SANParks.org Forums

I discovered this topic on Friday and was abolutely fascinated!

Then while paging through yesterdays Beeld, I saw an article about lions that was shot near Hazyview. Apparently these lions escaped from the Sabi Sand reserve on Friday night and killed one of the local's cattle at Dumphries C - village near Nkuhlu. There were 7 lions - two fully grown females and 5 males between 18 months and 2 years old.
Mpumalanga Parks Board was called in and after trying fruitlessly to chase the lions back to the reserve they had to be shot. Mr Jan Muller of the MPB said it was necessary because people's lives were in danger.
What is very interesting though is that the article also states that these unfortunate lions fled the reserve after being attacked by "a pride of dominant males". The fence on the Sandriver was apparently damaged by floodwater and that is where they got out.
Does anybody have further information about this - was the Mapogo's responsible perhaps?
Very sad that 7 lions had to be killed - no matter what the circumstances!

Hi Naomi c,
Thanks for the update,a sad story indeed,but I would love to know more of the dynamics between these lions.
If these males were chasing the pride that was shot then no ways in hell were they going to go back in the same direction they had come from. Is the coalition looking to start its own pride or just out to get the competition? Maybe someone out there has a few answers?
Bornfree.

A little video about a coalition of male Lions.

Thanks nico, lovely interaction between the male lions

Wow Nico! Amazing footage. I love the way they just flop down! Thanks for sharing.

Thanks nico!! great video

Great Video Nico

Great topic!!
The chat about The Mapogos and their range/territory sparked a memory.....I don't think its them, probably a bit too far North along the S36, but in August 2008 we came across lions at Shimangwaneni Dam just south of the Muzandzeni picnic site. There were 3 males with the pride, impressive specimens....

Very True Great specimens

Nice pics and nice video Nico may I ask where did you see them and when?

Hi big5spotter, The first three lions was near Mopani in 2004 and the three Lions with the Giraffe kill was between Croc. Bridge and Lower Sabie in 2006.

Thanks Nico.
The reason I asked is we saw 3males on the H7 taking down a buffalo and there were only 1 female present.

Ages:
1 adult male 1998
5 adult males 2001

It is very, very rare to have a coalition of six males survive to maturity. These males were raised in the Sparta pride under the protection of a coalition of 5 males, which certainly helped contribute to their survival. After the passing of their fathers they kept a low profile, avoiding the unwanted attention of the Marthly males and the Shaws males. Late in 2005 the 6 males (5 sub-adults and the adult) broke away from the Sparta Pride, leaving behind 6 females. I was there the evening they first roared at Weaver’s Nest Pan…They wanted their own land, their own females, and the time had finally come. They marched West and we hardly saw them again for another year and a half.

Sometimes on cool winter evenings if the wind was blowing right we could hear their roars from the distance. They were growing in stature, fame and notoriety. Killing buffalo, adult giraffes, even young rhinos and hippos. And lions. And they were not just killing the lions….they were eating them.

Since they begun their land claim at least 5 prides in the region have been devastated, including the Castleton pride (down from 22 to 6), the Tsalala pride (down from 10 to 5), and the Ximuvanyane pride (down from 10 to 0).

However, they may represent a future of stabillty and growth amongst the lions of the area. If they stay together a coalition of this strength with a vast territory well protected against other males may create an ideal breeding opportunity for lionesses


Also, this tells what happened when the Mapogos killed another Male Lion,

http://www.rangerdiaries.com/index.php? ... &Itemid=32

This Forum is so much poorer after Peter Betts left.

I have recently heard that a seventh male lion has joined the Mapogo coalition. Although we have seldom seen the 6th male and we frequently see the coalition splintered it will be interesting indeed if this coalition is continuing to grow. It would also appear that the coalition seen in the Sweni area might very well be a different coalition of males. Hopefully more information will emerge as people become more interested in these large coalitions of males that are wielding such power!

I agree lirritma this forum is indeed the poorer without Peter Betts!