December 2004

On ten of the days during this game report period, at least one of the Split Rock Males was seen. The two were seen together on four occasions, and on one of those occasions they were in the company of the Styx Pride.

Most other sightings were of the older Split Rock Male in the company of Styx Pride members. The younger Split Rock Male was seen on his own on two occasions, and he was not seen at all after the middle of the month. Both lions seem to be in good health overall, although the younger one is still favouring his injured front leg.

---

November 2004

The two Split Rock Males were seen many times again in November, and were together more often than not. They were also seen to spend a good deal of time with the Styx Pride, and some mating activity was witnessed. The bond between the two males seems to be quite strong, but it is not clear which of the two is the dominant individual at this stage.

---

October 2004

The two Split Rock Males were seen very regularly during the month, and appear to be doing well.   The younger male still has a very swollen front left lower limb, but he is able to get around with nothing more than a slight limp.   The older male had the side of his nose torn open, probably in a scuffle with other male lions.   The Split Rock Males were seen in the company of both the Mlowathi Pride and the Styx Pride.

---

September 2004

There were numerous sightings of the two Split Rock Males in September, and they had a busy month.   Their activities confirmed that they still have the Styx Pride and Mlowathi Pride under their control, as they mated with members of both of these prides.  

They also took a major step towards taking over control of at least part of the Eyrefield Pride, when they joined with this pride in feeding on a buffalo kill.   The Split Rock Males clearly dominated over the young Eyrefield Pride Males, which eventually left the area of the kill to the Split Rock Males and a couple of Eyrefield Pride females.

---

August 2004

As far as could be told, the Split Rock Males had a relatively uneventful month, spending time mainly on Eyrefield, Mala Mala and Marthly.   They were seen alone and together, and also in the company of the Styx Pride.    

---

July 2004

Both Split Rock Males were seen, sometimes alone, sometimes together, and sometimes with one or more of the Styx Pride lionesses.   There seems to be increasing evidence that the younger of the Split Rock Males has taken over as the more dominant individual.

---

June 2004

The Split Rock Male lions seen during June 2004

---

May 2004

The Split Rock Males were seen together and inside West Street Male territory at the very beginning of this report-period, when they moved westwards from NW Flockfield.  But that's pretty much what was seen of their incursion into West Street Male territory.  If they were present on any other occasion, it certainly wasn't noticed.  Towards the end of the report-period, they parted ways, the younger of the two males spending several days in the Manyelethi River feeding on some or other carcass whilst the other one joined up with the Styx Pride and latched onto them. 

Their only other interaction with the Styx Pride was towards the beginning of May when they were seen meeting up with the oldest lioness of the pride near the Campbell Koppies.  This meeting wasn't particularly friendly and seemed dedicated to the maintenance of male dominance.  Nevertheless, as bullying as the Split Rock Males will be, they are an essential part of the Styx Prides' life and are needed if other male lions are to be kept away from killing their young cubs.  And they do have a kind side to them too; at the last sighting of this game-report-period, the older of the Split Rock Males was seen to give a helping hand, when, whilst following the Styx Pride, the smallest cub of the family became separated from the rest whilst they were crossing a steep-sided donga.  The lionesses simply called the cub, encouraging it to cross, but the male lion actively appeared to assist the tiny cub.

---

April 2004

The Split Rock Males spent much of the month with the Styx Pride, mating with three of the lionesses and also following them around whilst on the hunt.  And, probably because they spent so much time with these lionesses, they spent relatively little time pursuing their territorial challenge on the West Street Males to the south.  There was certainly one incident when the Split Rock Males chased the two West Street Males and members of the Eyrefield Pride from a wildebeest kill on the Mala Mala Airstrip, but this was pretty much it.  As things stabilise with the Styx Pride, however, so perhaps they'll concentrate more on what has been an objective of theirs for many months now. 

There was no confirmed sighting of the two young adult male lions which have been seen on various parts of the reserve, but mostly within Split Rock Male territory, over the last few months.  Perhaps the Split Rock Males have dealt with them.

---

March 2004

The Split Rock Males were remarkably absent this month, there ultimately being only two sightings of them, the one of one of them circling the koppie on which the old lioness of the Styx Pride is thought to have hidden her cubs.  The only other encounter with both Split Rock Males during March was when they were seen just to the west of Flockfield, deep in the heart of West Street Male territory.  Just why the Split Rock Males haven't once and for all forced the West Street Males to leave their territory remains something of a mystery.  The West Street Males appear weaker by the day and the Split Rock Males continue to push further and further into areas once considered exclusive West Street Male land.  So why no grand finale?  Why do the Split Rock Males continue to show at least some hesitation and allow the West Street Males to remain with the Eyrefield Pride?  Are they perhaps afraid of the young males of the Eyrefield Pride, the six males of the group other than the West Street Males?  And since the West Street Males are almost always with these six maturing males, this just doesn't give the two Split Rock Males much opportunity to confront them alone. 

Another problem which the Split Rock Males still have to deal with is the continued presence of the two younger male lions (one perhaps five years old and a year or so older than the other) which made their appearance some months ago on the northeastern areas of the reserve.  These two young males are still around and roaming Split Rock Male territory and its surrounds.  As has been speculated in the past, if the Split Rock Males ultimately concentrate too much on distractions beyond their borders, they could neglect what happens inside their territory and this could prove disastrous.  There were three sightings of these afore-mentioned male lions this month, one on NW Eyrefield, one on SW Mala Mala and then the other on central Flockfield.

---

February 2004

The Split Rock Males were seen several times this month, mostly towards the northern parts of the reserve.  The furthest south that they were seen was once when they took on the large herd of buffaloes at the confluence of the Matshapiri and Sand Rivers.   But the buffaloes were strong and the best that the lions could achieve was to jump onto the back of an old bull which happened to be lagging behind the others.  The bull simply shrugged the lions off and left them wondering why they'd even made the effort. 

At the very beginning of the report-period, the largest of the Split Rock Males was seen mating with a lioness, thought to have been one of the Eyrefield Pride lionesses.  The second Split Rock Male was resting nearby, no doubt hoping to get at least some chance.  This mating continued for two days.  However, whilst this was taking place, one of the Styx Pride lionesses was mating with one of two new male lions which have been making their presence felt in the north and eastern areas of the reserve, regions thought to have been under the control of the Split Rock Males.  So, whilst the Split Rock Males were away looking to dominate new prides, they were missing out on what was happening in their own back yard!  If they're not careful, their desire to kick out the West Street Males and dominate the Eyrefield Pride will backfire and they'll be the losers.  Fortunately this mating wasn't successful and the same Styx Pride lioness was again mating later on in the month, this time with the larger of the Split Rock Males. 

One interesting incident which involved both the Split Rock Males and the Styx Pride took place towards the beginning of the month and coincided with the oldest of the Styx Pride lionesses approaching term after mating with one of the West Street Males (again, in the absence of the Split Rock Males) three-and-a-half-months ago.  Some of the lionesses, including the oldest, were in the vicinity of the Campbell Koppies, when they all climbed the boulder-strewn hills.  The old female was the last to ascend and wasn't in the best of moods when she did.  That evening, a herd of just over 100 buffaloes came past the Campbell Koppies and some of the lionesses stalked down the hill to take them on.  Then, whilst this was happening, the two Split Rock Males appeared and headed towards the Styx Pride.  These two male lions had been found earlier that afternoon, several kilometres away and walked steadily towards the Campbell Koppies and the Styx Pride.  Some roaring had occurred between the two groups of lions, so the Styx Pride simply must have been aware of their presence.  But why did they call them?  The addition of the Split Rock Males would have been good for the killing of buffaloes, but, as it turned out, this is not what the male lions wanted.  Ignoring the buffaloes, they climbed the Campbell Koppies which the Styx Pride had ascended that morning.  So, why the interest in this area?  Male lions often show curiosity in the arrival of cubs; could it be that this is why the Styx Pride had called them to the area?  Had the old lioness just given birth and, even though the Split Rock Males may not have been the fathers of the cubs, it would have been good for the Styx Pride, with which the Split Rock Males are intimately familiar, to be present when the cubs are 'introduced' to them.

---

January 2004

The Split Rock Males continued to press south into the reserve and there was one sighting of them on western Flockfield, this about as far south and west as they've been seen.  Their old adversaries, the West Street Males, appear to have almost given up and weren't seen to confront the invaders, which themselves simply put on a presence without much roaring and other fanfare.  If things carry on this way, then the two surviving West Street Males appear to be going out with a whimper rather than a bang and it'll be plain sailing for the Split Rock Males.  Just how they'll get on with the Eyrefield Pride, however, waits to be seen.  Also, if the Split Rock Males don't watch out and find themselves paying too much attention to the acquisition of new lands and prides to their south, they'll be invaded themselves. 

This month, two young male lions, looking confident and ready to take charge, eased in from the north and east and the Split Rock Males weren't seen to respond to them.  One of these male lions is larger than the other, with a big dark mane, and both, when first seen near northeastern Eyrefield, were a little suspicious of landrovers.  They spent several days in this area, eating a young buffalo which they had killed.  Then, two weeks later, in the centre of the reserve, they confronted the Styx Pride lionesses, a pride which over the last year has just fallen under the control of the Split Rock Males.  Five of the six lionesses initially ran from the males, whilst the oldest went up to inspect them before also turning to run, pursued by the roaring males. 

Then, a week later, these two males were found close to where the Styx Pride, together with their 7 young cubs, had just been seen eating an adult male kudu.  Footprints suggested that there simply must have been some interaction amongst the lions.  But again, no apparent response from the Split Rock Males!  If these male lions get too confident and continue to shadow the Styx Pride, the next step will be for them to kill the cubs and acquire the land and the lionesses for themselves.  Interesting times ahead for the lions, both males and females, as this shuffling of borders and masters takes place!