Mlowathi Males

November 2001

Three adult males - one with a dark mane, one light maned, the third with a mane still developing:

Not seen this month.

October 2001

Three adult males - one with a dark mane, one light maned, the third with a mane still developing :

Only one of the Mlowathi Males was seen this month and this towards the beginning and in the north of the reserve when he was mating with one of the lionesses of the Styx Pride and then temporarily joined them at a zebra kill. What has happened with these lions? They have simply vanished and left their southern territories open for occupation by the aging West Street Males, lions which should be in the process of being kicked out, but which have suddenly been given a territory on a plate. Not that the territory has many females - the Styx Pride has certainly moved out, at least on a temporary basis. But a most unusual bit of lion social dynamics witnessed over the last six or so weeks.

September 2001

Three adult males - one with a dark mane, one light maned, the third with a mane still developing - Mlowathi Males:

The absence of the Mlowathi Males was noticeable during September. The only sighting of all three male lions together was towards the beginning of this game report period when they were with the lionesses of the Styx Pride. After the middle of the month they were simply not seen. What could have happened? At one time in early September an unknown male lion was seen towards the south-eastern parts of the Mlowathi Males' territory and the following day this coalition was in the area, no doubt responding to this invasion. But then later on when the West Street Males moved north and spent several days in the area thought to be the southerly part of the Mlowathi Males' domain, there was absolutely no response seen. Have the Mlowathi Males at least temporarily moved off to conquer other females now that the Styx Pride have cubs or has something else happened to them? If they have moved to conquer other prides, then hopefully they will not forget about the cubs with the Styx Pride. Paternal duties for male lions include maintenance and a continued presence in the area of their cubs is most necessary to prevent aggressive foreign male lions from moving in. On the other hand something more serious may have occurred; a buffalo may have fallen the wrong way or proved more aggressive than usual - who knows; the life and future of a lion can change in an instant. Death of one male could have severe psychological repercussions amongst the surviving members and this in turn on the entire lion dynamics of the area. Hopefully viewing in October will clarify matters. But certainly September's viewing painted an ominous picture as to what the future holds for the Mlowathi Males and the Styx Pride.

August 2001

Three adult males - one with a dark mane, one light maned, the third with a mane still developing - Mlowathi Males:

Little was seen of the Mlowathi Males this month and they again appeared to be spending much of their time with the lionesses of the Styx Pride which have their babies to the north of the reserve.

July 2001

The Mlowathi Males hardly seem to go south of the Matshapiri River these days, probably due to the fact that the Styx Pride commands their attention and they have certainly been staying north. Towards the end of the month the male with the lighter coloured mane was mating with the older lioness of the Styx Pride, this a sure sign that she has lost yet another litter of cubs - the third in a year. If this carries on, as with the West Street Males, the Mlowathi Males will become old having produced no cubs which have a hope of reaching maturity. The Mlowathi Males and some of the Styx Pride lionesses spent several days during July feasting off the carcass of an approximately 3-year-old rhino which had died in a bizarre manner, having become trapped beneath a fallen tree, apparently whilst trying to scratch itself. Later on in the month they and one of the younger Styx Pride lionesses were found close to the upper reaches of the Matshapiri River. Tracks indicated that buffalo had recently been in the area and all lions were well fed.

June 2001

May 2001

The Mlowathi Males appeared to spend most of their time in the northern parts of the reserve, close to the Styx Pride lionesses which probably have a new litter of cubs in this area. Most gatherings of the lionesses of the Styx Pride encountered during May also included at least one of the males of this coalition. At the beginning of this game report period and the again in the middle of May, the blonde-maned male was seen mating with one of the two Styx Pride lionesses which do not have cubs. There was only one sighting of all three males together, this towards the end of May when they and the four lionesses of the Styx Pride were found eating an adult male warthog.

April 2001

Three adult males - one with a dark mane, one light maned, the third with a mane still developing - Mlowathi Males:

These three lions had an eventful month. Towards the middle of April, the three Mlowathi Males spent at least two days chasing the large herd of buffalo. Although they were not seen to catch one, they may well have ultimately been rewarded with a calf or young buffalo, this indicated by their fat stomachs seen in the mornings after the chases. When the large herd of buffalo appeared on the reserve, the lions were following them. That night, using the cover of darkness and the confusion of a violent thunderstorm, they chased into the buffalo, but were driven off. The buffalo bunched together and fled to the safety of an open area and the lions backed off. The next day, however, the lions were again on their heels and a similar performance was witnessed. The Mlowathi Males are noted killers of buffalo and really seem to know what they area doing, including when to give up if the opposition is too strong.

Later on in the month, the Mlowathi Males were faced with a new challenge, this time in the form of three young male lions which entered the area. Two of the male lions were quite relaxed in the presence of vehicles and had the appearance of some of the young male lions which left the Styx Pride last year. The other male lion was mature and had an impressive black mane, but his disposition was quite different and he was unhappy when landrovers approached. Anyway, the lions arrived in the northern and eastern parts of the reserve, probably in search of food rather than to challenge the Mlowathi Males. On the first day of their stay, they were seen to go after some giraffe, but failed to catch one. The following day they had seized onto the large herd of buffalo and soon killed a new-born calf. This meal did not last long and the next day they were still hovering around the peripheries of the herd which by this stage was moving quite steadily away. They were not seen to catch any other buffalo. Although there was no fight witnessed between these lions and the Mlowathi Males, the latter did arrive on the scene and late-night sounds of roaring lions and the wounds of battle later seen on the males of the Mlowathi coalition indicated that the invasion had been beaten off. By all accounts the battle had not been one-sided and one of the Mlowathi Males had a noticeable limp for a few days thereafter.

The oldest of the trio of males which was beaten off apparently split off from the other two and headed south. A day after he was seen wandering away, an adult male lion was seen with the some of the Windmill Pride lionesses which in turn were not looking too happy about him being around. It is quite likely that this male lion was the same one which had been sent packing by the Mlowathi Males a few days earlier and many kilometres further north. A sighting of two young male lions a day or two after this fracas was probably of the same two young males from the above-mentioned trio. They had returned to the area where they and their older companion had originally been found, perhaps in an effort to relocate him. For the Mlowathi Males, April continued along more accepted lines. There were two occasions when mating was observed between the blonde-maned male and one of the Styx Pride lionesses, the first in early April, the second two-and-a-half weeks later. Although the black-maned Mlowathi Male definitely appears larger in size and certainly appeared the more dominant a year ago, that now seems to have changed and the blonde-maned male has assumed number one position in the hierarchy.

March 2001

Three adult males - one with a dark mane, one light maned, the third with a mane still developing - Mlowathi Males:

There were many sightings of the Mlowathi Males this month, several of these together with the lionesses of the Styx Pride. Several matings were also witnessed over this game report period between one of the lionesses of the Styx Pride and both the dark and light-maned members of the Mlowathi Males. As has been indicated by their behaviour in the recent past, it does not appear as if either of these two males is clearly dominant over the other and an uneasy truce reigns. Unlike past behaviour, the Mlowathi Males did not appear as cohesive in behaviour as has been witnessed in the past, with most sightings of members of this coalition being of an incomplete compliment. As confident as they may be in their youthful stage, too great a degree of separation could make them vulnerable to a take-over by another territory-hungry group of males.

February 2001

There were some fine encounters with of the Mlowathi Males this month, both with them in association with the lionesses of the Styx Pride and on their own. Towards the beginning of the month there were several sightings of them mating with the at least two of the lionesses of the Styx Pride. Following on from one of the matings between the dark-maned lion and one of the younger Styx lionesses (this involving several days of aggression between the two when it appeared as if the lioness was most reluctant to mate) the trio of males separated for several days and subsequently the various individuals spent some time looking for each other. Later on in the month there were a few days of mating with perhaps the same young lioness. For two days the dark-maned male dominated the mating, sending clear signs to the other males of the coalition and lionesses of the pride which were in close proximity, that he was to be left alone. On the third day, however, when the youngest male approached the mating pair and was sent packing by the dark-maned male, the third lion, the blonde-maned male, slipped around the squabbling pair and positioned himself with the lioness. When the dark-maned male saw what had happened, he came snarling back, but the blonde-maned male held his ground and the lioness had a new partner. So although the dark-maned male is probably the most dominant, his position is not unassailable. Whilst all of this was happening, all lions - Styx Pride and Mlowathi Males set about with a tremendous roaring display, perhaps in response to some other distant lions. Once the mating was over, the males were then seen together on a more frequent basis, on one such occasion again putting on an earth-trembling performance of roaring. The finest hour for the Mlowathi Males, however, was reserved for later in the month when they were found lean and hungry and on the hunt. This time there was no roaring and all males were moving with steady intent. The target of this exercise was the large herd of buffalo, in this instance a group numbering in excess of perhaps five hundred animals. The lions seemed well aware of the buffaloes' position from several kilometres away and proceeded unerringly towards them. As they came closer and closer to the buffalo, the lions became more cautious and moved towards their prey with some well-deserved respect. However, luck was with the lions and before they could approach the bunched up buffalo which at that stage were totally unaware of the presence of the lions, a lone cow and calf, the latter only a few hours old, came stumbling towards them. By all accounts the female buffalo had stopped to give birth and none of the others had bothered to wait behind. This was a fatal piece of bad fortune for the buffalo. The lions hardly hesitated and hurled themselves upon the cow. In spite of a brave fight, the three lions knew what they were doing and within 10 minutes the two buffalo were dead. Surprisingly and luckily for the lions, the rest of the buffalo herd did not respond to the distress calls. Anyway, the lions had four days of eating ahead of them.

January 2001

Three adult males - one with a dark mane, one light maned, the third with a mane still developing - Mlowathi Males: There were frequent sightings of the Mlowathi Males this month, several of these of them accompanying various lionesses of the Styx Pride. The oldest lioness of this pride appears to have lost yet another litter of cubs, her second in 6 months, but was again mating with the blonde-maned male of the trio. The lionesses showed almost zero enthusiasm for the mating, scarcely moving when the male mated with her. A few days later the dark-maned lion of this coalition was courting one of the younger Styx Pride females and although some matings took place, the lioness appeared more eager to escape from him than to mate. Most sightings of the Mlowathi Males were of them away from the lionesses. At one stage part of the large herd of buffalo encountered these three and chased them off. However, tracks indicated that the lions followed the buffalo and when next seen, they were fat, presumably from having killed one of these large bovids.

December 2000

Three adult males - one with a dark mane, one light maned, the third with a mane still developing - Mlowathi Males: The majority of sightings of the Mlowathi Males were of them together with the Styx Pride. The only time this month when they were seen on their own was when they probably responded to the West Street Males entering the southern portions of their range to follow the large herd of buffalo. By the time the Mlowathi Males were in the area, the West Street Males had long gone and so little could be done except mark territory by urinating and face-rubbing in the immediate area. When they were first found, they were all lying in close proximity to where a male leopard had taken a baby impala kill high up into the upper branches of a Jakkalberry tree. Footprints, dragmarks and deep gouges caused by sharp claws indicated that the lions had tried to rob the leopard of his kill, but had only just failed to do so.

November 2000

Two adult males - one with a dark mane, the other light maned - Mlowathi Males: These two males - perhaps the coalition will soon include a third, this thought to be one of the approximatley 5-year-old males of the Styx Pride - seem to grow in strength by the day. There were several sighting of them, either alone, with the Styx Pride and, on one occasion, at a rhino carcass with the lioness of the Emsagwen Pride. At least one of the young lionesses of the Styx Pride came into oestrus this month and over the course of a week both the dark and blonde maned lions of the coalition mated with her. In the past the dominance of the black-maned lion has been more apparent.

October 2000

Two adult males - one with a dark mane, the other light maned - Mlowathi Males: The Mlowathi Males, the coalition which dominates the northern reaches of Mala Mala, were encountered on several occasions this month, together with the lionesses of the Styx Pride as well as on their own. On most occasions these two adult males were accompanied by an approximately 5-year-old male lion, thought to be one of the cubs of the Styx Pride. Indications are that this young male will become a third member of the coalition.

September 2000

Two adult males - one with a dark mane, the other light maned - Mlowathi Males: The name given to these two male lions results from the Mlowathi River which runs through part of their territory. This month these two, which have been tolerating the presence of another but younger male, probably one of the youngsters of the Styx Pride, for some months now, continued to consolidate their territory by patrolling the area and mating with the lionesses of the Styx Pride. One challenge to the latter came from one of the old West Street Males but the Mlowathi Males beat him up. The death of the litter of cubs born to the oldest lioness of the Styx Pride at the end of July (and perhaps also the first cubs fathered by the Mlowathi Males) may not have been such a bad thing. Over the last month probably all of the lionesses of the Styx Pride have mated with the Mlowathi Males, and, assuming conception, cubs should be born within a few weeks of each other. This should not only allow the lionesses to care for the youngsters with greater effect, but should also allow the Mlowathi Males to expand their territory faster, perhaps taking in the Eyrefield Pride from the West Street Males. The fact that several of the lionesses of the Styx Pride came into oestrus at the same time also allowed the blonde-maned member of the Mlowathi Males to have a mating opportunity. The current hierarchy suggests that the dark-maned member of the coalition is more dominant and has priority over matings. Unlike the West Street Males which appear to spend much time with the lionesses of the Eyrefield Pride, the Mlowathi Males seem only to arrive when mating is required, or some big kill has been made, but generally leave the lionesses alone. This may change of course when they get older. What also remains to be seen in the coming months is whether or not the two Mlowathi Males allow the younger male to stay with them and become a permanent partner within their coalition. There was a single lioness seen moving north up the centre of the reserve. It may well have been one of the Styx Pride looking for the others which were mating with the Mlowathi Males.

August 2000

Two adult males - one with a dark mane, the other light maned. These two males are now the undisputed controllers of the northern parts of the reserve and this month became the proud guardians of perhaps their first cubs, these born to the oldest lioness of the Styx Pride. When the cubs were known to be but a few days old and secreted away up in one of the 'Campbell Koppies', the males were around the base, curiously peering up into the rocks, but not heading towards where the youngsters were being hidden. Although the lionesses tolerated them being in the general area, it was perhaps the odd warning snarl from the lactating female which kept them at bay. For a few days these males stayed with the females, endured perhaps because their long-term presence is essential to keep other males away from killing the cubs. Later in the month these two males were seen crossing the Sand River for the first time and heading west onto the Mala Mala airstrip, an area which for the last few years has been pure West Street Male territory. Shortly before they crossed and whilst crossing, the males were roaring. Both acts, the river crossing and the vocalising, showed their tremendous confidence and were rather blatant challenges to the West Street Males which, although they clearly outnumber the two, are now ageing and would certainly not be as confidant. As has happened over this last year, the West Street Males have already given up on the northern reaches of Mala Mala, allowing this pair to prevail. What will happen from here waits to be seen, but such territorial challenges could simply fizzle out or take many weeks to reach their climax. Towards the end of this game-report period these males were seen mating with one of the younger lionesses of the Styx Pride. Of the two, the dark-maned male is the more dominant.

July 2000

Two adult males - one with a dark mane, the other light maned. These two males are clearly the dominant coalition of the northern and north western parts of the reserve. It is not certain if they control any of the eastern sections. At present the only pride definitely known to fall under their direct influence is the Styx Pride. This month they were seen several times with three of the Styx Pride lionesses, perhaps because the oldest one is showing obvious signs of pregnancy, a litter which might well be the first fathered by these males. They were also spent much time with another male lion, obviously younger and perhaps one of the Styx Pride Males. Just why they would tolerate his presence is not clear and this toleration borders close to what may be interpreted as affection. Time will tell if this lion stays with the other two to make it a more powerful coalition of three. If lion some text-book behaviour is anything to go by, it could be expected that once the Styx Pride lionesses have cubs to look after, these lions might well cast their eyes farther afield, perhaps towards the Eyrefield Pride which have the ageing West Street Males as their minders. So far the West Street Males have given ground to this younger pair, allowing them to rule their current area, a region once patrolled by the coalition of five but never quite dominated.

June 2000

Two adult males - one with a dark mane, the other light maned. These two lions have paired up and now dominate the north and western parts of the reserve, areas once briefly controlled by the West Street Males. This pair was seen only three times during June, but are certainly firmly in control of the afore-mentioned area. Towards the end of the month a pride lions, perhaps the lions which have in the past been confused with the Marthly Pride, managed to kill a female buffalo. These lions were then driven off the kill by five young male lions, among these being the adult male which once did belong to the Marthly Pride. No sooner had this nomadic group started to feed when the blond and black-maned pair arrived to chase them off. All ran away except for the 'Marthly' male which some months ago had been going around with the blonde-maned member of the pair.

May 2000

Two adult males - these are young adults which appear to have taken over the northern parts of the reserve. One has a dark mane and appears somewhat older and bigger than the other, which has a less impressive looking mane, which is also lighter in colour. On one occasion whilst being followed, these males flushed an adult steenbok and one of them actually managed to catch the usually fleet-footed antelope. Lions don't share food at the best of times, but with such a small meal it was quite out of the question and the other lion simply had to wait whilst his partner gulped down the food. On another occasion, both male lions were seen showing great interest in the large herd of buffalo. At the same time, two other younger male lions some ways to their north chased a group of giraffe and zebra in their direction. Unfortunately for the lions they seemed stuck for choice and failed to catch anything in the confusion of running prey animals.

February, March and April 2000

2 Adult Males: These two males have been seen roaming the northern areas of Mala Mala. Their behaviour has been one of dominance and it is clear that the West Street Males have given up on reclaiming this part of what was once their domain. One of these lions has a mane both darker and more luxuriant than the other and certainly appears older. The other male is the same one which several months ago chased off the Marthly Pride male lion when the two were competing for the mating of the oldest Styx Pride Female. Now that this blonde-maned lion has teamed up with the other and the Marthly Pride Male has wandered off, he is no longer as dominant. During April the two were seen with a lioness, probably one of the younger Styx Pride lionesses, and all mating was done by the bigger black-maned lion. Once the mating had finished, the two once again joined forces and all aggressive behaviour was forgotten. If they are able to work together they could well settle down to complete a firm grip on the area. It will be interesting to see if the 7-year-old Marthly Pride Male also decides to join this pair. At present this male lion has been seen with another young male of approximately three or four years of age which, although large in size, has almost no mane and may be his half-brother from the Marthly Pride. This quite unequal pair has been seen frequently on the central-northern parts of Mala Mala, areas adjacent to those roamed by the afore-mentioned pair.

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