December 2002

Location: NW EYREFIELD/ STHN MALA MALA/ CENTRAL-EASTERN FLOCKFIELD/ NTH & CENTRAL CHARLESTON

The Styx Pride had an eventful month and unfortunatley the details of some of the most important factors will probably never be learned. All seemed to start well with the lions being found near the upper reaches of the Mlowathi River, this close to the northwestern parts of their range. Although sightings of the Styx Pride were not plentiful, suggestions were that they spent much of the first half of the December-game-report-period in these northern parts of the reserve. Then, past mid-December, they suddenly appeared towards the central-south of the reserve and were missing one of the 'teenage' females. Four days prior to this, the lions had been many kilometres further north and both of the older youngsters had been present. So what could have happened over that four-day period?

Two days later, the lions, this time minus both 'teenagers', were found further north and east and in the process of stalking a large Sable Antelope bull which was quite unaware of the impending danger and was simply resting and chewing the cub. But in spite of the four lionesses stalking carefully around the Sable Antelope, he finally realised what was amiss and made good his escape. Once the antelope had run off, the Styx Pride wasted no time in heading south once more, back to the area where they had been found two days earlier. Were they searching for the missing youngsters, or where they simply out hunting, heading back to grounds which promised success? Earlier on in the day, tracks of a single young lioness had been seen in the area to which the Stys Pride was headed. Was this the missing youngster or was it her half-sister looking for her?

That evening, the Styx Pride were found again, further south and re-united with one of the 'teenagers'. The lions had just killed a young zebra and were busy devouring it. At the time, the Windmill Pride, the lion family with more right to this area than the 'invading' Styx Pride, was not far north of them, also hunting. If the Windmill Pride heard the Styx Pride tearing apart the zebra foal, they certainly did not come across to investigate. Footprints the following morning suggested that the two lion families had avoided contact with one another; the Windmill Pride headed south and the Styx Pride north.

Two days later the now 6 members of the Styx Pride were further north, near the centre of the reserve. The lions were well-fed and certainly in no hurry to search for the missing cub. As evening drew on, the lions started getting active, initially hunting some kudu and then toying with a herd of giraffe which wandered past the area where they were lying. One of the younger adult lionesses chased the giraffe for several hundred metres across an open plain, watched with some curiosity by the other lionesses. The lions then all regrouped and for the next three-quarters of an hour, gambolled about as if they had not a care in the world. After dark all lions moved east.

Several days after this, a young lioness, tentatively identified as the missing Styx Pride youngster, was found, all alone, just to the west of the Sand River on the Charleston/ Flockfield boundary. The youngster was in good condition but lean. If this was the missing cub, she was waiting for the others in an area hardly ever visited by the Styx Pride. In fact, it was an area often used by the Eyrefield Pride, one of the sworn enemies of the Styx Pride. While it is not impossible for a young lion to survive for some weeks on its own, it faces an uphill battle. But then this may have been another lion and something more final may already have happened to the missing cub and been accepted by the rest of the pride. Perhaps the biggest tragedy of this matter is that it has happened at a time when the young lion was so close to independence; after suriving so much as a young and vulnerable baby when many of the other cubs died, a probably freak event has intervenend.

November 2002

STYX PRIDE = 7
1 FEMALE * 13 YEARS 5 MONTHS
3 FEMALES these 3 lionesses aged between * 7 YEARS 1 MONTH & 7 YEARS 7 MONTHS
1 FEMALE CUB * 19 MONTHS
1 FEMALE CUB * 18 MONTHS
1 CUB * 9 MONTHS

Location: EASTERN EYREFIELD/ SOUTH EASTERN FLOCKFIELD

During the first few days of this game-report-period, the Styx Pride more or less "camped" around the upper reaches of the Matshapiri River. They were very well fed when first found and their initial forays away from this area were certainly not too intense; their bellies were full and they were more or less content. Aside from this, a male leopard was also in the area with the remains of a zebra foal high up in a Knobthorn Acacia tree and the lions were sorely tempted. But the tree was just too tough for them to climb and although they appeared to lose interest at one stage, and moved away from the scene, they yielded to temptation and returned to the general area and continued to watch the leopard feeding on his kill. But then, when only scraps of the kill remained, the leopard (which was of course quite aware of the lions) started to get uncomfortable and, together with the remains of the carcass, leapt from the tree and dashed for another. The lions saw this and came tearing after the leopard, which promptly abandoned what was really only skin and bones and scrambled up another tree. One of the one-and-a-half-year-old Styx Pride cubs reached the scraps of the kill first and appropriated them. The rest of the pride watched her eat and stared angrily at the leopard, still perched high in a tree above them.

Following this incident, the Styx Pride spent a few more days in the north of the reserve before vanishing and then reappearing a week later, many kilometres further south, close to the Kruger National Park boundary with the central parts of Mala Mala. And this is the general area where they spent the next few days before vanishing, probably moving eastwards into the Kruger National Park. Following some good rains the vast area adjacent to Mala Mala, inside the Kruger National Park which was burned in early August, would have flushed with fresh green grass and this would have attracted prey species and the lions would be expected to follow.

The Styx Pride would also be expected to keep dodging from male lions which continually seem to threaten them. Their old foes, the West Street Males, were seen several times in areas that up to now have been relatively safe for the Styx Pride, areas which the West Street Males vacated a year ago. But now that they seem to be moving back, the Styx Pride will have to keep moving too, looking for both food and security.

October 2002

STYX PRIDE = 7
1 FEMALE * 13 YEARS 4 MONTHS
3 FEMALES these 3 lionesses aged between * 7 YEARS MONTHS & 7 YEARS 6 MONTHS
1 FEMALE CUB * 18 MONTHS
1 FEMALE CUB * 17 MONTHS
1 CUB * 8 MONTHS

Location: EYREFIELD/ EASTERN MALA MALA

The Styx Pride was seen for most of the first half of this game-report period but then, for the last fortnight, not at all. The month started off badly for the lions. One of the lionesses was found lying atop one of the granite hills, which are within their territory, together with one of the larger cubs, whilst the other three lionesses and the 2^nd one-and-a-half-year-old cub were located that evening, some kilometres away towards the upper reaches of the Mlowathi River. On the day before, two adult male lions had been seen in this area; they may have been the Split Rock Males. At the time, other lions had been heard calling in the area, but could not be located. The males eventually headed off and nothing further was thought of just why they had been there. When the larger group of Styx Pride members was located near the Mlowathi River on the day after the male lions had been in the area, they started moving with some determination from the area. When they saw prey ahead of them, they were not particularly interested. At this stage there was no sign of any of the smaller cubs. This group of lions eventually reached the general area of the granite hill on which the other lions had been waiting, but were not seen to make contact with them.

The following day at least some of the lions were still in the area and one of the younger cubs was seen. The day after this, the Styx Pride was found on a zebra kill, but two of the young cubs were not present. Following this kill, the lions, led by the mother of the small cubs, headed back towards the upper reaches of the Mlowathi River, but again, not with hunting being the objective; the mother seemed to be looking for the missing cubs.

The day after this the lions were found again in the area of the Mlowathi where the male lions and some of the Styx Pride had been located earlier, but this time moving away from it. It was now quite clear that two of the cubs were probably dead and had probably been killed by the two male lions. The mother of the cubs was simply unable to accept that they were dead.

A few days after they had been seen leaving the area where the cubs had almost certainly been killed, the mother of the small cubs was located alone, well fed and with blood on her face. She was at a waterhole along the Matshapiri River and moving from it with some speed. All pointers were that she had left some or other carcass, returned to the area where her cubs had gone missing and, having found nothing, given up and was returning to the other pride members on whatever they were eating. And sure enough. After a lengthy and fast-paced walk, the lioness joined the other members of the pride at their kill - an adult female giraffe and its baby. A feast of many days lay ahead for the lions.

But hopefully this would have been the last of the searching for the missing cubs. Hopefully the mother of the cubs would accept that they would not be seen again and she could now concentrate on caring for the last of the three.

The giraffe kill lasted four days before it was finally abandoned to hyenas and vultures. At one point, when all members of the pride left the area to go for a drink of water, some hyenas rushed in and took the remains of the baby giraffe. The lions did not seem particularly perturbed. But once the meat was finished, the lions vanished. On the night that they moved from the scraps of the kill, two young male lions appeared and sniffed around. This would not have encouraged the Styx Pride to hang around. On top of this, their old enemies, the West Street Males, seem also to have been pushing towards the territories usually occupied by the Styx Pride. None of these would give the Styx Pride reason to stay around if there was an area where they could at least temporarily look for "shelter".

And this might well be the pattern of their movements over the next few months - continually ducking and diving as they try to keep the remaining cubs alive and well, not only in terms of food, but, more importantly, from being killed by male lions.

September 2002

STYX PRIDE = 9

1 FEMALE * 13 YEARS 3 MONTHS
3 FEMALES these 3 lionesses aged between * 6 YEARS 11 MONTHS & 6 YEARS 5 MONTHS
1 FEMALE CUB * 17 MONTHS
1 FEMALE CUB * 16 MONTHS
3 CUBS * 7 MONTHS

Location: SE EYREFIELD/ EASTERN MALA MALA/ NE FLOCKFIELD

The Styx Pride was not seen particularly often this month, continuing with Augusts trend of staying to the north and east of areas frequented earlier in the year. They probably spent a fair amount of time inside the Kruger National Park adjacent to Mala Mala, an area which was burned in August and which has probably attracted the attentions of some of the more selective grazers of tender young regrowth such as zebra and wildebeest.

The mother of the three young cubs which had the base of her tail badly bitten in a fight with other lions had a miserable month thanks to this wound troubling her. Although the injury is certainly healing, it has no doubt been extremely painful and constantly targeted by flies. It is not certain whether the tail's functioning has been permanently damaged.

One particularly fine bit of viewing from the Styx Pride this month occurred when at least two of the lionesses and the cubs harassed a pair of rhinos which they encountered just as they were setting out for the evenings hunting. The two rhinos did not seem to know what to do as the lions darted around them, easily avoiding their retaliatory charges. Eventually the rhinos had had enough and went thundering off. The lions chased after them for a while before falling back and getting down to the business of finding food.

August 2002

STYX PRIDE = 9
1 FEMALE * 13 YEARS 2 MONTHS
3 FEMALES these 3 lionesses aged between * 6 YEARS 10 MONTHS & 6 YEARS 4 MONTHS
1 FEMALE CUB * 16 MONTHS
1 FEMALE CUB * 15 MONTHS
3 CUBS * 6 MONTHS

Location: EYREFIELD - except SW Eyrefield

The Styx Pride seemed to have had a good month although their movements took them more to the northeast of the reserve than was perhaps the case during July. Just why they tended to work these areas in preference to some of the southwestern parts, which might typically be considered more 'theirs', is not certain. Perhaps the Styx Pride sensed that the West Street Males are again pushing towards them and, if space allowed for it, then it would be natural for the Styx Pride to avoid them.

The Clarendon Pride and Split Rock Males, which earlier in the year seemed to rule the northern and northeastern sectors of Mala Mala, have hardly been seen over the last couple of months, this perhaps a consequence of young cubs and/ or a change in the movements of the animals upon which they prey. With these lions then no longer as threatening as they were then, the Styx Pride could perhaps afford to give the West Street Males a wide berth.

Nonetheless, they still have to be careful that they do not stray to far. Towards the end of August, after heading north off Mala Mala, the Styx Pride returned, covered in wounds and was found without the young cubs in attendance. One of the lionesses seemed to have taken the brunt of whatever fight they had become embroiled in and had a nasty wound at the base of her tail. It was also assumed that the young cubs had been killed. However, a few days later, the pride was found further south and with the young cubs looking none the worse for wear.

July 2002

STYX PRIDE = 9
1 FEMALE * 13 years +
3 FEMALES * 6 years +
1 FEMALE CUB * 15 months
1 FEMALE CUB * 14 months
3 CUBS * 5 months

Location: MONTHS W EYREFIELD/ CENTRAL & E MALA MALA

The Styx Pride had a fine July, managing to survive with all of their cubs and remain healthy. There were at least two moments of worry, however, for the Styx Pride this month, the one when they were seen chasing what was probably one of the Split Rock Males and then another when their old adversaries, the West Street Males, blundered into them whilst following the large herd of buffalo. The first interaction was witnessed by field staff, and occurred on the NW parts of the reserve, peripheral range for the Styx Pride and hence a place more likely for them to encounter 'foreigners'. They were fortunate that they attracted the attentions of only one Split Rock Male and not all three. When the West Street Males encountered the Styx Pride, the lionesses and cubs did not hang around. As brave as they are, the Styx Pride lionesses would have been foolish to try and stand up to the might of three adult males. As it was, the two older cubs must have panicked when the West Street Males headed their way and, certainly for a while, were separated from the others. But, apart from the above (which will always be part of their lives until they come under the control of a strong and protective coalition of males), the Styx Pride prospered and continued to assume body conditions bordering on fat! Not only does game abound in the area in which these lions patrol, but, having no males to 'share' it with, they have all the more for themselves and their cubs.

June 2002

STYX PRIDE = 9
1 FEMALE * 13 years
3 FEMALES * 6 years +
1 FEMALE CUB * 14 months
1 FEMALE CUB * 13 months
3 CUBS * 4 months

Location: E MARTHLY/ SW EYREFIELD/ CENTRAL & E MALA MALA/ E FLOCKFIELD

The youngest cubs of the Styx Pride were introduced this month to the life of walking and hunting which lions must live. After spending the first week or so of June still more or less ensconced on the rocky hills around the Manyelethi River, the Styx Pride took them away and all lions headed south and east towards areas which several years ago were regarded as prime Styx Pride territory. The Styx Pride has always had a reputation of taking their young cubs with them as they hunt and this appears not to have changed. Given the fact that these young cubs no longer have protective fathers around them, this may not be such a bad idea - if the cubs are more constantly under the watchful eyes of their mothers, then perhaps it would be easier to protect them.

The Split Rock Males and Clarendon Pride, both groups of lions which reside to the north and east of the Styx Pride, appear to be staying away from the southerly parts of their range and this is probably good news for the Styx Pride. It was an interaction with some of the these lions in April this year which led to the deaths of the 2 cubs of the oldest Styx Pride lioness. But the threat of foreign male lions is always present. No matter how much food the Styx Pride are able to secure - and judging from their condition they are having little trouble getting it - the cubs remain vulnerable to attacks by male lions wishing to include the Styx Pride within their territory. Given these basic facts of lion life, the Styx Pride will have to have as much luck as they can get and have their wits about them if the cubs are to see adulthood.

May 2002

STYX PRIDE = 9
1 FEMALE * 12 years 11 months
3 FEMALES * 6 years +
1 FEMALE CUB * 13 months
1 FEMALE CUB * 12 months
3 CUBS * 3 months

Location: E MARTHLY/ SW & SOUTH-CENTRAL EYREFIELD/ NW MALA MALA

The loss last month of the two cubs born to the oldest lioness of the Styx Pride when the Styx Pride tangled with the Clarendon Pride and Split Rock Males was somewhat compensated for during this game-report period when three other cubs, these born at the beginning of March to one of the younger lionesses, were shown to the outside world for the first time. The cubs appear to be in fine condition and when seen for the first time were not yet even at the meat-eating stage. The difference in age between the oldest and youngest cubs means that they all have very different needs and abilities and this has caused something of a break-up between the lionesses, with the mother of the younger cubs spending quite a bit of time away from the other three, even hunting alone at times.

But things are not as isolated as might be expected. The oldest lioness of the Styx Pride, in particular, seems mindful of the youngest cubs and their mother, perhaps because she has so recently lost her own youngsters, and was seen on several occasions returning to them and their mother after she and the other members of the family had left them to go hunting. On one occasion, the three lionesses and the two older cubs were found on two kudu kills (one of these an adult male), some kilometres east of where the fourth lioness and her cubs were on an adult male waterbuck carcass. The latter must have been taken single-handedly by the lioness with small cubs. The carcass was at the base of the hill in which she and her cubs had been hiding and one can imagine that the waterbuck was seen from their 'eyrie' and then stalked and killed. On two occasions, one of the lionesses feeding on the kudu carcasses (and both times it was probably the oldest lioness) returned to the mother on her waterbuck kill, as if to check that all was fine or perhaps to take her to their feast as well.

But then, later on in the month, there was no such philanthropy; the three lionesses and two older cubs were found on a freshly killed baby giraffe and here no attempt was made to call the lactating lioness. The carcass was finished in a day and when the fourth lioness joined them, the three were guiltily fat compared to their lean companion. The youngest cubs spent almost the entire month amongst the fortress-like granite koppies alongside the Manyelethi River before finally being led away to join up with the rest of the family. At times when there is such a large age-difference between cubs of a pride, younger members are kept away for long periods of time in fear that they will be heavily outcompeted by the larger youngsters. But in this case the two older cubs of the Styx Pride are much bigger and have been off milk for at least two or three months, making it unlikely that they will want to suckle. They will certainly give no quarter to the younger ones when it comes to feeding from carcasses and will no doubt use them as 'playthings' when the mood is on them, but serious out-competition will perhaps not be a major threat.

The two one-year-old cubs of the Styx Pride seem to be in as good a condition as could be hoped for, on some days appearing to be rolling in surplus flesh. Both are females and if they can survive for another few months then their passage to maturity will almost surely be secured and with it an even brighter future for the Styx Pride. But, as has been looming over them since late last year, the Styx Pride still faces the very real threat of take-over from male lions. And should this happen, if the Styx Pride cannot duck and dive with all the skill in the world, then the cubs are doomed.

April 2002

STYX PRIDE = 11
1 FEMALE * 12 years 10 months
3 FEMALES * 6 years +
1 FEMALE CUB * 12 months
1 FEMALE CUB * 11 months
2 CUBS * 6 months
3 CUBS * 2 months

Location: E MARTHLY/ SW EYREFIELD/ NW MALA MALA

The last sighting of the Styx Pride during mid-March left great uncertainty - they vanished with one of the younger lionesses seemingly with a broken lower leg and another having given birth, hiding the cubs in the rocky hills of the Manyelethi. And so things hung for a few weeks with no sightings of the Styx Pride and no knowledge of what was happening. But then, towards the beginning of April, all four lionesses reappeared, the one that had the injured paw with her companions and four cubs and looking hardly the worse for wear. Her one paw was certainly tender, this indicated by a fresh scar on the foot which the lioness stopped to lick it from time to time. She was also limping slightly and seemed less eager to get active when the lions were on the move. Also, the lioness which had given birth at the beginning of March was still lactating and her behaviour suggested that the cubs were still at the original hiding place.

Thereafter all seemed to go well for the Styx Pride. They hunted effectively - on one notable evening were seen killing four impalas (two adult females and two lambs) in one rush - and appeared to be in good condition, with the 4 older cubs enjoying an almost surplus of food. But then, halfway through the month, they had a devastating blow. Some members of the Clarendon Pride, one of the Styx Prides' neighbours, killed a buffalo cow along the upper reaches of the Mlowathi River, an area controlled by the Styx Pride. The Clarendon Pride was clearly trespassing. The following morning, the Styx Pride - three lionesses, the two older cubs and one of the younger ones immediately visible - was in the area and feeding from the buffalo kill, but not all was looking good. While it was clear that the Styx Pride had chased the three lionesses and young male of the Clarendon Pride from the carcass, they had not done so without cost. As the lions were feeding, the three Split Rock Males, the male lions which have up until now controlled only the Clarendon Pride on Mala Mala and occupied the northern and northeastern parts of the reserve, came running in. The Styx Pride fled and was chased only briefly by the young male of the Clarendon Pride which had apparently been nearby in some thickets. The lionesses of the Styx Pride rounded on the young male and sent him packing, then continued their retreat from the Split Rock Males which, interestingly, did not show much interest in chasing after the lionesses. They seemed keener on the buffalo carcass. Then, one of the adult males moved off towards the area where the young male of the Clarendon Pride had appeared from and after sniffing in the grass, came across the body of one of the 6 month-old Styx Pride cubs. Throughout the day, in a drawn out display of what could have been a combination of both sorrow and savagery, the male lion licked and nibbled at the carcass before finally eating it. And all the time the male lion was making soft noises, almost as if it were trying to communicate with the cub. At one time, soon after the Styx Pride ran, a lioness was seen slowly approaching the Split Rock Male with the dead cub, but she then retreated when he growled at her. This happened again in the evening when a lioness tried approaching the male lion and he chased her, even when she solicited him to mate with her. Whilst it was thought that the lioness on this second occasion was one of the Clarendon Pride, it was not certain. This was also the last time that the 2nd young cub of the Styx Pride was seen. Goodness knows what happened to it after the Styx Pride ran from the Split Rock Males. Did they follow and dispatch of the cub or did the young male from the Clarendon Pride do the deed? Or did something else happen to it? A few days after all of this, the old lioness of the Styx Pride, the mother of the two 6 month-olds, returned to the area of battle and called for the cubs. She finally gave up and returned to join the other members of the family.

In the 10 days or so after this event, the Styx Pride behaved very cautiously, but continued to prosper, eating well and retaining their fine physical form. And later in the month there was a distant sighting of the litter of the young female which gave birth at the beginning of March - three cubs up on one of the hills close to the Manyelethi River. But, the question needs to be asked, why did the Split Rock Males not give chase and use this opportunity to kill the other cubs and get the Styx Pride completely under their domination? And, a long-standing question - which male lion fathered the current litter youngest cubs? It might still have been the Mlowathi Males which vanished during the latter months of 2001, or could it have been one of the Split Rock Males and could this be the reason why they have not shown such aggression towards the Styx Pride? No answers to these; however, if the Split Rock Males are not in any way placatory towards the Styx Pride, then these lionesses and their cubs are not out of danger yet and could have many nerve-wracking months ahead of them.

March 2002

4 lionesses
1 FEMALE * 12 years 9 months
3 FEMALES * 6 years +
1 CUBS * 11 months
1 CUB * 10 months
2 CUBS * 5 months

Location: SE MARTHLY/ SW EYREFIELD/ NW MALA MALA

The Styx Pride seemed to vanish soon after last month watching other lions killing a young buffalo in the very heart of their territory. Then, a week later, in early March, they reappeared amongst the foothills of the granite koppies along the Manyelethi River and killed an adult female kudu. It is highly likely that they were in this area because one of the younger lionesses was about to give birth. For the next 10 days there were good sightings of the Styx Pride in this area and all indications were that this fourth lioness had indeed given birth and that the cubs were secreted somewhere in the hills along the Manyelethi River. All seemed to be going well for this family. They killed another kudu, this time a young male, and for a few days retired to the sandy riverbed of the Manyelethi River to laze around. But then disaster struck! All four lionesses and the older cubs were found in the riverbed one morning, acting nervously. As soon as the lions were approached by a landrover, the scuttled off into the bushes along the river where they watched warily. Something was quite obviously wrong. And then it became clear; one of the younger lionesses, mother of one of the older cubs, appeared to have a broken left front leg. The paw and lower part of the leg hung limply and the lioness was putting absolutely no pressure upon it. Small puncture wounds in the leg suggested that a powerful bite had been delivered and the leg mangled. Perhaps the sense of vulnerability which this would have introduced to the lions would have been cause enough for them to act nervously and send the lions into cover of the bushes. That evening all lions were still in the same place, this time more relaxed. As the healthy lionesses moved off, they kept looking back and calling to the injured one, clearly distressed by her lack of response or inability to follow them. But the lioness certainly tried and within half-an-hour was up and limping behind the others, again holding the injured paw clear of the ground. She was last seen moving up a steep slope, following the others. This happened mid-way through March and the only subsequent sighting of any members of the Styx Pride was one of the lioness which had given birth at the beginning of March. She was seen amongst the hills, probably having returned to feed her cubs. But what will happen to the lionesses now? Not only do they face the uphill struggle of raising cubs in the absence of protective male lions, but also now one of their number is injured, perhaps fatally?

February 2002

4 lionesses
1 FEMALE * 12 years 8 month
3 FEMALES * 6 years +
1 CUBS * 10 months
1 CUB * 9 months
2 CUBS * 4 months

Location: SE MARTHLY/ SW EYREFIELD/ WESTERN MALA MALA

The Styx Pride had a good but worrying month. They and their four cubs moved back to areas so often used by this family in the past and once the youngsters were well ensconced in areas of safety, they set about hunting and killing with their usual efficiency. But the worries came from invasions of their 'turf' by other prides and the threat of younger male lions moving in to take over. The latter would of course spell the end for the cubs - later stability once it's happened of course, but certain death to the cubs which were fathered and abandoned by the Mlowathi Males.

The first lions to 'invade' were 8 from the Windmill Pride which spent many days along the middle areas of the Matshapiri River, plundering the region quite successfully before moving south again. Soon after the Windmill Pride arrived and killed a zebra, they and the Styx Pride made contact. The Windmill Pride had finished the zebra and were out on the hunt when they, quite unexpectedly, walked into the four Styx Pride lionesses and their two older cubs which had been sleeping off some good meal in thick bush. The young male of the Windmill Pride had the misfortune of being in the lead and was soon being walloped by the Styx Pride lionesses. His howls of anguish alerted the rest of the Windmill Pride and they briefly ran to assist, but were soon on the defensive as they saw the young male go hurtling past them and the Styx Pride following. But with young cubs around, the Styx Pride would have been foolish to go after the Windmill Pride and as soon as they saw that the other lions were no longer going to attack them, they backed off slowly, roaring once or twice as they went. Half an hour or so later they killed an impala. That four lions could chase off 8 is perhaps at first glance something unusual, but since the Styx Pride possessed the 'hometown' advantage, they would have been fighting with extra confidence and determination and such a result is not unexpected. The Windmill Pride retreated some distance, but then stopped and for some time thereafter, continued to stay around, doing nothing deliberately aggressive towards the Styx Pride, but then also not scuttling out of the area as the Styx Pride would have preferred. But eventually they did move and the Styx Pride continued to hunt and prosper. By months end, one of the lionesses of the Styx Pride seemed about to give birth and was definitely not putting much effort into things, preferring to let the others do the work. But where will the cubs be born?

Towards months end the Styx Pride had perhaps their biggest shock when 6 lionesses and an adult male lion followed the large herd of buffalo deep into their territory and amidst a furious battle with the buffalo, killed a calf. The main concern for the Styx Pride which was not half-a-kilometre away listening to the fracas was the male lion which even before the kill put on a fierce roaring display. With the West Street Males now seemingly out of the picture, the area inhabited by the Styx Pride and their cubs is open for the taking and this male lion and his two or three companions are moving ever closer. So what will the Styx Pride do? Not only do they have vulnerable youngsters which will be killed, but the soon to be born cubs from the fourth lioness will also join the ranks of these. Whatever course of action they take - run, hide, duck and dive, defend, whatever - they face an uphill struggle and the future of their young does not look good.

January 2002

4 lionesses
1 FEMALE * 12 years 7 month
3 FEMALES * 6 years +
1 CUBS * 9 months
1 CUB * 8 months
2 CUBS * 3 months

Location: W EYREFIELD

The Styx Pride was seen only once this month when they were found eating an adult male kudu. But the exciting news was the fact that recent suspicions about the older lioness having small cubs secreted away somewhere were true; at the kudu carcass were two small cubs, these perhaps only three months of age. The disappearance of the Styx Pride after the viewing during December simply must have been a result of the West Street Males making a foray towards their territory. This incursion was not long, but it would have been enough to spook the lionesses and get them to seek safer areas. But even if the West Street Males never return, the Styx Pride still faces an uphill battle. The Mlowathi Males have not reappeared to protect them or their cubs and the four young male lions which are seen more and more frequently to the north-east of the reserve seem to be getting braver and this month were seen to move further west than ever before. As with any male lion taking over a new area, they would be merciless if they found cubs which they had not fathered. So no matter how the Styx Pride duck and dive, it may not be enough.

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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