LIONS - Nkorho & Elephant Plains Area

It is reported that these two lions though quite large in size are actually very young males. They have made their presence known more frequently the last few months and have been in the company of some of the Nkuhuma lionesses (most noticeably Snaggletooth) as well the lone Sandy Patch female on several occasions.

Manyeleti brothers seen on cam at NK early morning following a buffalo herd.

Wow Penny2, you just may be right about that being BB's brother. The time line sure is correct. Such a shame. Beautiful fella.

Yeah, I found those interactions interesting too. I tend to wonder whether the Mala Mala rangers may have misinterpreted some of the aggression of the Mapogos in those interactions, I'm sure they appeared aggressive, but given the fact that all the cubs survived and the Mapogos haven't had much trouble killing cubs in the past, I have to wonder just how interested they really were in killing cubs. Maybe there was more aggression by the males who didn't have as much (or any) mating contact with the Styx lionesses, I don't know.

The saga of the 7th Styx lioness who seems to have split off and is frequently killing Kudu is also an interesting one. The incident where the rollercoaster male helped her chase off the Eyrefield pride (which he still spends time with and consists of cubs that he fathered) was a bizarre and interesting incident.  

Hey Ron, I'm a little confused too on the various Styx reports. Not only has the Roller Coaster male been seen with the 6 lionesses and 9 cubs but also with the other Styx lioness with the two newest cubs.

Also, I have seen several reports over the last month of the Styx lionesses fighting off a number of the Mapogos (one report was with 5 Mapogos) in an effort to protect the cubs. Possibly, since the Styx have apparently been mating with both Mapogos and the Roller Coaster male even they aren't sure the Mapogos will accept those cubs as their's. Seems the Roller Coaster male accepts all the cubs as his. I suppose we will never know who the true fathers are of those cubs.

It's interesting, both the Elephant Plains and Djuma rangers believe the Styx cubs were fathered by the Mapogos, and I would imagine that some of them are, but many of those lionesses also mated with the old rollercoaster male during the same period and he could well be the father of some of them too.

I guess the most important thing, at least for the benefit of the cubs, is that both the Mapogo boys and the Rollercoaster male seem to think they're the father of the cubs, as witnessed by the interaction with the Mapogos at Djuma last week and also the frequent sightings of the rollercoaster male with the 6 lionesses and 9 cubs, as detailed on the Mala Mala sightings diary.

An update from EP..

The Stix pride is doing very well. They currently consist of 7 adult females and their 9 new cubs. They all look very healthy, and I can’t wait to see the pride in action when they grow up. The fathers of the cubs are the 6 Mapogo males. The Sandy Patch female, also known as the Safari female, is still alone and has no cubs as yet. The Tsalala females, BB and her two daughters, are seen together every now and again. BB mated with one of the Mapogo’s a few days ago. She lost her last cub so hopefully she will give birth to new cubs in about 110 days. B.B’s three and a half year old male cub does not stay with his mother any more as he needs to live on his own from now on. He will hopefully dominate his own territory once he turns five. B.B’s two daughters will also start having cubs one of these days and we are looking forward to that prospect. We are told that he two young Robson males, also known as Stompie and One Eye, who moved eastward into Kruger Park, are also doing well. The Two plus One pride is currently more active in the Manyeleti Game Reserve. The Koehuma pride currently consists of one male and eight females with six cubs. They mainly frequent the area far east of us.

Source

Roller Coaster Males, AKA Shaw Males, AKA Castleton Males - Originally a Coalition of Six

These six males were born into the Castleton/Ximungwe pride in 1996. The same pride that also gave us the Tsalala Pride and the Ximuvanyane Pride.

They were sired by the 5 Sparta males (the same coalition that sired the Mapogo Males).

It is unclear how the Coalition of 6 was whittled down to just two by early 2006 but various reports suggests Bovine Tuberculosis and death by other lions was mostly likely the cause. By 2001 there were 5 surviving. 2002, four were surviving as one was believed to have been killed by another lion. One more disappeared and was believed dead by Aug 2002 leaving three. Of these three, one could easily beidentified as he was missing an eye. The three became the dominant males of the Selati/Shaw Pride which by (2004) had 12 cubs sired by them of which produce the now known young Golf Course Males (Mala Mala). It was reported by Mala Mala in February 2006, that the one male missing an eye was confirmed to have died. He had been in poor condition for some time.

The two remaining Roller Coaster males had taken over the Eyrefield/Sparta pride by Aug 2006. This being the pride the Mapogo Coalition originated from. This pride today consists of three lionesses. Two are sisters of the Mapogo Males and the one old lioness may very well be the Mother to some of the Mapogos. The Eyrefield Pride currently has nine cubs approximately 18 to 20 mos old (5 males, 4 females) sired by the two Roller Coaster males and just recently accepted into their pride the Sub Adult male, Solo, from the Tsalala Pride.

The two Roller Coaster brothers sought to oust the surviving old Split Rock male from his dominance over the Styx Pride. Which they finally succeeded in doing in 2007. It is suspected the Roller Coaster males contributed to the loss of all the Styx pride’s cubs in the later part of 2006.

Sadly, in June 2007 one of the Roller Coaster brothers was killed by a crocodile. Only one survives today. The lone survivor still has control for now over the Eyrefield/Sparta pride and also must have some dominance over the Styx pride as several of those lionesses reportedly have given birth in past months. The cubs are believed to be sired by the Roller Coaster male. He has been seen spending a lot of time with the pride and interacting with the cubs. Though there is speculation that some of the Styx cubs may have been sired by the Mapogos, the old Roller Coaster Male accepts them all as his cubs.

Update received Mar 2009 from Andrew at Mala Mala: The two oldest Styx Pride cubs were sired by the old Roller Coaster Male, seven were sired by either the Roller Coaster Male or the Mapogos or a combination of both, the newest cubs recently born are sired by the Mapogos.

Upadte May 22nd 2009 The last two months have been erratic for the Roller Coaster male. It was reported he had been ousted as the dominant male of the Eyrefield Pride and the Styx Pride by two Mapogos (Kinky Tail and Mr T) that seem to be on a mission in Mala Mala to take control over these prides. The majority of the Styx Pride, with cubs in tow, have fled the area as well as the Eyrefield Pride. Eventually, the old Roller Coaster rejoined the Eyrefield Pride but they have suffered several attacks by the two Mapogos. These attacks have resulted in the deaths of two of the sub adult cubs and members being separated. As of this date, the 3 adult lionesses, 7 sub adult cubs, the old Roller Coaster male along with the young Tsalala male, Solo who has been accepted into this pride, have reunited and escaped into the Londolozi area. Only time will tell what the outcome of this conflict may be.

Note of interest: Lionesses from the Charleston pride (Mala Mala) are thought to be sisters or cousins of the Roller Coaster males due to interactions between the pride and the coalition when they were seen together in 2002/2003.

Another interesting note: It is believed the Roller Coaster Coaliton may have fathered the younger Mapogo Males. When they were a young coalition and still had 5 surviving, they were reported to have been seen mating with the some of the lionesses of Eyrefield/Sparta pride that the aging West Street males still dominated.

The lone surviving Roller Coaster male is a beautiful lion and we can only hope he is able to maintain his dominance over the Eyrefield/Sparta pride and the Styx pride long enough for the cubs to reach independence.

He is a real "character" too. Rangers in the Mala Mala area often joke how he can find a meal no matter where it is. If it is free and easy, he will locate it. Along with his dislike of having to exert himself to secure a meal, he also seems to have an aversion to fighting/defending his territory. If their is a conflict involving other males, he is more likely to let the girls in his prides handle the situation while he hangs out with the cubs or heads in the opposite direction. All said and done though.... he is a remarkable "old" man!

Updated May 2009

By Aquila and Karen in VA.