This morning was the first time I had seen the Tsalala lionesses in a while. I have just got back from leave recently, which might have something to do with it, but a quick scan through the sightings of the last couple of months reveals that sightings of them by other rangers have also been few and far between. They have been relatively scarce around their usual haunts on Marthly, and the traditional sightings of them on the airstrip in the cool hours of the early morning have been fading into memory in the last while.
Multiple factors may be involved in determining where lion prides are likely to hang out; prey abundance, the presence of males or other prides, water availability, and a plethora of unknown reasons which will push or pull the lions in certain directions depending on the season. Maybe in the next few months the Tsalala pride will be around a bit more. Maybe so much else has been going on with the other inhabitants of Londolozi that not as much emphasis has been placed on tracking and finding this small pride. Cubs are often a factor that determines how readily a pride is sought. Small little lions provide wonderful viewing, and with leopards as well, the presence of little ones is obviously a major drawcard when it comes to deciding which animals to look for on a specific game drive.
There is obviously much fuel for debate here, but all that aside, my question is this: have the Tsalala Pride lost the last remaining survivor from the 8 cubs of 2011?
One of my favourite cub photos; the pride was playing on the rocks near Marthly Pools, and one of the little females came to lie near us with this wonderful expression on her face.
Happier times for the pride. All 8 cubs were alive at this time (Winter, 2011), and early one morning in the Sand River, one of the cubs decided it would have a better view of its reflection from its mother’s back.
This morning the two sisters (younger tailless and tailed) from the pride were found by Lucien Beaumont in the company of one of the Majingilane males, heading east and eventually sleeping near our Eastern boundary, an area in which they are not often encountered, as it is right on the boundary of both the Styx and Sparta Prides’ territories. A few days ago, ranger Byron Serrao found all four Majingilane in the company of the three older Tsalala lionesses a little further to the north, across the Sand River. The sub-adult lioness was nowhere to be seen.
The young lioness stalking a buffalo bull on the boulders in the Manyelethi riverbed.
We know that the Tsalala lionesses have had a number of run-ins with the Styx Pride in recent months, and we also know that for some reason, the sub-adult lioness has been chased by the Majininglane whenever she has encountered them. The poor relationship with the Majingilane males in particular must be incredibly stressful for a young lioness who is not yet fully independent, as whenever she encounters the males, she is forced to leave the pride for a spell, thereby reducing her hunting capabilities and access to food, as well as exposing her to other dangers which she now has to face alone.
The two sub-adult lionesses (the other one disappeared a few months ago) had to take good care of each other, constantly being forced away from the pride by the Majingilane.
It is far too early to declare a missing lioness dead, as both lions and leopards sometimes go unseen for weeks only to rear their heads again, but even if the sub-adult lioness is still alive, how long can the current state of affairs last before circumstances overtake her and she is killed?
I don’t know what is going to happen, and we currently don’t know where she is, but for now, the outlook for this often ostracized young lioness is bleak.
Written and photographed by James Tyrrell
Hi James,
I think EP has reported a sighting of the subadult female together with BB, on 28th April. So I still have hope she will pull through. Best regards,Patrik
This is what it said: BB, the old lioness, and the sub-adult lioness of the Tsalala pride hunting impala on Safari airstrip.
Hi Patrick,
Thanks for that update- we did get that this afternoon.
The problem I see is that although the older tailless female was certainly a formidable lioness in her time, she is getting old. The sub-adult lioness is forced to spend a lot of time with a past-her-prime lioness or alone.
She is still going, but how long can it last…?
James
Thank you for the information. Can you please inform me about the one and only cub one of the lionnesses had early in april. Is the cub still around. thank you.
So Sad. Patrik, I hope that report is right. :0)
Of all the posts over the last 2 years I have followed, because we were there when 4 were born and we watched them cavort, this is ABSOLUTELY the most heartbreaking news for me. They are ALL gone? All 8? 🙁
Who is the father of this lioness? Is it the Majingis? If so…Why do they chase off their own daughter?…I guess it’s part of lion behavior that’s difficult to understand.
It saddens my heart to hear the lioness is missing, I will hold on to hope and anxiously await news that she has been sighted and is fine.
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Oh the Tsalala lioness’ history, I can’t get enough : ) and ugh!