoned. Together with some of the lionesses, other cubs and two of the West Street Males, this young cub had headed off on the hunt one night. The lionesses killed an adult male impala, but then had to relinquish their prize to the stronger West Street Males. With the male lions dominating, the females and most of the cubs simply left them and continued hunting. One of the cubs, however, stayed with the West Street Males and courageously fought for some meat, which he did indeed manage to get. But, by the time the kill was finished and the lions had cleaned up, the lionesses and other cubs were long gone and the youngster stayed with the West Street Males. But when the West Street Males moved off, the cub did not follow and for some days waited patiently for the lionesses to return for him. At one stage it seemed certain that they would find him, but passed him by and he continued to wait. This continued for several days until the cub was reunited with the others - certainly a worrying time for the youngster.

But otherwise the Eyrefield Pride prospered. Various groupings of these lions roamed the length of the section of Sand River which runs through their territory, taking advantage of the prey animals coming to drink during the heat of the day.

The West Street Males still seem to be in good condition and this will no doubt be good for the Eyrefield Pride - the loss of one or two impalas to these male lions is more than compensated for by their continued presence and what this does in keeping other male lions from entering the area and killing the cubs.

September 2002

EYREFIELD PRIDE = 15
6 ADULT FEMALES (most of these lionesses would be between 8 years and 10 months& 8 years and 4 months)
1 FEMALE * 3 YEARS 11 MONTHS
1 SUB ADULT MALE * 3 YEARS 11 MONTHS
2 CUBS * 20-and-a-half MONTHS
5 CUBS * 10 MONTHS

Location: W MALA MALA/ W FLOCKFIELD/ NW CHARLESTON

There may only be 7 adult lionesses of the Eyrefield Pride remaining; the old female which gave birth to two cubs some months ago and then abandoned then has not been seen for some weeks now. She was looking in a desperate state: emaciated and limping severely due to some or other injury to her rear leg. In such a condition her immune system must surely have taken a hammering and it could only have gone downhill from there. It is quite likely that she has simply dragged herself off to die somewhere.

The other old lioness of the pride, one of the mothers of the older cubs, is also looking terrible. The last few months have not been pleasant for her. Not only has she had to look after babies, but also she was beaten up quite savagely in May when the Golf Course Males took them on at a buffalo kill. During that fracas, three of the Eyrefield Pride cubs were killed and the old female badly beaten up. She really has not recovered from the thrashing.

But the rest of the family seem to be doing well and this month they delivered some good viewing. Towards the beginning of the game-report period, they and the West Street Males (the trio of male lions that dominate the Eyrefield Pride), all feasted on the carcass of a sub adult elephant which appeared to have died as a result of wounds sustained in a brush-fire. Although the lions certainly gorged themselves on elephant meat, they did not really seem to relish it, small groups of them leaving the scene every so often as if they had had enough to eat. But, with protein always a scarce commodity, they ate it whilst it was there.

Thereafter, the lions split up somewhat and "worked" different areas of their territory. Strangely, the five youngest cubs, which up to now have been more or less always together, also split up, one going with one group of lionesses, the other four staying with another group - certainly a rather uneven way to separate.

Towards months end, members of the Eyrefield Pride spent some time to the south of their range and perhaps even further south of this, entering land generally considered to belong to their neighbours. Hunting conditions probably contributed towards this, with the lions taking advantage of the game using the Sand River as their chief watering source, particularly during the midday period.

The West Street Males spent varying amounts of time with the different subgroups of the Eyrefield Pride, but were more or less always in attendance. One event which combined sightings of both members of the Eyrefield Pride as well as the West Street Males, suggested that two of the latter had arrived at the scene of a zebra carcass, killed by the Eyrefield Pride and had then forced the lionesses from the area, claiming the kill for themselves.

But the lionesses may not have actually been brutally driven from the carcass; the zebra had been killed outside of the usual areas patrolled by the Eyrefield Pride and the West Street Males must have somehow realised what was happening and arrived whilst the lionesses and cubs were feeding. The two West Street Males had actually been seen many kilometres from the scene only 12 hours before so goodness knows how they could have known what was going on. But, arriving unannounced inside an area where the Eyrefield Pride would have been feeling vulnerable would have really spooked the lionesses. The sudden appearance of male lions could have caused them to abandon the kill and flee without question, leaving all to the males. And that is what often happens when lions are caught by surprise outside of their territory; the psychological advantage of home goes and behaviour changes from what is so often expected.

August 2002

EYREFIELD PRIDE = 16
7 ADULT FEMALES (most of these lionesses would be between 8 years and 9 months& 8 years and 3 months)
1 FEMALE * 3 YEARS 10 MONTHS
1 SUB ADULT MALE * 3 YEARS 10 MONTHS
2 CUBS * 19-and-a-half MONTHS
5 CUBS * 9 MONTHS

Location: W MALA MALA/ W FLOCKFIELD

The Eyrefield Pride provided the bulk of the lion viewing in the northern parts of the reserve. There were no sightings of all of the lionesses together and they were frequently accompanied by one or more of the three West Street Male lions.

The lionesses started the month off well by killing an adult male buffalo at the confluence of the Matshapiri and Sand Rivers, this only a day or so after they had just finished feeding from the carcass of an adult male kudu. The buffalo kill lasted several days and in the end other members of the pride joined them, as well as all of the cubs. The two one-and-a-half-year-old cubs came along on the last day of feeding, this after they had also just helped their fathers, the West Street Males, finish off the carcass of an adult female buffalo further north along the river. Although these older cubs looked really bedraggled at the end of last month and for the first few weeks of August, good eating turned this around and they were looking quite sleek towards the end of this game-report period.

Also joining in at the buffalo carcass was one of the really old Eyrefield Pride lionesses, the one which was seen with two tiny cubs a few months ago. These cubs have been abandoned and the old lioness really appears to be struggling. Her teeth are probably worn out and food is now a difficult thing to get access to. An injured hind leg is also not helping her and it would come as no surprise if she soon creeps off to die.

One good sighting of some of the Eyrefield Pride members took place when they came across a tree in which a leopard kill had been placed. They scaled the tree, grabbed the remains of the carcass and devoured it, the young male lion completely dominating over the few females and cubs which were also present.

The five younger cubs are looking healthy and, should the aging West Street Males continue to soldier on for another year, then their chances of survival to independence could be good.

July 2002

7 ADULT FEMALES - 8 years +
1 FEMALE - 3 years +
1 MALE - 3 years +
2 CUBS - 18 months
5 CUBS - 8 months
1 CUBS - 4 months
2 CUBS - 2 month

Location: W MALA MALA/ NW FLOCKFIELD

The Eyrefield Pride probably had a good month, at least compared with June. What July's viewing certainly did indicate was that the suspected interaction during mid-June with the Golf Course Males probably took place and probably resulted in the deaths of three of the five older cubs. The surviving two 18-month-old cubs spent July in recovery, as did the older lioness of the pair which are their mothers. All were covered in scratches and scars, probably from the fight when the Golf Course Males arrived at a buffalo kill made by the Eyrefield Pride. In the absence of the West Street Males, the Golf Course Males probably took over the carcass and killed the three cubs. The loss of these three older cubs would have been a blow not only for the Eyrefield Pride, but for the West Street Males as well. Since the West Street Males are really hovering on the brink of getting thrown out (this judged by their length of stay in the area and their general physical appearance), the older cubs represented perhaps the best possible chance for their genes to remain behind when they are eventually deposed.

Also seen amongst the Eyrefield Pride this month were three other cubs until now not known about, two of them tiny, perhaps only two months of age and the other thought to be four months old. The mother of the youngest cubs is one of the very old lionesses of the family and she seems to be in a bad condition. Not only did she seem emaciated during July, but was nursing some injury to one of her rear legs. Although lion cubs are only expected to start eating meat from three months of age or so, these tiny cubs were at one sighting seen to squabble viciously over a baboon kill. The last time they were seen during July was near the middle of the month when they and their mother were trying to keep up with the three West Street Males and some of the other lionesses on a fruitless chase after the large herd of buffaloes. It will come as a surprise if these two cubs are seen again. The four-month-old cub was seen only once and appeared to be healthy.

But as dismal as the preceding has been, a ray of hope lies with the five 8-month-olds. They and their two mothers seem to be fit and well and getting plenty to eat. Although they certainly did go through some of July looking on the scrawny side, they came through in good condition, particularly at the end when they and their mothers were found on the carcass of an adult male kudu - nearly a quarter of a ton of antelope for them to share. At the moment the lions of the Eyrefield Pride are spending most of their time in smaller units rather than all together - and this is perhaps for the better. Not only is large, dangerous-to-catch prey such as buffalo and giraffe not the absolute only food around, but also the cubs of different ages are still sufficiently different to make their requirements quite unique. Both reasons make getting together probably unnecessary at this stage.

June 2002

7 ADULT FEMALES (most of these lionesses would be between 7 years and 8 years)
1 FEMALE - 3 years +
1 MALE - 3 years +
3 CUBS - 17 months
2 CUBS - 16 months
5 CUBS - 7 months
2 CUBS - 1 month

Location: W MALA MALA/ W FLOCKFIELD/ NW CHARLESTON

The Eyrefield Pride had an eventful month starting off with the two females, with the five 7-month-old cubs, killing an adult zebra opposite Harrys Camp. This large kill was well hidden from vultures and they shared it with one of the West Street Males, eating it over a period of three days. Then, a few days later, there came a day when all 8 lionesses were seen ( not all together) but all were accounted for. Three of the lionesses - two of these the mothers of the 7-month-old cubs - were found hunting in the reeds in the Sand River, close to where their cubs may also have been hidden. They flushed some buffalo which made an easy escape. The other members of the Eyrefield Pride were further north, close to the Mala Mala Main Camp, one of the old lionesses alone, the other four with two of the West Street Male lions, the young male lion of the group and the five older cubs. This group had been hunting for a few hours in the morning, but apart from some attempts at impala and fruitless chasing of baboons, had came away empty handed. Then, towards midday, one of the lionesses of this group went off on her own and after resting up in the Sand River opposite the Mala Mala Main Camp for an hour or so, headed east. Goodness knows what she was up to, but the Styx Pride ( which was resting on one of their favourite rocky koppies, a spot which affords a magnificent view over the countryside below) soon noticed her. Seemingly quite aware of the strength of this 'invasion', the oldest Styx Pride lioness was dispatched to deal with it whilst the others with the cubs waited and watched from above. When the two lionesses met, the trespasser immediately adopted a guilty pose and fled with the Styx Pride lioness in pursuit, roaring as she went. No physical contact was needed and the Eyrefield Pride lionesses retreated. It was nearly a year ago that all lionesses of the Eyrefield Pride were last accounted for on a single day. On that occasion they were all together.

Ten days after all eight were seen, the three West Street Males pulled down a buffalo bull near the Mala Mala Bridge and this attracted the attentions of various members of the Eyrefield Pride, not all of which arrived in time to get a share of the feast. The cubs of various ages and hence with different needs are still being kept separate. And this is wise; each group would in fact be a threat to the other and for a greater chance of overall survival, should be kept apart until competition amongst them would be minimised. Towards the beginning of June the youngest female of the pride was found wandering around alone and apparently on the lookout for a male lion. It is not known whether she found one or not. With the West Street Males, one of which would have fathered her, having effectively chased off the coalition of four male lions last month (these having mated with this young female in April) it may have been a bit difficult for her to persuade them to answer her calls. In the first week of June there was also a sighting of two very small cubs, these having appeared out of some reeds in the Sand River close to where 4 of the lionesses and the five 7-month old cubs were resting.

But the biggest event of the month for the Eyrefield Pride may have been towards the middle of June and the outcome has so far not been established. Lions, and these probably members of the Eyrefield Pride, were heard killing a buffalo in the Sand River. Unfortunately there was no access to this spot and it was only sounds which told the story. But not far from where this buffalo had been killed other lions, and these the three Golf Course Males and members of the Selati Pride, also heard the distress calls and the fighting and immediately headed towards the source, no doubt with an easy meal in mind. Just what the Golf Course Males and the Selati Pride were doing so far north is unknown, but for whatever reason, they were around and not slow on taking advantage of what came their way. Just what happened at the scene of the kill is not known, but the Golf Course Males could well have dominated. At least two of the West Street Males were definitely not in the area. They were seen heading towards the spot that night, but in their absence, the lionesses and cubs of the Eyrefield Pride may have been at the mercy of the invading Golf Course Males. The following day, the two lionesses of the Eyrefield Pride with the five 7-month-old cubs were seen leaving the area, heading steadily away. But this was the last of the Eyrefield Pride for the month. Just what happened may only be pieced together as further sightings occur. But it may be bad news for some of the older cubs of the Eyrefield Pride and of course the old West Street Males.

May 2002

7 ADULT FEMALES (most of these lionesses would be between 7 years and 8 years)
1 FEMALE - 3 years +
1 MALE - 3 years +
3 CUBS - 16 months
2 CUBS - 15 months
5 CUBS - 6 months

Location: W MALA MALA/ W & NORTH-CENTRAL FLOCKFIELD

The Eyrefield Pride seemed to have had a good month. The five young cubs and their mothers had a different agenda to the five older ones and theirs, so in spite of all being together at the West Street Males' buffalo kill at the very end of April, this has been the only sighting of all 10 together. And not surprising - the younger cubs would have requirements and walking capabilities quite different to the older ones and being together at this stage would perhaps not be the best scenario.

From a stability point of view, the protectors of the Eyrefield Pride and fathers of at least the older cubs, the West Street Males, had a exceptional month, fighting off four other male lions which have, up until now, looked to be the most likely challengers for their territory and the Eyrefield Pride that goes with it. These four male lions were seen mating with the youngest of the Eyrefield Pride last month, this lioness fathered by the West Street Males nearly four years ago. It is also suspected that the five youngest cubs of the Eyrefield Pride might have been fathered by these same four males, which at the time may have lured some of the Eyrefield Pride away from their relatives and the West Street Males. In the end, if this did indeed happen, then it may have been the best of strategies. The four male lions (there were five originally, but rumours from the west suggest that one was killed in a fight with other lions, perhaps the Golf Course Males) would have perhaps been satisfied with some lionesses and left the others alone, these the remainder of the Eyrefield Pride which now have the older cubs. This would then have given the older cubs a greater chance of surviving and the West Street Males, at that stage looking very tattered, a chance to recuperate. And from the lionesses point of view, they were covering all angles - not certain which male lions were going to dominate, they chose to fraternise with both, so probably maximising the chances of at least some cubs surviving. And the West Street Males, being already familiar with all lionesses of the Eyrefield Pride, would probably not kill cubs fathered by other male lions. So, for the time being at least, things look hopeful for the Eyrefield Pride, quite a change from the gloom which has clouded their horizons for the last year . But of course life in the lions world is never simple and what today might appear rosy can, through some unexpected event, turn full circle the next.

April 2002

7 ADULT FEMALES (most of these lionesses would be between 7 years and 8 years)
1 FEMALE - 3 years +
1 MALE - 3 years +
3 CUBS - 15 months
2 CUBS - 14 months
5 CUBS - 5 months

Location: W MALA MALA/ W FLOCKFIELD

The Eyrefield Pride started the month on a quiet note with there being only a few encounters with various members. The lioness which is thought to have given birth a month or two ago, was seen two or three times in the section of land between Harrys Camp and the Main Camp. Most of the time she looked lean and on one occasion was seen with a baby baboon which she had snatched from a troop which would not stop barking at her. If her cubs are still alive, they are thought to be hidden in the reeds of the Sand River just downstream of Harrys Camp.

The oldest five cubs of the Eyrefield Pride are doing well and their fathers, the raggedy old West Street Males, are still doing enough to keep other males at bay and their cubs alive. Then, towards the end of this game-report period, the Eyrefield Pride started producing surprises, starting off with the youngest female mating with the four male lions which have been seen on the south-central areas of the reserve, one of which is missing an eye. The mating lasted for several days and took place in what might be termed no-mans land, a part of the reserve where the West Street Males seldom venture. It has been suggested over the last 6 or 7 months that these four males (there were five at one stage) have coerced at least some lionesses from the Eyrefield Pride to move away from the West Street Male and have in fact fathered cubs with them. At one stage when this mating with the young lioness was in progress, the three West Street Males approached the area, but kept their distance and the two coalitions were not seen coming within eyesight of one another. The West Street Males fathered this young lioness.

Then, the biggest surprise from the Eyrefield Pride came at the end of the month when, at the carcass of an adult female buffalo killed the previous day by the West Street Males, five lionesses, including the youngest one which had just been mating, arrived together with a total of 10 cubs, five of these approximately 5 months of age. The other five youngsters were the ones which have been around for close to one-and-a-half years now. But which lions fathered these newer cubs from these other two lionesses? Was it the four which were earlier mating with the youngest lioness or was it the West Street Males? Whichever, the West Street Males accepted them and all seemed happy.

March 2002

7 ADULT FEMALES (most of these lionesses would be between 7 years and 8 years)
1 FEMALE - 3 years +
1 MALE - 3 years +
3 CUBS - 14 months
2 CUBS - 13 months
2 CUBS - 3 months

Location: W MALA MALA/ W FLOCKFIELD

The Eyrefield Pride produced scattered viewing over this game report period with the largest number of lionesses seen on one day being four, three of these with the older cubs and one alone, perhaps heading to very young cubs which may have been born towards the beginning of the month. All five of the older cubs of the Eyrefield Pride seem to be alive and well, but for a while were accompanied by only a single lioness and the young male of the group. There were no sightings of these lions with full bellies and it is still believed that the threat of younger male lions on the peripheries of the area still held by the old West Street Males, the fathers of the cubs, is keeping them very area-bound. This will make hunting just that much more difficult. As to whether another of the lionesses has given birth, this has yet to be confirmed, but indications suggest this to be the case. Towards the beginning of the month, it appeared that the cubs were being kept in a series of rough gullies near the Mala Mala Airstrip. At months end, movements of this solitary lioness hinted that they might have been moved to the Sand River downstream of Harrys Camp. Both areas have been used on previous occasions to hide cubs. When last seen, this lioness appeared desperately thin. Sightings continue to suggest that the Eyrefield Pride has indeed split into two units, one of which now falls under the control of four younger male lions south of the area occupied by the West Street Males. At least one of these lionesses has also probably given birth.

February 2002

7 ADULT FEMALES (most of these lionesses would be between 7 years and 8 years)
1 FEMALE - 3 years +
1 MALE - 3 years +
3 CUBS - 13 months
2 CUBS - 12 months
2 CUBS - 3 months

Location: W MALA MALA/ W FLOCKFIELD

The Eyrefield Pride was not seen very much during February and seemed to spend much of their time to the west of the Sand River, this perhaps due to the heavy presence of other lions on the eastern bank. Sightings were only of some of the lionesses of the pride and evidence is still mounting that the females have at least temporarily parted ways, some perhaps having been coerced south by four or five younger male lions. Two lactating lionesses were seen in this southern area, a place known to 'belong' to the Eyrefield Pride but no longer entered by the West Street Males. So perhaps this has indeed happened and the family of 8 lionesses has parted ways. But will it be permanent? When the West Street Males eventually go, will their replacements be this other coalition and if so will there then be a reunification of the lionesses? The young cub seen in early December, sibling to the second which was only days later caught by a crocodile, has not been seen for some time and it is quite likely that it too is no more. The West Street Males continued to be seen with the two lionesses of the Eyrefield Pride which have the five older cubs. There were also several sightings of the young female and young male with these same lionesses. At one stage it appeared that the young lioness had left these two and gone to join the 'southern faction'.

January 2002

7 ADULT FEMALES (most of these lionesses would be between 7 years and 8 years)
1 FEMALE - 3 years +
1 MALE - 3 years +
3 CUBS - 12 months
2 CUBS - 11 months
2 CUBS - 3 months

Location: W MALA MALA/ W FLOCKFIELD

The Eyrefield Pride had an interesting month. As has been the case for so long now, there was not a single sighting of all 8 lionesses of this pride in one location. It seems more and more likely that they have separated ways and some of the lionesses have moved south whilst the others, the ones which have cubs fathered by the West Street Males, have remained in the central and northern parts of their territory. The ones which may have gone south might have been 'captured' by the coalition of four or five young males which seems to have claimed an area to the south of that occupied by the West Street Males. At the beginning of the January game-report-period, members of the Eyrefield Pride were still finishing off the remains of the giraffe which had apparently died of complications associated with a difficult birth. But once this feast had gone, it was time to move on and find other food.

But shortly after this, a bizarre tragedy struck. Not far from where the lions had been feasting on the giraffe and in an area of the Sand River often used by the Eyrefield Pride, some of these lionesses were found one day with two small cubs. These youngsters could not have been older than three months and were still rather nervous of landrovers; cautious viewing became the order of the day. Then, a few days after this find, one of the youngsters was killed. It all happened one morning when all three of the West Street Males, three lionesses, the five older cubs of the pride as well as the two young cubs were all in this same area, sleeping on the comfortable Riverbed sand. However, also visible in the water and seemingly watching the lions, was a large crocodile. Goodness knows what she was doing, but the mother of the young cubs stood up, looked to the Western bank of the Sand River and started to cross the watercourse. The young cubs immediately followed. Although the water was reasonably shallow, it was deep for the little cubs and they were soon paddling furiously to keep up with the mother. Seeing this, the crocodile struck. Moving with alarming speed, it launched itself at the lions and in a flurry of spray, caught the one young cub. The lioness turned and came charging back, attacking the area where the crocodile had been. All other lions on the bank also jumped to their feet. The West Street Male with the torn nose which is considered the most dominant and has so often been found in the company of the lionesses and cubs came charging towards the scene as well. But by then it was too late and the crocodile was gone with the cub in its mouth. And the lions seemed to realise what had happened and accepted it in their usual stoic manner. The lioness with the single remaining cub returned to the eastern bank and the lions regrouped. That afternoon they were still in the area, fast asleep and behaving as if nothing had happened. But perhaps it was a blessing in disguise; the chances for survival for such young cubs are probably nearly nil given the West Street Males' precarious hold on power. Even for the older cubs of the family they are not yet safe and the West Street Males seem more tattered than ever before. After this event, most sightings of the Eyrefield Pride were confined to the two lionesses which have the older cubs. They provided good viewing and were often accompanied by one or more of the West Street Males.

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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