In the early 1990’s, two dominant male lions controlled the territory throughout Londolozi. Known only as the Black Maned and Golden Maned males, the pair were formidable and very much in control of the lion dynamics. It was however the fence between the Sabi Sands and Kruger National Park that would change everything. Up until 1992 the fence had limited the movement of game between these vast tracts of wilderness, fragmenting the 6 million hectares of open wilderness that we currently enjoy today.
The Golden Maned Male by Chris Kane Berman
Shortly after the fence had been removed, nomadic and rogue male lions began to push further west from the Kruger National Park into the Sabi Sands. And on one fateful night, a coalition of 5 male lions journeyed west to setup a territory for themselves.
Londolozi General Manager, Chris Kane Berman, was a ranger during this period and he recalls the event.
“We had spent the afternoon with the two males and it wasn’t long after dinner in the boma that we heard them vocalizing again. Roaring deep into the night, the calls were however suddenly rebutted with the sound of new males steadily advancing east of our boundary. When we headed out at first light there were lion tracks everywhere. These tracks led us to, what is today known as, Tsalala Pan. Scattered around the pan were 5 new male lions lying around the dead bodies of two previously dominant males.
The established males calling into the darkness by Chris Kane Berman
It wash’t long before two of the males lifted their heads and vocalized once again. The remainder of the lions then got up and attacked the carcasses of the two established males who they had obviously fought and killed during the night. Interestingly, this behavior continued throughout the day. By the time this new coalition left the scene, they had already fed off of them and were quite content to let a nearby crocodile as well as hyenas finish off the remains. As dusk broke, all 5 males stood up and declared their dominance by roaring into the night.”
3 of the 5 new males by Chris Kane Berman
Hyenas with the remaining carcass by Chris Kane Berman
Written and Photographed by: Chris Kane Berman
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Many many thanks …the description of males behavior seems very similar with more recent stories about Mapogos and Majingilanes. Maybe this short story could show that Mapogo’s behavior was not so extreme… Could you please say more about the coalition of new 5 males ? Which was the name they received ,maybe you reffer to West Street males aka Sparta males ? Thanks .
That was a spectacular yet truly tragic read Rich. Was surely hoping for more photos of such an event. Seems like the Mapogos are staring in the face of danger themselves and this is how it may finally end up for them. This part of Africa has proven to be the ultimate in large, successful coalitions of lions. Time will tell how the Matimbas, Southerners and the Majingilanes face off in the most internecine continuation to Lion Warfare.
Hi Rich, back home and still sorting through the many hundreds of photos but would love to send you some. Please can you let me know how to do this, in which format and what size. I’m already missing Londolozi so much and am really jealous of the photos you’re taking. Please say hi to Talley for us, I’m loving her photos.
Kate
It’s always sad to read about the end of a reign…but this we understand with lions. did the 5 new males stay around long? who were they?
thanks for the history lesson.
syl tHE wEsT STREET MALES CONRolled The sPARtA pride for 6 yeaRS 1998-2004 ABout as long as the mapogos own riegn . but i would say that the west street male ruled at least 10 years as domint males cause they are the fathers also of the rollercoaster lions and rollercoasters were born in 1996 in west sabi sands so that would gIVE WESt sTReeT maLeS eASY 10 YEarS as dOmINANT MaLes in total
Hi Rich!
I haven’t heard about the 2 Othawa young male lions for long time now. I would be grateful if you give us updates about these boys. Thanks
Why do not they male lions run away when 5 males going against them?
Why stay to fight?
I don’t think that it is always as easy as that. I don’t think that the males are aware of exactly the numbers against which they are fighting against until it is too late. Male lions are programmed to reproduce…to reproduce they need territory, females and food. They will fight to protect, or gain, these three factors.
Hello Adam:
I have a photo that I took in 2005 of a young female leopard on a neighboring reserve. If I sent you a photo would you mind telling me if she is a leopard that you now see on Londolozi? I have always tried to keep track of her. She is so beautiful. I am not able to ID the leopards like you folks can.
Thanks
Leslie
Thanks Stoff for this great piece of Lion history.
What was the name of the new coalition of 5 that took over?
the 5 new males were the West Street males, and Mala Mala has plenty of info on them
Thanks Jason.
Kinda doesnt add up. Do the math. This five would be between the ages of 4-5 years in 1992. By 2000 they would be 12-13 years old. If you read this “The West Street Males (five of them at the time) took over from the Manyeleti Males in 1998, probably as 8-year old lions, and they gave great stability to the Eyrefield Pride, siring a good many youngsters, of which a healthy number survived. The West Street Males will certainly be long remembered as one of the most successful coalitions of male lions that Mala Mala has seen.” So i honestly don’t think so.
I dont think the fight took place in 1992, the fight took place in summer 1994/95. I have read other documents that state the West Street males took over from the 2 Tsalala Pan males also known as Manyeleti males in 1997/98, this battle took place at Tsalala Pan and the West Street males were not 4-5 years old in 1992 as i far as i know they were born around 1990 and would have been around 4-5 years old when the fight took place around 1994/95. Check Africam history on the Eyrefield pride
If that’s the case, then you could be right.
Hi. For me this 3 of 5 new males looks like Matimbas ( Sava ) males
Can anyone share more photos or information about Manyeleti males or Tsalala Pan males because I can’t find any information about them or photos online. Thank you
IT DOES add up the weST STREET maLES WERE ABOut 12 0R 13 YEARS iN 2000 HavE Read ON oThER sITES INCLUDING MALA MALA BLOGS WHERE THIS HAPPENd
THEY WERE REPORTED TO BE 16 YEARS OLD WHEN DIE IN 2004 ,, the lAST 2 WEST STREETMaLES