SELATI PRIDE
December 2006
SELATI PRIDE = 12
2 ADULT FEMALES *6 YEARS 1 MONTH
3 SUB ADULT MALES *4 YEARS 1 MONTH
2 SUB ADULT FEMALES *4 YEARS 1 MONTH
3 SUB ADULT FEMALES * 3 YEARS 10 MONTHS
1 SUB ADULT MALE *3 YEARS 10 MONTHS
1 SUB ADULT MALE * 3 YEARS 7 MONTHS
Location: TOULON, CHARLESTON, SOUTHERN FLOCKFIELD
(4 sightings)
There were not any sightings of the whole of the Selati Pride during the report period, and this was consistent with the trend that has emerged over the previous few game reports. There was one sighting of a single sub-adult male of the Selati Pride, in the open areas on south-western Toulon, commonly referred to as The Golf Course, and similarly only one sighting involving any lionesses. Thereafter there were several sightings of three sub-adult males of the Selati Pride, also on the central parts of the Golf Course, and even further north of that, towards the western bank of the Sand River close to Calabash Crossing. It seems probable that these lions are beginning to distance themselves from the females of the pride, and will soon become independent and attempt to establish a territory of their own. Their timing could be fortuitous, as the Rollercoaster Males have moved northwards, leaving northern Toulon and south-western Charleston somewhat devoid of adult male lions.
November 2006
SELATI PRIDE = 12
2 ADULT FEMALES *6 YEARS
3 SUB ADULT MALES *4 YEARS
2 SUB ADULT FEMALES *4 YEARS
3 SUB ADULT FEMALES *3 YEARS 9 MONTHS
1 SUB ADULT MALE *3 YEARS 9 MONTHS
1 SUB ADULT MALE *3 YEARS 6 MONTHS
Location: TOULON, CHARLESTON, SOUTHERN FLOCKFIELD
(5 sightings)
The Selati Pride was not seen with any degree of regularity during the game report period. As would be expected, the lions were seen in the very south-western corner of Mala Mala. During the middle parts of November, they did move eastwards across the Sand River, as far as KK crossing, and were seen to hunt actively in that area without success. Thereafter they spent several days around the Calabash Crossing area, before retreating to the west where they seem to spend the majority of their time. A single female of this pride was seen on her own on two occasions during November. After difficult times in previous years, the Selati Pride seems to be flourishing.
October 2006
SELATI PRIDE = 12
2 ADULT FEMALES *5 YEARS 11 MONTHS
3 SUB ADULT MALES *3 YEARS 11 MONTHS
2 SUB ADULT FEMALES *3 YEARS 11 MONTHS
3 SUB ADULT FEMALES *3 YEARS 8 MONTHS
1 SUB ADULT MALE * 3 YEARS 8 MONTHS
1 SUB ADULT MALE *3 YEARS 5 MONTHS
Location: TOULON, CHARLESTON, SOUTHERN FLOCKFIELD
(5 sightings)
The Selati Pride were seen on five occasions and all of these sightings were either on western Charleston or Toulon. Unlike previous months these lions were not seen to venture into Flockfield. The young males of the Selati Pride are really maturing fast, and it can only be a matter of months before their fathers, the Rollercoaster Males, chase them off. There is now certainly a degree of overlap between Selati Pride and Eyrefield Pride territory, this owing to the emergence of the Rollercoaster Males as the dominant males on both Charleston and southern Flockfield, and a meeting of the two prides were be interesting indeed.
September 2006
SELATI PRIDE = 12
2 ADULT FEMALES * 5 YEARS 10 MONTHS
3 SUB ADULT MALES * 3 YEARS 10 MONTHS
2 SUB ADULT FEMALES * 3 YEARS 10 MONTHS
3 SUB ADULT FEMALES * 3 YEARS 7 MONTHS
1 SUB ADULT MALE * 3 YEARS 7 MONTHS
1 SUB ADULT MALE * 3 YEARS 4 MONTHS
Location: TOULON , CHARLESTON, SOUTHERN FLOCKFIELD
(15 sightings)
The Selati Pride continued with their ventures northwards from what is considered their prime territory during September, and were frequently sighted on Charleston and Southern Flockfield. At the start of the month the entire pride was found at the boundary that separates Charleston from Flockfield. The lions were active all morning as they hunted in a southerly direction, chasing after kudu and impala but failing to have any success. The lions eventually ended up on southern Toulon, which is a considerable distance away considering that all of this walking was undertaken during the heat of the day. This is however more familiar ground for these lions and perhaps this was what was driving them to return in such haste. The following day the pride was again on the move, this time on western Charleston and their movements once again took them northwards. But perhaps their most outrageous move came midway through the month when they went as far north as Rattrays Camp, which is deep within Eyrefield Pride territory. The fact that the Rollercoaster Males, the male lions that have been their guardians and protectors, have moved so far north claiming territory as they go, must give the Selati Pride a lot of confidence to venture into these areas. All in all a month of exploration for these lions and October should prove to be very interesting if they continue to test the boundaries of the Eyrefield Pride.
August 2006
SELATI PRIDE = 12
2 ADULT FEMALES * 5 YEARS 9 MONTHS
3 SUB ADULT MALES * 3 YEARS 9 MONTHS
2 SUB ADULT FEMALES * 3 YEARS 9 MONTHS
3 SUB ADULT FEMALES * 3 YEARS 6 MONTHS
1 SUB ADULT MALE *3 YEARS 6 MONTHS
1 SUB ADULT MALE * 3 YEARS 2 MONTHS
Cubs * 3 MONTHS
Location: TOULON, CHARLESTON
(7 sightings)
July 2006
SELATI PRIDE = 12
2 ADULT FEMALES *5 YEARS 8 MONTHS
3 SUB ADULT MALES *3
YEARS 8 MONTHS
2 SUB ADULT FEMALES *3
YEARS 8 MONTHS
3 SUB ADULT FEMALES *3 YEARS 5 MONTHS
1 SUB ADULT
MALE *3 YEARS 5 MONTHS
1 SUB ADULT MALE *3 YEARS 1
MONTHS
Cubs *10 WEEKS
TOULON , CHARLESTON
(15 sightings)
The Selati Pride was again the most commonly seen pride in the southern parts of the reserve. They frequented the Golf Course and Msuthu River regions, but were also seen as far north as the central-western parts of Charleston . One of the lionesses was seen at least twice on the Msuthu River on her own, and was lactating. More than likely she has young cubs hidden in the area.
During the middle of the report period, the Selati Pride killed an adult male impala on the golf course. Other than this, there was little hunting excitement to speak of. All the members of this pride are in superb condition, besides one of the older lionesses, which is decidedly thin.
The young males in this pride are approaching the age where they may start experiencing increased pressure from the Rollercoaster Males, who will force them out of the cosy environment of their natal group, and into the harsh world of independence. The Rollercoaster Males again spent a large part of their time with the Selati Pride, and the lionesses of this pride should welcome the stability that comes with the control of a strong coalition of male lions. All looks good for this group of females in the coming months.
June 2006
SELATI PRIDE = 12
2 ADULT FEMALES *5 YEARS
7 MONTHS
3 SUB ADULT MALES *3
YEARS 7 MONTHS
2 SUB ADULT FEMALES *3
YEARS 7 MONTHS
3 SUB ADULT FEMALES *3
YEARS 4 MONTHS
1 SUB ADULT MALE *3
YEARS 4 MONTHS
1 SUB ADULT MALE *3
YEARS 1 MONTHS
1 Cub(s) *6
Weeks
Location: TOULON , CHARLESTON
The Selati Pride put in a strong presence in the south of the reserve, hunting and killing frequently. They mainly operated on Toulon , and were seen to make a number of impala kills in and around the Golf Course area. But the highlight of the month for the Selati Pride came when they ventured far out of their territory and chased the Eyrefield Pride off a giraffe kill.
Photographed by ranger Wesley Neuman
This is not the first time that the Selati Pride have infiltrated Eyrefield Pride territory, the last time they killed the new cubs of the Eyrefield Pride. Perhaps this is still fresh on the mind of the Eyrefield Pride, or perhaps they got a fright at seeing the young males of the Selati pride rushing in on them for they abandoned the kill and fled north. In any case the Selati Pride in turn was chased off the kill the following day by 4 nomadic lions, and retreated to their own territory. Then at the end of the month a lioness and two very young cubs were seen in a thicket in Selati Pride territory.
Photographed by ranger Wesley Neuman
The lion could not be positively identified, but given its position there is a very strong possibility that this lioness is part of the Selati Pride. With the young lions in the Selati Pride now sub adults the Selati pride could well do with some small young cubs. The young males cannot be too far off being chased away by the Rollercoaster Males, to perhaps try and seize some vacant land on Mala Mala, which currently exists, to their north.
May 2006
SELATI PRIDE = 12
2 ADULT FEMALES * 5 YEARS 6 MONTHS
3 SUB ADULT MALES * 3
YEARS 6 MONTHS
2 SUB ADULT FEMALES * 3
YEARS 6 MONTHS
3 SUB ADULT
FEMALES * 3
YEARS 3 MONTHS
1 SUB ADULT MALE * 3
YEARS 3 MONTHS
1 SUB ADULT MALE * 3
YEARS
Location: TOULON , CHARLESTON
The Selati Pride had another fine month, hunting in force on the southern parts of Toulon with much success. The Rollercoaster Males spent a fair amount of time with this pride as usual, and certainly benefited from the numerous kills that the pride was seen to make. The young lions in the pride are maturing quickly and adding some serious muscle to this pride, and the future ahead looks bright for all the lions.
Selati Pride - Photographs by ranger Bens Marimane
April 2006
SELATI PRIDE = 12
3 ADULT FEMALES * 5 YEARS 5 MONTHS
3
SUB ADULT MALES * 3
YEARS 5 MONTHS
2
SUB ADULT FEMALES * 3 YEARS 5 MONTHS
2
SUB ADULT FEMALES * 3
YEARS 2 MONTHS
1
SUB ADULT MALE * 3
YEARS 2 MONTHS
1
SUB ADULT MALE * 2
YEARS 11 MONTHS
Location: TOULON , CHARLESTON
The Selati Pride continued their strong presence in south-western Toulon in April and was seen 17 times. As with the Charleston Pride there was nothing major to report. The region of the “Golf Course” was again a frequent haunt and on many evenings this pride was seen to hunt in this beautiful area. No kills were seen, but these lions are all in good condition. Again, the two Rollercoaster Males were often seen with this pride, which obviously bodes well for the stability of the Selati Pride.
March 2006
SELATI PRIDE = 10
2 ADULT FEMALES * 5 YEARS 4 MONTHS
2
SUB ADULT MALES *
3 YEARS 4 MONTHS
2
SUB ADULT FEMALES *
3 YEARS 4 MONTHS
3
SUB ADULT FEMALES *
3 YEARS 1 MONTH
1
SUB ADULT MALE *
2 YEARS 10 MONTHS
Location: TOULON , CHARLESTON
The Selati Pride seems to be enjoying the stability that has ensued from the return of the Rollercoaster Males. During this game report period the Rollercoaster Males were seen with the Selati lionesses 7 out the 9 sightings that were recorded. While the continued presence of the Rollercoaster Male lions in the area will provide great stability to the lionesses, one may expect some pressure to be placed on the young males of the pride in the up and coming months to move out and establish themselves elsewhere. But until that time comes, these young males will also enjoy the security of the Rollercoaster Males.
Again, sightings of this pride were restricted to south-western Toulon . One evening, while followed on the hunt, the Selati Pride was seen to kill an adult female impala on Golf Course, in the absence of the Rollercoaster Males.
February 2006
SELATI PRIDE = 15
3 ADULT FEMALES
2
LIONESSES *
5 YEARS 3 MONTHS
3
SUB-ADULTS *
38 MONTHS
2
SUB-ADULTS * 36 MONTHS
1
CUB *
32 MONTHS
2 CUBS *
28 MONTHS
2 CUBS
Location: TOULON , CHARLESTON
Four sightings of members from this pride occurred in the beginning of the game report period, but this usually very active pride failed to entertain much this month. Two subsequent sightings included only two females from the Selati pride being escorted over the Kingston break by the two remaining Rollercoaster Males. The continued presence of the Rollercoaster Males in this area will provide great stability to this pride and its youngsters, who have been harassed in the past by the Eyrefield Males during the Rollercoaster Males’ leave of absence.
January 2006
SELATI PRIDE = 15
3 ADULT FEMALES
2
LIONESSES * 5 YEARS 2 MONTHS
3
SUB-ADULTS *
37 MONTHS
2
SUB-ADULTS *
35 MONTHS
1
CUB *
31 MONTHS
2 CUBS *
27 MONTHS
2 CUBS
Location: TOULON , CHARLESTON
Seen on nine occasions around the area of the golf course on Toulon , these lions continued to provide good hunting action, bringing down small game and taking full advantage of the availability of young impalas.
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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