Followers of the Londolozi blog will have noticed a dearth in the posts about the once-mighty Sparta pride of late.
The pride, once numbering over 20 individuals, now consists of just three. A significant drop in numbers, you will agree.
It’s often a case of ebb and flow in the fortunes of lion prides, and in an open ecosystem like the Kruger Park/Sabi Sand, no event happens in isolation, especially when it comes to lion dynamics. There are always going to be knock-on effects and repercussions after any incident or development, and with the Sparta pride, it is no different.
The Sparta Pride as a formidable unit only a year ago, snatching a buffalo cow mid-morning from a herd of 20 males.
The most significant point in the last few years for them was probably the death of the old lioness of 2013, a great huntress and a littermate of the now infamous Mapogo. After her death, the adult members of the pride were just three; two sisters and their cousin. They were raising cubs at the time (7 at the time of death of the old lioness, if my memory serves me correctly), and all of them were first-time mothers. Under the continued protection of the Majingilane coalition, the three females were – in relative terms – successful in raising the cubs, ending up with four of them still surviving into the early parts of 2015, all of them now at an age at which they could add serious value to the hunts, and effectively when the adult females would look to reproduce again.
“Nobody knows the troubles I’ve seen.” The scarred face of one of the adult Sparta lionesses tells is full of the character one would expect on a much older lion.
At around this time, the Majingilane were vacating the eastern edges of their territory and consolidating their hold in the west, leaving the Sparta pride, and particularly its young males, vulnerable.
The Sparta Pride used to frequent the Maxabene riverbed along almost its entire length. These days they tend to confine their movements to its south-eastern reaches.
The way was open for intruders, and these came in swift succession in the form of the Styx, Fourways and Matshapiri coalitions. With the arrival of the Matimba males from the north, the Sparta pride has generally been sticking to the more central and south-eastern sections of their territory, avoiding the north western portion. Although the Matimba males currently move around a territory that is probably smaller than most leopards’ in the Sabi Sands (!), they still remain an unknown entity for the Sparta pride, and are probably best avoided for now.
What did happen with the arrival of all the new males was that the young Sparta males were forced to flee. Two are I believe still operating around the southern reaches of the Sabi Sands while the third has sought refuge with the Mhangeni pride. In an unusual turn of events the Mhangeni pride accepted him and he is now firmly ensconced within their ranks.
Meanwhile back on the home front of the Sparta pride, one of the adult lionesses died. The carcass of a lioness was found to the south of Londolozi, and with only two adults and the sub-adult female being seen over that period, we can only presume that the body belonged to that of the missing Sparta female.
This photo was taken shortly after the young males begun being forced out of the pride, and the three adult females and single sub-adult were still relatively consistent in their movements.
That is the current state of the pride. Two adult females and a younger lioness of just over three years of age.
They seem to have found a certain amount of stability in the form of the Matshapiri males, with whom they have mated (only the two older lionesses) and might hopefully have cubs with within the next few months.
They also seem to have limited their movements to a much smaller section of the reserve than they would normally be found in, and their presence on Londolozi is a rare thing these days.
The pride’s territory has been the purple area over the last few years, but over the last 9 months or so have spent most of their time in the pink shaded area or further east.
Lions come and lions go, but let’s hope that for what is probably Londolozi’s most iconic pride (they have been viewed here since the lodge began!), the current troubled waters they are negotiating will be the first step on the road back to their former glory.
Written and Photographed by James Tyrrell
It is quite sad that there is only 3 left of the Sparta pride. With the Tsalala they were my favourites
Thanks James, I had actually completely forgotten about the Sparta pride, since we had our hands full with so many coalition and other prides’ news. Hopefully those Matshapiri males can provide them with some security/stability for a couple of years.
One question I’d ask though is why exactly did the young male from the Sparta split? I mean they would’ve had a decent coalition of three. Why leave and try to join the Mangheni?
Thanks so much for the update James. Been hoping for an update on them!
It is sad . Sadder still when so many safari tourists tend to root against lions & cheer for their prey or attacking herd of buffaloes
Thanks James. Always interesting to read about the trials & tribulations of the lions of Londolozi.
As always, looking at your blog brightens a dark and dreary day in the Loire Valley. Thank you
It’s so sad to hear of the Sparta pride down to only 3 left. I was very fortunate to have spent a morning following them back in Sept. 2013 and to see all these beautiful little cubs running in every direction while the 4 Lionesses dutifully watched over them…it’s really heartbreaking to hear how everything has turned out for them. Do you know how the one Lioness died James?
Hi Jill,
We’re not entirely sure, but her condition had been deteriorating for sometime before she died, and a swelling on her flank suggested an internal growth or cyst of some sort, which may have been contributing towards her decline.
Her carcass was eventually discovered east of our boundary.
While she may have just drifted away, what will often happen is that other predators , often hyenas, will detect her weakness and move in to finish her off.
A sad passing, but the current members of the pride are in good condition. Let’s see what happens…
Hi James,
Thank you for the reply. Very sad ending for a great lioness. I am hoping the remainder of the pride will survive. Thank you for the update.
Interesting to hear that the Matimbas are moving in such a small area I guess they cant go west because of Majingis, east because of Matshapiris and north because of Birminghams. Have the Birminghams made any real forrays into Londolozi cause they have been very deep into MalaMala frequently and have the Matimbas and Matshapiris encountered each other yet?
The Birminghams have been seen once or twice in our northern reaches, but never as a full coalition. They have been steadily encroaching south so it seems that its only a matter of time…
As far as I know the Matshapiris and Matimbas have not encountered each other.
Thanks for the pride updates. Can we get a more frequent coalition updates? You guys do a good job building the suspense of what’s going on, but then it’s months with no update. For example, what happened to the Styx males? the Fourways males? Did the head to other reserves, if so, that’s cool. Just curious. Are the Matshipiri’s only hunkered down with the sparta pride? Are they interacting with other prides? Any interactions between matimbas and matshipiris? Are Matimba’s strictly with Tsalalas? Even if there isn’t big news to tell, it would be great to just get little updates. Thanks!
It looks like one of the Sparta females has given birth to two cubs as per the recent malamala update. But with the Birmingham closing in, it will be interesting. Those male lions seem brutal . Interesting. I wonder why the majingilanes have abandoned this pride-are they getting too old??