Mlowathi Males - 2000Archives: 2000 || 2001 || 2009 || 2010 December 2000Three 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 2000Two 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 2000Two 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 2000Two 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 2000Two 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 2000Two 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 2000Two 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 2000Two 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 20002 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. MalaMala
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