MalaMala - The Wildlife

WINDMILL PRIDE = 12
6 ADULT FEMALES
1 SUB-ADULT FEMALE *37 MONTHS
1 SUB-ADULT FEMALE *26 MONTHS
2 CUBS *9 MONTHS
2 CUBS *6 MONTHS

Having not been seen at all in November, the Windmill Pride showed up again in December. There were three sightings of these lions, and on no occasions were any of the cubs seen. On one occasion, all eight lionesses were seen, accompanied by an adult male lion, and on the other two occasions (earlier in the month), just four females were seen. It is quite possible that the cubs have perished, but it is too early to be sure of that. One of the Windmill Pride lionesses is a very old female.

WINDMILL PRIDE = 12
6 ADULT FEMALES
1 SUB-ADULT FEMALE                               *36 MONTHS
1 SUB-ADULT FEMALE                               *25 MONTHS
2 CUBS                                                             *8 MONTHS
2 CUBS                                                             *5 MONTHS

WINDMILL PRIDE = 12
6 ADULT FEMALES
1 SUB ADULT FEMALE                               * 35 MONTHS
1 SUB-ADULT FEMALE                               * 24 MONTHS
2 CUBS                                                             *7 MONTHS
2 CUBS                                                             *4 MONTHS

Not seen at all during this game report period.

September 2004

WINDMILL PRIDE = 12
6 ADULT FEMALES
1 SUB ADULT FEMALE                             * 34 MONTHS
1 CUB                                                              * 23 MONTHS
2 CUBS                                                            * 6 MONTHS
2 CUBS                                                            * 3 MONTHS

Location: CENTRAL & EASTERN CHARLESTON, EASTERN FLOCKFIELD

Near the beginning of the game report period, members of the Windmill Pride were seen on a giraffe kill on eastern Charleston, several hundred metres to the east of the middle reaches of the Chellahanga. Over the years, the Windmill Pride has been renowned as a pride of giraffe-killing lions. At this sighting, there was only one of the 6-month old cubs present, suggesting that its sibling may have perished. There were two smaller cubs present, however, these estimated to be no more than 3 months old. These little ones were still rather nervous of vehicles.

A sighting a few days later on Flockfield, was of 4 members of the pride, consisting of an adult lioness, two young females and one 6-month old cub. Could this have been the sibling of the cub seen at the giraffe kill, or was it the same one?

August 2004

WINDMILL PRIDE = 10
6 ADULT FEMALES
1 SUB ADULT FEMALE                              * 33 MONTHS
1 CUB                                                               * 22 MONTHS
2 CUBS                                                             * 5 MONTHS

Location: CENTRAL & EASTERN CHARLESTON

The only sighting of any members of the Windmill Pride this month was that of two small cubs, halfway down the reserve's eastern boundary with the Kruger National Park.

July 2004

WINDMILL PRIDE = 10
6 ADULT FEMALES
1 SUB ADULT FEMALE                             * 32 MONTHS
1 CUB                                                             * 21 MONTHS
2 CUBS                                                           * 4 MONTHS

Location: CENTRAL & EASTERN CHARLESTON

The Windmill Pride lions were only seen on a single day in July. They were in a very central area of the reserve, and moved in an easterly direction after dark, hunting. The male lion often seen in the vicinity of this pride was again close to them, but not moving with them. Only five lionesses and no cubs were present, but there is no reason to doubt that the cubs are still in good shape. It is well known that the members of the Windmill Pride spend a great deal of their time east of Mala Mala, in the Kruger National Park.

June 2004

A male lion seen with the Windmill Pride during June 2004

May 2004

WINDMILL PRIDE = 7
5 ADULT FEMALES
1 SUB ADULT FEMALE * 30 MONTHS
1 CUB * 19 MONTHS

Location: CENTRAL & EASTERN CHARLESTON

One of the seven lionesses of the Windmill Pride (the 8^th one hasn't been seen for some time now, so it's probably best to assume the worst) appears to have cubs and evidence suggests that these might be hidden somewhere on SE Flockfield or NE Charleston, perhaps in one of many steep-sided donga systems in the area.

The father of this litter might very well be the male lion with no lower canines which was seen mating with another lioness of the pride last month. Just how dominant this lion is in the area worked by the Windmill Pride isn't known. He was seen only twice over this report-period, these sightings being on successive days and towards the beginning of the period and at the time he was sporting scars which suggested a recent battle with other lions. At least one coalition of three males is known to be testing this area and if they take over, then the cubs of the Windmill Pride face probable death.

The Windmill Pride lions were very active on central and eastern Charleston for much of the month and were seen to make several kills. However, they then had an altercation with one of the old West Street Male lions, the young male lion of the Eyrefield Pride as well as one of the sub adult males of this family and were chased from a waterbuck carcass. Following this incident, the lions fled northwards and were last seen towards the eastern parts of the Eyrefield/ Mala Mala boundary, an area where they have certainly been before, but which is generally regarded as being somewhat beyond their regular patrol limits.

April 2004

WINDMILL PRIDE = 8
6 ADULT FEMALES
1 SUB ADULT FEMALE * 29 MONTHS
1 CUB * 18 MONTHS

Location: CENTRAL & EASTERN CHARLESTON

Only seven members of the Windmill Pride were seen at any one time this month, but it's not certain just which one is missing. Of the more easily recognisable lionesses of the pride, the two sub adults and the very old lioness were present on all occasions.

Perhaps the most exciting news involving the Windmill Pride this month was the mating witnessed between one of the lionesses and the male lion which was seen with them last month. The two mated for several days whilst the other six lions headed out looking for food. Once the mating was over, the pair separated, the male lion roaring and moving southwards. It's not certain whether he is alone or is part of a coalition.

Towards the end of the report-period, there was a good sighting of the Windmill Pride on the hunt and stealing the carcass of an adult male impala from a leopard. The leopard, of course, didn't hang around.

March 2004

WINDMILL PRIDE = 8
6 ADULT FEMALES
1 SUB ADULT FEMALE * 28 MONTHS
1 CUB * 17 MONTHS

Location: CENTRAL & EASTERN CHARLESTON

There were only two sightings of the eight lionesses of the Windmill Pride this month and these on successive days. On both occasions they were accompanied by an adult male lion, easily identifiable in that he had no bottom teeth, these perhaps having been broken off in some fight. One usually expects lions with no teeth to be old, but this one certainly wasn't.

When the lions were first found, all were well fed and slept for the whole day. The following day, however, they were more active and the Windmill Pride lionesses were clearly rather uneasy about the presence of the male. One of the females flirted with him, but no mating occurred, so the action may well have been aimed purely at showing subservience. Later on that evening, the lions went hunting and caught an adult male impala. In the scuffle for food which ensued, the male lion waded in and beat up several of the lionesses, with the youngest receiving a particularly savage hiding.

With the demise of the three Ridge Rocks Males in the last half-year, their replacement by another coalition of male lions, or even a single male lion, has been inevitable and it may just be that this one with no lower canines will be their successor. Three other male lions were also seen in the area of eastern Charleston a day or so earlier, no doubt also probing the region, so there's certainly no finality yet as far as the question of dominant males is concerned. Nevertheless, for the Windmill Pride the sooner the inevitable happens, the better for them and then they can get on and start with a next generation of cubs.

February 2004

WINDMILL PRIDE = 8
6 ADULT FEMALES
1 SUB ADULT FEMALE * 27 MONTHS
1 CUB * 16 MONTHS

The lionesses of the Windmill Pride spent at least some of the month on eastern Flockfield, an area now considered to be at the very northern end of their range. Here they killed a buffalo and fed from it for a few days until they were driven from the carcass by one of the old West Street Males.

The other sightings of the Windmill Pride were on southeastern Charleston quite close to where, it was thought, one of these lionesses had given birth last month. If any cubs are indeed still around, then there is no sign of them. And this wouldn't be a bad thing either. The father of these cubs would have almost certainly been one of the Ridge Rocks Males and now with them gone, other male lions are going to start making their presence felt and would, it is most likely, kill any youngsters which they didn't sire.

January 2004

WINDMILL PRIDE = 8
6 ADULT FEMALES
1 SUB ADULT FEMALE * 26 MONTHS
1 CUB * 15 MONTHS

The Windmill Pride continued to operate in two separate groups this month, with the final separation at months end perhaps being of two lionesses by themselves and the other six members of the group working together elsewhere.

Towards mid-January, one of the Windmill Pride lionesses appeared to be lactating and indications are that whatever cubs had been born were being hidden in the riverbed of eastern Toulon. This may then have been the reason for the prides' break-up; two lionesses staying around the cubs with the others, unencumbered by tiny youngsters, operating somewhere else.

Whilst the lions of the Windmill Pride spent the first parts of the month in the southeastern areas of the reserve, the group of six headed northwards to eastern Flockfield and NE Charleston towards months end. This area has traditionally been well-used by the Windmill Pride, but this months activities may have at least partly been due to the decline of the Ridge Rocks Males (the males which over the last few years have dominated the Windmill Pride) and the arrival of other male lions, almost certainly in response to the absence of the Ridge Rocks Males, in these southeastern parts.

For the young cubs so recently produced by the one lioness of the Windmill Pride, the arrival of new males will be bad news, as they will almost certainly be killed by them. And, the period during which new male lions establish themselves will also be traumatic for all other lionesses too as the male lions do what they usually do to make sure that the females understand just exactly who is in charge. There's even a chance that the 15-month-old cub, fathered by the Ridge Rocks Males, could be killed by new dominant males.

So a tense few months ahead for the Windmill Pride as male-lion-dynamics take centre-stage in their lives. But, with stability usually following such a changeover, hopefully things can only improve for the Windmill Pride in the months ahead.

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