December 2006

STYX PRIDE = 10

2 ADULT FEMALES                                        * 11 YEARS 4 MONTHS
1 ADULT FEMALE                                          *5 YEARS 8 MONTHS
1 ADULT FEMALE                                          *4 YEARS 8 MONTHS
2 SUB ADULT FEMALES                               *3 YEARS 4 MONTHS
1 SUB ADULT FEMALE                                 * 3 YEARS 2 MONTH
1 CUB                                                                * 8 MONTHS
2 CUBS                                                              * 5 MONTHS

Location: MARTHLY, MALA MALA, EYREFIELD, FLOCKFIELD

(12 sightings)

After disappearing from the reserve for some time after being chased north by the Rollercoaster Males, the lionesses of the Styx Pride made a welcome return to Mala Mala during the second week of the game report period. Initially just one lioness was seen near Mlowathi Dam, but soon all seven lionesses and the Split Rock Male were viewed. The lions moved cautiously south through the Mlowathi, and when they were initially seen there was no sign of any of the three cubs.

Styx Lionesses - Photograph taken by ranger Bruce Hedges

One of the highlights of the month was when guests and rangers enjoying their breakfast saw the Styx Pride moving north through the Sand River, directly opposite Mala Mala Main Camp. During December, the lions killed an adult wildebeest, close to Ostrich Koppies. The lions were found feeding on the remains of the carcass. While they were resting around the carcass, one of the females began calling. Before long, a young cub emerged from a donga system and ran towards the female. Rangers were very relieved to see that at least one of the 5-month-old cubs is still alive, although it appears as if the other two have perished. The lions moved eastwards from the position of the wildebeest kill and two nights later were viewed as they killed a young impala.

Styx Lionesses - Photograph taken by ranger Giles Kelmanson

During the latter part of the report period, the Rollercoaster Males moved northwards towards Campbell Koppies, and roared frequently. At the same time, the Styx Pride were seen in the far north-eastern part of the reserve, and soon moved eastwards into the KNP, away from the roaring of the other male lions. This could be the future for the Styx Pride – spending their time on the run in order to avoid the challenge of the Rollercoaster Males.

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November 2006

STYX PRIDE = 10

2 ADULT FEMALES                                       * 11 YEARS 3 MONTHS
1 ADULT FEMALE                                         * 5 YEARS 7 MONTHS
1 ADULT FEMALE                                         * 4 YEARS 7 MONTHS
2 SUB ADULT FEMALES                               * 3 YEARS 3 MONTHS
1 SUB ADULT FEMALE                                 * 3 YEARS 1 MONTH
1 CUB                                                                * 7 MONTHS
2 CUBS                                                              * 4 MONTHS

Location: MARTHLY, MALA MALA, EYREFIELD, FLOCKFIELD
(31 sightings)

Photograph taken by ranger Bruce Hedges

The Styx Pride had another good month and provided some excellent viewing. The month started off well for the Styx Pride as they hunted successfully, and stole several leopard kills whilst patrolling their territory. The young cubs are now able to accompany the pride and walk large distances, as is the norm with the Styx Pride.

Photograph taken by ranger Giles Kelmanson

Then disaster struck. The Styx Pride and the Split Rock Male were found on a buffalo kill near the Sand River in the southern part of their range. After dark the Rollercoaster Males could be heard roaring close by, and when the Split Rock Male challenged them by roaring back, the males confronted each other just upstream of where the lions were feeding, and fought ferociously for several minutes. The Split Rock Male suffered a severe beating and fled from the Rollercoaster Males, leaving the Styx Pride in a very vulnerable position. The following day the Styx Pride had moved off a long way back into more familiar haunts, but the worrying aspect was that the Rollercoaster Males seemed to be looking for them and spent the rest of the month invading their territory. The young cubs are especially vulnerable as the Styx lionesses would not be able to save them should the Rollercoaster Males discover their whereabouts.

Photograph taken by ranger Sheldon Williams

The remainder of November was spent back in the northern parts of Mala Mala, but when the Rollercoaster Males started to put in a strong presence in these areas the Styx Pride responded by heading even further north and were not seen as frequently towards month end. However the Styx Pride did provide some fine viewing when they were seen. They were seen on two other male buffalo kills, one being seen by rangers and guests, further enhancing their recent reputation as efficient buffalo killers. Towards month end the Styx Pride were also seen to catch a male nyala in a textbook hunt, and fought over the relatively small carcass. However the demise of the Split Rock Male and the now almost constant presence of the Rollercoaster Males in Styx Pride territory must be a worrying factor for these lions. The Styx Pride might be forced into their old tactics of avoiding male lions at all costs by roaming far and wide throughout the property, as they have done in previous years.

Photograph taken by ranger Richard Perry

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October 2006

STYX PRIDE = 10

2 ADULT FEMALES                                       * 11 YEARS 2 MONTH
1 ADULT FEMALE                                         * 5 YEARS 6 MONTH
1 ADULT FEMALE                                         * 4 YEARS 6 MONTHS
2 SUB ADULT FEMALES                              * 3 YEARS 2 MONTH
1 SUB ADULT FEMALE                                * 3 YEARS
1 CUB                                                                * 6 MONTHS
2 CUBS                                                              * 3 MONTHS

Location: MARTHLY, MALA MALA, EYREFIELD, FLOCKFIELD

(32 sightings)
The Styx Pride had an exceptional month in all respects and was seen every single day of the month. Firstly, they killed 6 Adult Buffalo that the rangers located as well as numerous other small prey species.

Secondly, there were an additional 2 cubs introduced into the Pride this month. The cubs are almost 3 months old now and are moving with the Pride with more regularity. Most sightings occurred in and around the Campbell Koppies area as the Styx Lionesses kept a vigilant eye over their new cubs. The lions hunted around the Manyelethi and Mlowathi Rivers, as the map indicates, but did venture southwards in their territory on occasions. All the Lionesses as well as the Split Rock Male are in exceptional condition. The Buffalo killing spree that the Pride went on, boosted their immune system and general condition considerably.

Styx Pride and Split Rock Male - Photograph by ranger Giles Kelmanson

Styx Cubs - Photograph taken by ranger Jason Keywood

The entire Styx Pride as well as the Split Rock Male have spent most of the month together, frequently roaring. This may be as a result of the pressure they are feeling from the Eyrefield Pride and 2 Rollercoaster Males that are moving up from the South. They will have to stick together as a unit in order to keep control of the Southern part of their territory.

Styx Lioness and cubs - Photograph by ranger Giles Kelmanson

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September 2006

STYX PRIDE = 8

2 ADULT FEMALES                                         * 11 YEARS 1 MONTH
1 ADULT FEMALE                                            * 5 YEARS 5 MONTH
1 ADULT FEMALE                                            * 4 YEARS 5 MONTHS
2 SUB ADULT FEMALES                                 * 3 YEARS 1 MONTH
1 SUB ADULT FEMALE                                   * 2 YEARS 11 MONTHS
1 CUB                                                                  * 5 MONTHS
0 CUBS                                                                * 4 MONTHS
CUBS                                                                   * 2 MONTHS

Location: MARTHLY, MALA MALA, EYREFIELD, FLOCKFIELD
(46 sightings)

Styx Lioness - Photograph by ranger Sheldon Williams

The Styx Pride had a mixed month in September. The month started off well for the pride, being the most frequently seen lion pride on the property. The pride seemed to have separated into two distinct units, the mothers of the cubs hunting and spending time together whilst the rest of the pride continued wandering and hunting. This explains the high numbers of sightings as these two units were seen almost every day. The lioness that was seen to be lactating spent much of her time in and around Campbell Koppies and definitely has a litter of cubs on this rocky outcrop. She was seen on a few occasions hunting alone in the game rich areas near the Sand River adjacent to the koppie, and met up with the pride and the other two lactating lionesses on a few occasions. She also benefited greatly from the success of the Split Rock Male when he killed a buffalo below the koppie and spent a few days feeding with him. Whilst these two lions were doing this, the three young lions of the Styx Pride provided some fine viewing when they were followed on the hunt late in the morning and caught a male nyala. At the same time the rest of the pride was found on the very eastern parts of their territory with the remains of a large buffalo bull.

Styx Pride - Photograph by ranger Sheldon Williams

The Styx Pride certainly did not go hungry during the month. Another fine sighting of these lions was of the whole pride catching an impala and fighting over the kill with the ever present Split Rock Male. But just when everything was appearing to go along to well for the lion’s disaster struck. The lions that were feeding on the large buffalo bull mentioned above included the two mothers of the Styx Cubs. They went to fetch their cubs and walked them all the way through their territory to the kill, this being the first kill that the cubs had been exposed to. By this time a lot of vultures and hyenas had gathered, and all this scavenger activity finally attracted the two nomadic male lions, one without an eye and the other missing the end of his tail! When found the male lions were feeding from the kill, and there was no sign of the Styx lions. However later in the morning a lion cub was spotted high up in a tree not far from the feeding males, this being the oldest Styx Cub. Once the male lions had finished feeding they walked straight over to the tree and stayed at its base for two and a half days, looking up at the little cub with menacing intentions.

Styx cub - Photograph by ranger Sheldon Williams

Late on the second evening the Styx lionesses were seen in the area watching the males and the following morning the lionesses along with the young cub were found close to the main camp, this a long way from were the cub had been stranded in the tree. Just how the young cub had been rescued is still unknown, but it was clearly relieved to be back with its family. The lionesses all had nasty scares on their bodies indicating that they had been fighting with the nomadic males. The two youngest cubs are still missing, presumed to have been killed by the rogue males. This is the hard fact of life for young lions, with less than 50% of all lions born living to adolescence. The death of the one Split Rock Male in the winter is certainly not aiding the lionesses and these sorts of encounters need to be avoided at all costs if the remaining cubs are to survive.

Styx Lioness in front of MalaMala Main Camp - Photograph by ranger Sheldon Williams

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August 2006

STYX PRIDE = 7

2 ADULT FEMALES                                         * 11 YEARS
1 ADULT FEMALE                                           * 5 YEARS 4 MONTH
1 ADULT FEMALE                                           * 4 YEARS 4 MONTHS
2 SUB ADULT FEMALES                                * 3 YEARS
1 SUB ADULT FEMALE                                  * 2 YEARS 10 MONTHS
1 CUB                                                                  * 4 MONTHS
2 CUBS                                                                * 3 MONTHS
CUBS                                                                   * 4 WEEKS

Location: MARTHLY, MALA MALA, EYREFIELD, FLOCKFIELD

(32 sightings)

Photograph by ranger John Gold

The Styx Pride delivered some excellent and consistent viewing during August. Most sightings were of different members of the pride in small sub groups, only one day was the whole pride seen together. As with previous months the Split Rock Male was often seen in the company of these lions.

Photograph by ranger Wesley Neuman

The report period started off with almost the whole pride, with the exception of one of the older lionesses, being seen along with the young cub and the Split Rock Male. In true Styx Pride fashion the youngster tagged along with the pride as they moved through their territory, walking large distances for a little cub. However after a week the missing lioness, this one of the 11-year-olds, made an appearance and introduced her new cubs to the world. She was found, along with the other lactating lioness and cub, near Campbell Koppies, a popular retreat for the Styx Pride when they have cubs. The following day the mothers moved their cubs to the Mlowathi River, and here they stayed for the remainder of the month. The young cubs provided some fine viewing, and are remarkably relaxed with landrovers present. Having two lionesses with cubs of similar age is also a blessing for the cubs and mothers alike. The cubs have an equal chance at competing amongst each other for milk and later in life for food, and the lionesses are able to go and hunt together. This is indeed what the trend seemed to be for the remainder of the month.

Photograph by ranger Sheldon Williams

The rest of the pride continued doing what lions do, patrolling through their territory and hunting. One morning they chased three different leopards up trees when they encountered them whilst out hunting. On the 13 th of August three members of the Styx Pride chanced upon two male cheetahs that had killed a large kudu bull and appropriated the kill from him. Another fine sighting involving the Styx Pride was the only occasion when the whole pride was found together, this 3 days later. The lions hunted towards the Mlowathi River after dusk, and killed a male impala on the banks of this river system. The Split Rock Male was in attendance and dominated the kill, and good feeding was witnessed. A few days later another one of the Styx Lionesses was seen near Stwise, and she was lactating as well. She ascended the koppie, where she must be hiding her new litter of cubs. She was seen on the last day of the report period ascending Campbell’s Koppies carrying a very small cub. She was obviously moving her cub(s) to this area, used frequently by the Styx Pride when they have young cubs. So once again the future looks bright for the Styx Pride with three of the females having cubs of similar age. However the worrying aspect for these lions is the advance’s of the Rollercoaster Males from the south. They have been seen in areas that would have been considered Split Rock Male territory. The lions certainly heard the Rollercoaster Males roar on several occasions, but didn’t answer. Should the Split Rock Male be ousted from the southern reaches of his territory in the next few months, the Styx Pride might be forced into their old tactics of avoiding male lions and dodging through areas in order to ensure the survival of their new cubs.

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July 2006

STYX PRIDE = 7

2 ADULT FEMALES                                             * 10 YEARS 11 MONTHS
1 ADULT FEMALE                                               *5 YEARS 3 MONTH
1 ADULT FEMALE                                               *4 YEARS 4 MONTHS
2 SUB ADULT FEMALES                                    *3 YEARS 11 MONTHS
1 SUB ADULT FEMALE                                      *2 YEARS 9 MONTHS
1 CUB                                                                      *3 MONTHS
2 CUBS                                                                   * 8 WEEKS

MARTHLY, MALA MALA, EYREFIELD, FLOCKFIELD

(20 sightings)

The Styx Pride again provided fine viewing over the July game report period. Most of the sightings were of fragmented parts of the pride, with only six sightings including all of the Styx Pride members. On nine occasions, the Split Rock Male was seen with the Styx Pride.

The first significant sighting of the month was recorded early in the game report period, when one small cub was seen with the young four-year old lioness on one of the Campbell Koppies. This cub was seen at least three more times up on the Campbell Koppies before its mother brought it down from its rocky retreat. In true Styx Pride fashion, this cub had already walked a fair amount over north-western Eyrefield by the end of the game report period. Later in the game report period, there was a brief sighting of at least two small cubs on one of the koppies, suggesting that there may be more than one litter of cubs, as the cub with the four-year old lioness is definitely a singleton. This is supported by the fact that one of the old ten-year old lionesses is lactating, and is regularly seen with the mothering four-year old lioness around the Campbell Koppies.

Photograph by ranger Tim Gaunt

The Styx Pride again hunted well, and all the lionesses looked in great condition. Early in the game report period, one of the sub-adult lionesses was seen to kill a young duiker, which she ate herself. Later in the game report period, the whole pride was present when a massive male warthog was caught early one morning. Shortly after the warthog was caught, the Split Rock Male muscled in and dominated the kill. Later in the game report period, one of the lionesses caught an adult male impala, which was again dominated by the Split Rock Male. The Styx Pride again devoted a lot of time to following the large herd of buffalo in July, but could not follow up on their June success, and were generally repelled by the large bovids.

Photograph by ranger Wesley Neuman

The sad, yet expected death of the younger Split Rock Male may have dire consequences for the survival of the cubs, as well as the general stability of the Styx Pride. With only one male lion controlling the Styx Pride’s territory, nomadic young males may pose a serious threat to these youngsters in the coming months. However, despite their reputation as poor mothers, the Styx Pride lionesses are hard lions, and in their proud past, these lionesses have been seen to band together to repel strange males from their cubs. Time will tell as to the fate of these youngsters, as well as the future of the remaining Split Rock Male and his association with the Styx Pride.

Photograph by ranger Greg Coates

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June 2006

STYX PRIDE = 7

2 ADULT FEMALES                                               *10 YEARS 10 MONTHS
1 ADULT FEMALE                                                 *5 YEARS 2 MONTH
1 ADULT FEMALE                                                 *4 YEARS 3 MONTHS
2 SUB ADULT FEMALES                                      * 3 YEARS 10 MONTHS
1 SUB ADULT FEMALE                                         *2 YEARS 8 MONTHS

Location: EYREFIELD, MARTHLY, MALAMALA

The Styx Pride had a great month and provided some fine viewing as usual. They were seen frequently and as usual were mainly accompanied by one of the Split Rock Males. All the lionesses are in excellent condition, and they certainly found enough to eat during June. At the start of this report period the pride, along with the males, killed two nyala bulls in one go near the new airstrip late in the evening.

Photograph by ranger Wesley Neuman

However, the best sighting of this pride during this report period occurred on the 9 th of June when they were tracked down during the morning drive. The lions looked lean, and at sunset the pride got active. Not long after sunset they came across a lone buffalo bull, surrounded it and with the help of the Split Rock Male, killed it. They then chased off one of the Eyrefield lionesses that had come to investigate and fed from their kill over the next two days. As usual one of the lionesses from this pride spent much time around Campbell Koppies, at times she was seen to ascend the koppie and call for cubs, although none were seen. Then midway through the month another of the Styx Lionesses was seen descending from Campbell Koppies after being absent from the pride for some time and she too was lactating. These two lionesses hunted together towards the latter parts of the month, killing an impala ram on one occasion, before returning to the koppies. So things look good for this pride with potentially two litters of cubs on Campbell Koppies. The rest of the pride stayed in and around this area, hunting and killing on a regular basis.

Photograph by ranger Johno Bailey

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May 2006

STYX PRIDE = 7

2 ADULT FEMALES                                               *10 YEARS 9 MONTHS
1 ADULT FEMALE                                                 *5 YEARS 1 MONTH
1 ADULT FEMALE                                                 *4 YEARS 2 MONTHS
2 SUB ADULT FEMALES                                      *2 YEARS 9 MONTHS
1 SUB ADULT FEMALE                                         *2 YEARS 7 MONTHS

Location: EYREFIELD, MARTHLY, MALAMALA

The Styx Pride had a great month and provided some fine viewing as usual. These lions were seen on 19 different occasions, and most of the time with the four-year-old either absent from the pride, or viewed alone. When seen, either all together or by themselves, they were, most of the time, accompanied by the Split Rock Males.

As with last month, one of the Styx lionesses was seen alone for long periods of the month around the Campbell Koppies area. On the very last day of April this lone lioness was seen on top of Stwise, another koppie close to Campbell Koppies, where she has been spending a lot of her time. This lioness was frequently seen in May, most of the time alone and in the Piccadilly area. She was not seen to have any success in hunting this month when viewed, but one will recall last month she was successful on two attempts when alone, and she certainly didn’t go hungry or lose condition whilst away from her pride. Then midway through the month the whole pride was found on a sub adult rhino carcass close to Rattray’s Camp on the Western Bank of the Sand River . How the rhino died is still a mystery, but there is a strong feeling that the lions had in fact killed the young rhino, which had been seen limping and alone in the area for a few days prior to this. The lions fed from this rhino for 2 days, and even with the Split Rock Males present finished the meal in record time. On the third morning the pride abandoned the carcass and headed straight to the Sand River . After crossing the still swollen Sand River in spectacular style, the lions rested for the entire day and evening on the banks of the Sand River , still very full and fat from their rhino meal. The following day the pride, with the exception of one lioness, was found in the very northern parts of the reserve. (The following day the lone lioness was seen on top of Campbell Koppies, she could very well have been scouting around for a place to give birth.) This would explain her absence from the main pride in recent days and her strong presence around the Campbell Koppies/Picadilly area. The Styx Pride have for many years used Campbell Koppies as a site to raise young cubs, this female almost certainly having been stashed there at some point when she was young. So once again the future of the Styx Pride is looking very positive, with perhaps some cubs due in the forthcoming months.

Styx Lioness - Photographed by ranger Devon Myers

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April 2006

STYX PRIDE = 7

2 ADULT FEMALES                                                 *10 YEARS 8 MONTHS
1 ADULT FEMALE                                                   *5 YEARS
1 ADULT FEMALE                                                   *4 YEARS 1 MONTH
2 SUB ADULT FEMALES                                        *2 YEARS 8 MONTHS
1 SUB ADULT FEMALE                                           * 2 YEARS 6 MONTHS

Location: EYREFIELD, MARTHLY, MALA MALA

The Styx Pride was again somewhat fragmented in April. Most of the sightings were restricted to the north-western parts of the reserve, as the Styx Pride failed to push as far south as normal. As in March, a unit of this pride consisting of the three sub adults and two lionesses were seen together, often with the younger Split Rock Male. Early in the game report period, these five members of the Styx Pride were found feeding on an adult male wildebeest, south of the Old Borehole. Despite the inexperience of the sub-adults, this group none the less appears to be doing very well as a hunting unit, with the two adult lionesses providing for all. Interestingly, these lions encountered a pangolin at Fourways Open Area one night. As is to be expected, the youngsters tried in vain to kill the little anteater, but soon gave up and left the rare creature to itself.

One night towards the middle of the game report period, these same five members of the Styx Pride were seen chasing two unidentified lions south of the Eastern Ramp. It is not known which lionesses these were. Two nervous, unknown lionesses were seen not far north from the area in the morning, and were undoubtedly the lions in question. The Styx Pride had no problems dealing with the newcomers, and subsequent roaring seemed to reinforce the victory as these two unidentified lionesses, who had been seen on two successive days prior to the fight, were not seen again.

In what was a very strange month for the 5-year-old lioness of the Styx Pride, she was always seen with the older Split Rock Male, and never with any Styx Pride members. This lion pairing dominated the lion viewing in the north of the reserve, and were seen 12 times. Towards the end of the game report period, the younger Split Rock Male accompanied this pair. All through the month, the older Split Rock Male showed great interest in this lioness as though she was in oestrus, and guarded her closely. However, she did not reciprocate, and was generally aggressive toward the male lion. On numerous occasions, she appeared to be trying to evade the older Split Rock Male. However, this was all to no avail, as the determined old male constantly kept up with her. Towards the middle of the game report period, this lioness and both Split Rock Males were found very well fed on the middle reaches of the Matshapiri River . However, this did not deter the lioness from moving north to the Picadilly region and taking advantage of the reduced vigilance of some rutting male impalas. She killed two adult male impalas on consecutive days in the Picadilly region, one in broad daylight. At this time of the year, these male antelopes are obsessed with the priority of trying to establish territories and acquiring a herd of females with which to mate over the next few weeks. As a result of this, their vigilance is much reduced as they fight and chase each other around. Experienced predators take advantage of this, and a glance at the kills analysis will show that both the lions, leopards and cheetahs of Mala Mala have killed a very high proportion of male impalas over this game report period. After killing both these male impalas, the older Split Rock Male and the Styx lioness fed very leisurely on the carcasses, and in fact, both were still feeding on the kills the next day, which is rare for lions with such a relatively small prey species. Towards the end of the game report period, this trio of lions treed the Manyeleti Male Leopard, and discovered his impala kill at the base of a Jackalberry tree. Whilst the older Split Rock Male hung back from this kill and allowed the lioness to feed (which is in itself very odd behaviour), the younger male approached the carcass. A terrific tussle ensued between the two male lions, in which the younger Split Rock Male received quite a beating, and received a nasty cut below the eye.

Right towards the end of the game report period, the older Split Rock Male eventually had his way with this lioness, and mated with her twice, before she returned to her aggressive ways and denied him any further mating. Obviously, no conception will occur with such a low intensity mating, and no cubs will be expected from this mating.

It will be interesting to see if this fragmented pride structure will persist in May, as the Eyrefield Pride appear to consolidate their position on central Mala Mala, an area dominated in recent times by the Styx Pride.

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March 2006

STYX PRIDE = 7

2 ADULT FEMALES                                                   * 10 YEARS 7 MONTHS
1 ADULT FEMALE                                                     * 4 YEARS 11 MONTHS
1 ADULT FEMALE                                                     * 4 YEARS
2 SUB ADULT FEMALES                                          * 2 YEARS 7 MONTHS
1 SUB ADULT FEMALE                                            * 2 YEARS 5 MONTHS

Location: EYREFIELD, MARTHLY, MALA MALA

The March game report period was not a particularly exciting one for the Styx Pride. While not seen as often as in the past, the Styx Pride still provided steady viewing in the northern parts of Mala Mala (13 sightings). The pride covered a fair amount of ground, going as far south as the Zebra Skull area. The pride was somewhat fragmented towards the end of the game report period, with the two older lionesses separating from the rest of the pride. The older Split Rock Male lion accompanied these older lionesses, while the younger male joined the other five pride members. However, this is nothing abnormal and is to be expected in lion pride dynamics. Towards the end of the game report period, these fragmented groups of females were normally seen with one of the Split Rock Males.

Early in the game report period, the young four-year-old lioness of the Styx Pride was seen often in the area of Campbell Koppies, while the rest of the pride was not seen in the area. It is possible that this young lioness was the one who had cubs in the area earlier, but lost them (as mentioned in the last game report) and was again investigating the area in the hope of finding live cubs. While alone in this area, she had a brief interaction with a family of cheetahs. However, it was over before it really started, with all the cheetahs fleeing at high speed upon being charged by the lioness. Incidentally, the rest of the Styx Pride chased these same cheetahs four days later at Mlowathi Dam. Cheetahs really do have a hard time of it and are no match for any of the other large predators. After spending three days in the Campbell Koppies area, she struck off north to search for the rest of her pride. While being followed on this venture, this single lioness was seen to catch and devour a juvenile impala at Senegal Bush. No doubt she would have been happy to be alone at this time as such a small prey item would not go far amongst a pride of lions.

Despite the apparent loss of more cubs, the Styx Pride generally appears well. All four lionesses are in superb condition and the sub adults of the pride are growing steadily. These youngsters have been providing great entertainment, as the exuberance of youth has not yet left them. Their boisterous play is delightful to watch, with many great opportunities for photography being provided.

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February 2006

STYX PRIDE = 7

2 FEMALES aged between                                         * 10 YEARS 4 MONTHS & 10 YEARS 9 MONTHS
1 ADULT FEMALE                                                     * 4 YEARS 10 MONTHS
1 SUB ADULT FEMALE                                            * 3 YEARS 12 MONTHS
2 FEMALE CUBS                                                         * 30 MONTHS
1 FEMALE CUB                                                           * 29 MONTHS

Location: EYREFIELD, MARTHLY, MALA MALA

It would seem as though the Styx pride have done it again. Their absence from Mala Mala for almost half of February (only seen on 15 days) and in particular, their absence from the area of Campbell Koppies, suggests that their cubs have died. This is their fifth litter to have died in the last one and a half years and although lion cubs are expendable in times of environmental stress, this cannot be attributed to the loss of this litter as the good rains have provided plenty for all. Perhaps bad parenting is the cause once again. The expendability of the cubs is reiterated by the fact that both the Split Rock Males were seen mating with members of the Styx Pride on four occasions, suggesting the possibility of a new litter in the near future. One hopes that the Styx Pride will fair better if another litter is in fact born.

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January 2006