MalaMala - The Wildlife

WINDMILL PRIDE

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There was one sighting of a lioness identified at Rocky Crossing as a Windmill Lioness. The lioness was heading towards the water course and was not followed.

6 ADULT FEMALES
1 ADULT FEMALE * 4 YEARS 10 MONTHS
1 SUB-ADULT FEMALE * 3 YEARS 11 MONTHS

There were no confirmed sightings of the Windmill Pride during the September report period.

6 ADULT FEMALES
1 ADULT FEMALE *4 YEARS 9 MONTHS
1 SUB-ADULT FEMALE *3 YEARS 10 MONTHS

There were no confirmed sightings of the Windmill Pride during the august report period.

6 ADULT FEMALES
1 ADULT FEMALE *4 YEARS 8 MONTHS
1 SUB-ADULT FEMALE *3 YEARS 9 MONTHS

There were no confirmed sightings of any of the Windmill Pride members during July.

6 ADULT FEMALES
1 ADULT FEMALE * 4 YEARS 7 MONTHS
1 SUB-ADULT FEMALE * 3 YEARS 8 MONTHS

The Windmill Pride was only seen once during this report period near the Chellahanga River . Four lionesses were present, and all looked well with them. It will be remembered that last month two lionesses from the Windmill Pride were seen to be heavily pregnant, but no females were lactating in the group that were seen. The lions went east towards the Kruger National Park after dark.

6 ADULT FEMALES
1 ADULT FEMALE * 4 YEARS 6 MONTHS
1 SUB-ADULT FEMALE * 3 YEARS 7 MONTHS

6 ADULT FEMALES
1 ADULT FEMALE * 4 YEARS 5 MONTHS
1 SUB-ADULT FEMALE * 3 YEARS 6 MONTHS

The steady viewing of the Windmill Pride carried through to April with 16 sightings being recorded. Most of these sightings were in traditional Windmill Pride territory around eastern Charleston . It was alluded to in previous game reports that two lionesses of the Windmill Pride were pregnant. It now seems that these two lionesses have given birth, as they were spending a lot of time away from the pride towards the end of the game report period. One of these mothering lionesses had an unpleasant experience with the four Skukuza Males, one of whom is probably the father of her cubs. One evening, this lactating lioness casually approached the Skukuza Males, who had been found earlier, apparently having finished eating a kudu the night before. It appeared that these male lions did not recognise the approaching female and aggressively chased her off into thick bush. Hopefully she escaped unhurt and will successfully raise this litter to maturity.

Towards the end of the game report period six members of the Windmill Pride were seen to make great use of the large donga systems around the Split Rock Donga while hunting. Despite being well fed, these lions were found stalking something in the donga, not visible to the game drive vehicles. After carefully encircling the prey, the lionesses ran in on the victim. Subsequently, a great deal of commotion and crashing around was heard in the thick bush. Careful following up revealed these six lions busy killing a superb kudu bull. Two impala kills were also seen with this pride, one around Misters Koppies, and the other on the Chellahanga River . On numerous occasions, the lions were found very well fed, indicating that all is well with this pride.

6 ADULT FEMALES
1 ADULT FEMALE *4 YEARS 4 MONTHS
1 SUB-ADULT FEMALE *3 YEARS 5 MONTHS

While not seen as often as in the last game report period, the Windmill Pride still had a strong presence on the central parts of the property this game report period. Their movements were similar to last month’s, ranging from southern Mala Mala down to northern Toulon . Early in the game report period, this pride was seen to kill an adult female impala on central Charleston .

It was suggested last game report that the pregnant lionesses of this pride had mated with the Skukuza Males. After a long absence, all four Skukuza Males were seen twice on north-eastern Charleston , in core Windmill Pride territory. These lions roared occasionally before heading back into the Kruger National Park to the east, suggesting that this area and the Windmill Pride are indeed under their control. There was no evidence this month to suggest that any cubs had been born to this pride on Mala Mala.

6 ADULT FEMALES
1 SUB-ADULT FEMALE                          *4 YEARS 3 MONTHS
1 SUB-ADULT FEMALE                           *3 YEARS 4 MONTH
2 CUBS                                                          *23 MONTHS
2 CUBS                                                          *20 MONTHS

Five lionesses (three adults and two sub adults) from this pride were seen regularly (15 times) on both central Flockfield and Charleston . This is unusual given that most of their territory exists east of Mala Mala in the Kruger National Park . With the Sand River having been high throughout the month, it is likely that most of the members of the Eyrefield Pride have been stranded to the west of the river. Subsequently, the relative absence of these lions from Mala Mala this month probably also gave the Windmill Pride some opportunity to push west during February. The Windmill Pride showed their hunting prowess on several occasions. Two kills were witnessed during February, both being impala kills.

Two of the lionesses appear to be very pregnant and perhaps they are scouting for a suitable area to have their cubs. Given the presence of the Skukuza Males with the Windmill Pride during last months game report period, it is possible that they have sired these cubs and established themselves in the vicinity or at least in the Kruger National Park adjacent to Mala Mala. Although the Skukuza Males were not seen on Mala Mala during this game report period, exciting times would lie ahead if they were to frequent the property and expand their territory westwards.

6 ADULT FEMALES
1 SUB-ADULT FEMALE                          *4 YEARS 2 MONTHS
1 SUB-ADULT FEMALE                          *3 YEARS 3 MONTH
2 CUBS                                                         *22 MONTHS
2 CUBS                                                         *19 MONTHS

Three members of this pride were seen on three occasions on Charleston , accompanied on all occasions by the three ‘Skukuza males’. It would seem as though some sort of association is developing between these lions which will give the young males some confidence and perhaps an incentive to establish their territory in this area.

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