December 2000

Location: EYREFIELD & NORTH CENTRAL MALA MALA

Two of the young Styx Pride lionesses were mating with the Mlowathi Males towards the end of September last year. Should these matings have been successful, then it could be expected that they could be giving birth in early January 2001. The oldest of the lionesses which gave birth to cubs in late July last year and abandoned them soon afterwards was mating with one of these males towards the beginning of September. It is thought that she has now given birth to cubs and that these are being kept on one of the Koppies of Campbell Koppies, a favourite hideout for this pride. One of the young Styx lionesses was also seen mating towards the end of August 2000. Towards the end of November 2000, one of the young lionesses was again mating with one of the Mlowathi Males. All of this adds up to at least five different matings amongst four lionesses, meaning that at least one of the matings was unsuccessful. It is not quite clear whether the young lioness that was mating towards the end of August has given birth or not; there has been some suggestion that she may have cubs just north of Mala Mala close to the Mlowathi River. However, by December's end, it appeared more as if at least two of the younger lionesses were at an advanced stage of pregnancy rather than suckling cubs. Anyway, some vague ideas are afloat and the next few weeks will hopefully clarify matters. Certainly, for the lionesses to have given birth to cubs and to keep them in very different locations would seem foolish. Generally speaking, the movements of the Styx Pride this month were towards the north of the reserve, the area generally frequented by them. For much of the time the three Mlowathi Males accompanied them. On at least two occasions they were followed hunting and seen to kill several baby impala. Although these young antelope are quite easy to kill in the first few weeks of naivety, they really do not represent much of a meal and the survivors will soon become more difficult to catch and probably not worth the energy expenditure of the chase. It has now been several months since the young Styx Pride Males have been seen and it can be assumed that they are well and truly gone and facing several years of nomadism before they eventually reach physical and social maturity to dominate a territory of their own.

November 2000

STYX PRIDE = 8 (4 lionesses, 4 young males)
1 FEMALE * 11 years 3 months
3 SUB ADULTS * 5 years 1 months
2 SUB ADULTS * 5 years
2 SUB ADULTS * 4 years 7 months

Location: EYREFIELD & NORTH CENTRAL MALA MALA
As was the case last month, there were no sightings of the young males of the Styx Pride. It is not expected that they reappear. The females of the Styx Pride were absent for much of the first half of this game-report-period before making a dramatic reappearnace together with the Mlowathi Males. These lions had been found sleeping, but as evening fell, they all headed off in a most determined fashion, evidently following some or other animal and not paying much attention to smaller game such as impala. Within half an hour or so their prey was in sight; a herd of zebra. Conditions were ideal for the lions - the zebra were in thick bush and in hilly terrain which not only allowed the lions to get very close, but to also take advantage of any stumbling as the zebra ran on the uneven ground. Within a few minutes the chase was on and the lions had caught and killed a sub adult zebra. Thereafter the Styx Pride dissappeared again for a few days before continuing to provide good viewing. It is thought that at least two of the younger lionesses will bive birth next month. The oldest lioness is also probably pregnant, but not as close to giving birth as the younger pair are. Towards the end of the month the fourth lioness of this pride came into oestrus and, over a six or seven day period, mated with both the blonde and black-maned Mlowathi Males. Just prior to this mating the lionesses of the Styx Pride showed just how mercenary they all still are. Two of them split from the others, made some or other large kill, but made no effort to call the others to the feeding. That is the nature of lions; as cohesive as the families appear to be and as affectionate as their behaviour often suggests, their primary goal is to look after themselves.

October 2000

STYX PRIDE = 8 (4 lionesses, 4 young males)
1 FEMALE * 11 years 2 months
3 SUB ADULTS * 5 years
2 SUB ADULTS * 4 years 11 months
2 SUB ADULTS * 4 years 6 months

Location: W & CENTRAL EYREFIELD/ E & CENTRAL MALA MALA & FLOCKFIELD/ CENTRAL CHARLESTON

The Styx Pride were certainly seen this month, but seemed to spend their time well away from the central parts of their traditional range. Hopefully this is in preparation for them giving birth to cubs in the next few weeks. There were some sightings of these lions together with the Mlowathi Males, the dominant lions of the area, but, for the most part, the four lionesses were on their own. Towards the middle of the month they went as far afield as central Charleston, well out of their territory. Here they were seen killing a young male kudu and, after a few tense minutes when some elephants arrived on the scene, they devoured the kill. This long-range movement of lions is of course not that unusual; upon occasion they seem to dedicatedly leave their own domain to 'raid' another prides' territory, hoping not to be caught. If they are detected outside their territory, they usually do not stand and fight, preferring to leave without injury. The benefit of using another prides' area is that those resources in your own territory are saved for a future time, for instance when cubs are born, something which will force the females to remain localised. The hope too is that whilst you are out raiding, other lions are not reciprocating within your now unprotected territory. There were no sightings of the young males of the Styx Pride, except for the one which has joined up with the two Mlowathi Males.

September 2000

STYX PRIDE = 8 (4 lionesses, 4 young males)
1 FEMALE * 11 years 1 months
3 SUB ADULTS * 4 years 11 months
2 SUB ADULTS * 4 years 10 months
2 SUB ADULTS * 4 years 5 months

Location: SOUTH WESTERN EYREFIELD/ CENTRAL AND EASTERN MALA MALA

As was suspected last month, but hoped against, the 11-year-old lioness of the Styx Pride abandoned the cubs which she gave birth to towards the beginning of August. In spite of this sad news, the future for more cubs has seldom looked better, with their being many matings between the various lionesses of the Styx Pride and the two Mlowathi Males which dominate the area in which this foursome of lionesses roam. The first of the matings with one of the young lionesses took place towards the end of August and the last, when at least two of the lionesses were in oestrus, a month later. With all lionesses potentially pregnant and due to give birth within a few weeks of each other and all in the peak of health, the future appears rosy. Also adding stability to the scene is the strength of the two Mlowathi Males which were this month seen giving one of the old West Street Males a savage beating when he tried to mate with one of the Styx Pride females. This male lion chanced upon the lionesses of the Styx Pride when the Mlowathi Males were not immediately present and tried repeatedly to mate with one to the females. The sounds of this interaction brought the Mlowathi Males thundering in and they proceeded to give the single West Street Male quite a hiding. One of the essential ingredients for cubs to have at least some chance of survival is effective protection by their fathers which would prevent other male lions from entering the territory of their mothers and then killing the youngsters. With the Mlowathi Males this ingredient seems present for the Styx Pride. One of the finest sightings provided by the Styx Pride this month was of them catching an adult female zebra, this only two or three days after killing another. The mare was caught in ideal killing ground, this in a corner of land formed by two steep-sided gullies which must have caused the zebra to hesitate, change direction and so give the lionesses time to catch her. Aside from one of the young males which is staying with the two Mlowathi Males, there were no confirmed sightings of the young males of the Styx Pride during September.

August 2000

STYX PRIDE = 8 (4 lionesses, 4 young males)
1 FEMALE * 11 years
3 SUB ADULTS * 4 years 10 months
2 SUB ADULTS * 4 years 9 months
2 SUB ADULTS * 4 years 4 months

Location: WESTERN EYREFIELD/ WESTERN MALA MALA/ NW FLOCKFIELD

The news of the month perhaps belonged to the Styx Pride, lions which have had close to 2 decades of history on Mala Mala. For a while it has been speculated that the birth of cubs was both imminent and that this would perhaps consolidate the lionesses of the family. Towards the beginning of this game report period, it certainly appeared as if the oldest female of the Styx Pride was pregnant and, at the beginning of August, she and two of the youngest lionesses were seen around Campbell Koppies. It was evident that she had just given birth and, far up on the slope of the hill, this lioness was seen carrying at least two tiny cubs from one area into another. Watching from the base of the koppie were the two adult males now dominant in the area, one of which would have fathered the youngsters. Also in attendance was a young male, perhaps one of the Styx Pride. A day or so prior to this event, the fourth lioness of the Styx Pride was still away and still with a group of young males, most of which were her brothers. They were found following part of the large herd of buffalo, evidence at the time suggesting that they had been harassing these large bovids for several hours already. The buffalo were certainly aware of the lions and when, in the heat of the day the buffalo stopped to rest and the lions ran in, they were quickly repulsed by the buffalo. Both sides (lions and buffalo) then stopped to rest. By mid-afternoon the pursuit was on again, with the buffalo heading steadily north, followed by the relentless lions. Just as the lions were nearing the buffalo in thick bush, they stumbled upon an adult male bushbuck and in a trice caught and killed it. Within half an hour the kill was finished and the lions set off after the buffalo once more, catching up with them several kilometres away. By now it was dark and the lions scarcely hesitated and ran in, catching a young calf. However, before the lions could do serious damage to this youngster, the buffalo had bravely chased the lions off. By now the buffalo were well and truly spooked and turned to run north, again with the lions following. Within a kilometre or so they had come up against the steep sides of the Tlebe Rocks gully system, a sure killing ground for the lions. Again, the lions did not hesitate and ran in, this time driving one of the calves into the gully and killing it. Whilst all this was happening, the three lionesses involved with the cubs were also out hunting, but evidence suggested that they were having to wander far and wide. At one time it was certainly suspected that the cubs had been abandoned. However this proved not the case. Later, by some way of communication, the fourth young lioness left the males which she had spent so long with and returned to her sisters and mother/ aunt. For the first time in months, the lionesses of the Styx Pride were together. When a family of lions has cubs, it is usually best if all lionesses give birth at more or less the same time, this to minimise competition between the cubs and also to allow all females to contribute significantly to the caring for the youngsters. In the case of the Styx Pride, however, the fact that it is the older lioness which has given birth is perhaps not too bad. The younger lionesses probably look to her for guidance and will perhaps stay around to help hunt and there will not be too great a chance of the cubs being abandoned. Also, it can be hoped that the presence of cubs and attentive male lions will cause the younger lionesses to come into oestrus and have cubs. Towards the end of the month one of these young lionesses was seen mating with one of the two dominant males of the area.

July 2000

STYX PRIDE = 8 (4 lionesses, 4 young males)

1 FEMALE * 10 years 11 months
3 SUB ADULTS * 4 years 9 months
2 SUB ADULTS * 4 years 8 months
2 SUB ADULTS * 4 years 3 months

Location: CENTRAL & WESTERN EYREFIELD/ CENTRAL AND WESTERN MALA MALA

The Styx Pride continued to operate in two separate units, the one with three of the lionesses as the basis, the other with the fourth lioness and at least two young males as its core. Quite obvious towards the end of this months game report period was that the oldest female which has been moving together with two of the younger lionesses appears to be at an advanced stage of pregnancy. Last month there was speculation that she was pregnant and that the imminent arrival of a litter was encouraging these lionesses to inspect areas of the reserve which in the past they have typically used as refuge points for any cubs. The father of such cubs would not be the West Street Males which seemed to give up on trying to dominate the Styx Pride many months ago, but would be one of the two younger males, one with a dark mane and one with a lighter coloured mane, which have now assumed control of the northern parts of the reserve. The group of three Styx Pride lionesses was seen several times with these two males. Just why the remaining female of the pride has chosen to stay with the young males and just why the males have continued to roam around the area where they grew up in is unexplained. Certainly these young males appear to do almost as they please and obviously eat well. Scars do, however, indicate that they have encountered aggression from other lions, but the fact that they have remained in the area indicates that this has not been an undue worry for them. At one sighting this month, this young female and two of the males were found on a freshly killed female buffalo. In the area too was the large lioness of the Emsagwen Pride which kept the Styx Pride lioness at bay for quite some time. The two males were not in the least interested in the battle going on between the two lionesses and concentrated on getting as much food into their stomachs in as short a time as possible. The Emsagwen lioness never did get to muscle her way into the kill and eventually moved off, letting the young Styx lioness to feed.

June 2000

STYX PRIDE = 8 (4 lionesses, 4 young males)
1 FEMALE * 10 years 10 months
3 SUB ADULTS * 4 years 8 months
2 SUB ADULTS * 4 years 7 months
2 SUB ADULTS * 4 years 2 months

Location: WESTERN EYREFIELD - MALA MALA BOUNDARY

The Styx Pride was seen far more frequently during June than was the case last month. Three of the lionesses, the oldest and two of the youngsters, spent nearly two weeks wandering the length of the western parts of the reserve to the east of the Sand River, and were seen killing at least twice, on both occasions the prey being impala. The remaining lioness was seen with at least 6 young males, four of these almost certainly her brothers or half-brothers, the others 'hangers-on'. When first encountered, the lions of this latter group were quite plump, evidently having just finished eating some quite large item of prey. However, upon encountering two warthogs out grazing in a large open area, these seven lions painstakingly stalked and circled their prey. The warthogs, a mother and youngster, were quite unaware of what was happening, until they saw one of the young males which had circled them from one side. The startled warthogs then ran straight towards the other six lions which were spread out in a large open field. At the time it appeared that both warthogs would almost certainly get caught, particularly when the one lion blocked off the entrance to a burrow towards which they were at one stage heading. This forced the warthogs to turn fractionally and so run directly into the horde of crouched lions. What happened next was twenty seconds of skilful footwork from the warthogs as they out-ran and out-side-stepped every single lion. The lions were humiliated; their hour-and-a-half long, carefully executed hunt failed dismally. However, the fact that the all of these lions appear in a state of superb health bears testimony to the fact that all cannot be going badly and they, on the whole, are thriving. Just why the lionesses have not all broken away from the young males and why the latter are still in the area is not quite certain. Perhaps there is yet to be a really effective coalition of adult and dominant males to chase them away. The three females which were seen together certainly spent a fair amount of time in the area of where they traditionally keep their cubs during the early stages of vulnerability, so it is hoped that they will soon return to the area more permanently and raise a new litter.

May 2000

STYX PRIDE = 8
1 FEMALE * 10 years 9 months
3 SUB ADULTS * 4 years 7 months
2 SUB ADULTS * 4 years 6 months
2 SUB ADULTS * 4 years 1 months

Location: WESTERN EYREFIELD - MALA MALA BOUNDARY

Little was seen of the Styx Pride during May. In fact, the only confirmed sightings were towards the end of the month when three of the lionesses appeared, apparently looking for males for mating purposes. Of the lionesses, only one appeared to be in oestrus and although the young males of the Marthly Pride found them first, mating honours went to one of the two bigger males which appear to have wrested this northern section of Mala Mala from the West Street Males. Sightings of a solitary lioness towards the middle of the month may have been of the oldest lioness of the pride; she later joined up, at least temporarily, with the two young males of the Marthly Pride which have taken to residing in the northern parts of Mala Mala.

February/ March / April 2000

STYX PRIDE = 8
1 FEMALE * 10 years 8 months
3 SUB ADULTS * 4 years 6 months
2 SUB ADULTS * 4 years 5 months
2 SUB ADULTS * 4 years

Location: WESTERN EYREFIELD/ WESTERN MALA MALA/ WESTERN FLOCKFIELD/ NW CHARLESTON

All members of the Styx Pride were last seen together in late January. At the end of April 6 members of the pride were found together, two females and four males. As has so often been the situation in the past few years, another young male was also in attendance. On this last occasion they were seen killing an adult male warthog. Since the West Street Males have done nothing to discourage the young Styx Pride Males from staying in the area and other opposition to the West Street Males does not yet appear completely effective, the young Styx Pride Males may still be around for a few more months before heading off. Although identification was not positive, it is thought that one of the younger lionesses of the Styx Pride spent several days during mid April mating with one of the two male lions busy muscling their way into the territory usually roamed by this family. Just why so little has been seen of the other members of the Styx Pride is difficult to say, particularly since western Eyrefield and Mala Mala are currently holding good quantities of prey animals. Perhaps the two male lions currently establishing themselves have yet to completely consolidate their hold onto the area and this has resulted in a degree of insecurity for the females. Also, perhaps these older males would actively chase off the young Styx Males when they do encounter them and this at present causes the lionesses to follow. However, when the situation arises for mating, hopefully the females will return and then, upon bearing cubs, have no choice but to stay within the range of these males and use their old haunts on western Mala Mala to hide their cubs.

January 2000

STYX PRIDE = 8
1 FEMALE * 10 years 5 months
3 SUB ADULTS * 4 years 3 months
2 SUB ADULTS * 4 years 2 months
2 SUB ADULTS * 3 years 9 months

Location: WESTERN EYREFIELD/ WESTERN MALA MALA/ WESTERN FLOCKFIELD/ NW CHARLESTON

The older Styx Pride lioness was in oestrus again at the beginning of this game report period, but showed no further signs later in the month. She could well be pregnant - this is of course to be hoped for as it should increase her aggression towards the young males of the pride which, although they are not spending much time with the females, are still around and cannot be of any use to them. The male lion that she was with at this time of oestrus was one of the two young males which have being moving into the northwestern areas of the reserve over the last few months. One of these males has a blond mane and is clearly dominant over the other which has a more impressive black mane. The latter lion is quite likely the male that used to stay with the Marthly Pride. Towards the end of January this male lion and another younger male - perhaps one of the Marthly Pride cubs - spent much time with the lionesses of the Styx Pride. The more dominant blond-maned lion was seen courting what was probably one of the younger lionesses of the Styx Pride. This young lioness was not keen on the advances of the male. However, all three of the young females of the Styx Pride are sexually mature and should soon be coming into oestrus on a regular basis. With the West Street Males seemingly not keen on meeting the challenge to the part of their territory now patrolled by the blonde and black-maned lions, it could well be these two which mate with these young lionesses. It can be hoped for the sake of any cubs that they might sire that they set aside their differences and act together to hold the area. Quite surprisingly, the lionesses of the Styx Pride were seldom seen together this month. The oldest female spent most of her time with one of the younger lionesses, at times wandering way south on the reserve, probably a great distance from the others. An interesting observation in general this month with the Styx Pride was the abundance of sightings of single lions or only small groups. This may well have to do with the supply of food and the hunting conditions. At the moment there are still good quantities of baby animals, particularly impalas and the lush vegetation makes hunting conditions very easy, so allowing even single lions to have high success rates. With this being the case, and with the lack of desire to share any food an inherent lion characteristic, it would make sense for prides to at least temporarily part ways, particularly if they are not being threatened by any competitors - other lions or hyaenas.

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

Copyright © Rattray Reserves