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Kevin Power

Field Guide/Finance

Kevin hails from the small town of George, but we try not to hold that against him... After obtaining a Bachelor of Commerce degree in Finance at the University of Stellenbosch, Kev realised that town life wasn't for him for the moment, and ...

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30 Comments

on Lion Update: What Will Happen Next?

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Thanks Kevin, nice blog! It’s great to have seen the Mhengani and Tsalala Breakaways when they were tiny cubs and now doing so well. Remarkable considering all the changes have happened. Looking forward seeing you all next month to find them for real!

Thanks Liam. Look forward to having you back next month.

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Thanks keep these dynamics coming, what’s the speculation would tailless go back to the Tsalala after giving birth or remain with the young female after kicking out the boys. That might be dangerous on two counts, as she may put her cubs in danger with Matimba sired cubs and would they accept her. I recall the old tailless was eventually killed by her daughters in the Mangheni breakaway I believe

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so even Majingilanes are avoiding londolozi because of Mhtashipiri males if Tailess is pregnant it is definitely matimba offspring

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Here is a nice link to a blog in September 2016 http://blog.londolozi.com/2016/09/the-unfinished-tale-of-the-tailless-female/

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I’m sure both matimba dark and light mane are doing well but its hard to believe only 1 is left from the coalition of 4 up north? How did this happen? I would be greatful for any news of this?
And the 2 matimbas going back towards the bormingham boys i fond that pretty wreckless for two lions who are clearly thinkers and normally weigh up the risk long before its on their back.

Hi Bumblebee. Im not sure of any news of the other part of the coalition, sorry I can’t help you there. We are also very surprised by their decision to head back north, as you said, there is the chance they will run into the Birmingham’s. At this stage we can only speculate as why they left.

Member
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Any chance to show how the Sabi river and the other normally dry river beds are looking after the rains on the daily emails?

Hi Svante,
We will put out a clip on our FB page today- have a look in an hour or two.

Member
Guest

Enjoyed the post. What a puzzle?

Member
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Are you able to keep track of lions that have left Londolozi for another concession? And do other concessions refer to prides by the same names we frequently see used in your blog?

Hi Phil. We try as much as we can to keep track of the lions that leave our concession, it isn’t always that easy, as some areas refer to the same lions as different names. As an industry though, through social media, we are starting to narrow down the amount of names for an individual,coalition or pride.

Member
Guest

Great article Kevin. Really, the lion dynamics is a fascinating thing. Life is tough for lions and sad also. Will be interesting to see how this all plays out. As they say, survival of the fittest. Thanks again for this interesting blog.

Member
Guest

Great blog, Kevin. The lion dynamics are so engaging. Can’t wait to see what happens, especially when we return in August.

Thanks Judy. Looking forward to having you and Larry back. Im sure by then we should have lots more to write about 🙂

Member
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Great stuff Kevin! Really enjoy your updates. You must have Irish connections with a name Power? Waterford perhaps.

Hi John. Thanks very much. My heritage is most certainly Irish – second generation South African.

Member
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We had such wonderful sightings of the Matimbas with the Tsalala lionesses with, at that time 2 beautiful cubs, about a year ago now (where does time go!) I really hope these cubs and their younger siblings make it without the protection of their Fathers. I fear those lionesses are going to have to use all their skills in the coming months to help those cubs survive. How old would the cubs have to be to survive new males coming into the area?

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Hi Mike. There is a chance she may return to the other two lionesses and their cubs, with the young lioness. All of the would have potentially been sired by the Matimbas, therefore there would be no worries on that account. On would they accept her, its very difficult to say, but we did notice interaction between the two prides a few months ago, and there was no aggression between her and the other two lionesses from the Tsalala pride. Its very difficult to say, as we are constantly being surprised by these animals. Hope you and the family are well.

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See here for those interested in current status of the Matimbas http://tintswalo.com/safari/uncategorized/ghosts-of-our-past/

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Update on Charleston males who we saw last October at Londo. The tooth still has not fallen out https://www.facebook.com/latestsightingskruger/posts/1430266787043646

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Here are some notes I have regarding different names anyone like to add to them or correct me
Styx is eyrfield pride on mala mala
Spata is flockfield on mala mala
Marthly is tsalala and breakaway is the same mhangeni
Matimba are Clarendon males
Piva treehouse male
Bicycle crossing short tailed male
Tomboti young female now called island

Hi Mike,

Thanks for this! Two corrections though; the Sparta pride are the Eyrefield Pride on MM, and as far as I know Styx Pride are known by the same name there.
Jame

Member
Guest

Tracking lions on the tube in London all well thanks Kevin

Member
Guest

Hi Kevin, is it possible that the 2 matimbas will join the other matimbas and form a coalition of 4 like they were and go against the 5 young Birminghams or even now the the 3 majingilanes

Hi Chris,
Unlikely. Apparently only a single northern coalition os still alive, so it seems the biggest force the Matimbas could boast is a group of three.
As for the Birminghams I believe one was killed last year so there are only four left.
It’s very hard to predict these things so we’ll just have to wait and see.
Being an old coalition I doubt if they would try anything unnecessary…

Member
Guest

No, it’s not! One of the Northern Matimba is dead, so they can for a coalition of at most 3.

Member
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There 2 northern matimbas and there are 2 southern matimbas. Can they join together to form a coalition of 4 to go against the Birminghams, or now the 3 majingilanes

Member
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Anyone?

In my opinion, the lion dynamics at the moment are still very much in a state of flux and confusion, what with new potential arrival of the Birmingham Coalition!

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