About the Author

Adam Bannister

Alumni

Londolozi Alumni

View Adam's profile

27 Comments

on Lion Warfare: Autumn 2012

Join the conversationJoin the conversation

Paul
Guest

Which mapogo did you see and where is the other??

Mika
Guest

Adam

I think the Mapogo will have to run till there dead. but i hope they go down like there brothers in a battle they live in risk now. With the Matimba coming into northern sector the Majigilane will have to fight there and then the Nkuhuma males are pushed out from there little territory. but have you seen the Othawa males lately.

No news on Othawa males from our side!

Al
Guest

Mapogo may have split up to avoid scent detection. Keeping an extremely low profile.

Al
Guest

Good write up Adam. It’s just what it’s supposed to be.

Bader
Guest

Thanks Adam!! I see this as stability rather than instability to the Sabi Sands lion territories and hopefully the increase lion population. The Mapogos are nearing the end of their reign and I don’t think they pose much of a threat to anybody. Plus all coalitions (Matimba, Majingis, Kruger, and Selati…oh let’s not forget Solo & Co.) seem to be content with their land.
By the way…I read on the Mapogo FB page that you saw the Mapogos last week in the southern/Dudley area. Is this area Majingis territory? Or Kruger male’s? Or is it no man’s (i mean lion’s) land?

No mans land we think.

Zoe
Guest

Thanks for the write up Adam. Can’t wait for the update and to perhaps see some of the cast of characters when I’m at Londolozi in July!

We look forward to seeing you in July.

Dear Adam,
Thank you, it’s always interesting to read your reports.
When there is a takeover, it is often like a big wave having side effects.
Many thought that with the Selatis taking over the Western sector, it is done.
But the running of the Mapogos and them bumping into other coalitions is exactly one of these side-effects. I’m also astonished that the Selatis have not yet further advanced in their takeover.
I’m kind of intrigued by the photo above of the Nkuhuma male and a Tsalala-lioness. I’ve never read
Of such an encounter before. Is it one of the young 4 Tsalalas (break-away) ? My guess is that the
Selatis will stay and claim entire Western sector. Majingilanes will stay and defend where they are actually. The best chances of survival of the Mapogos are, in my opinion, in eastern Othawa/Singita (just in between Selati and Majingilane-territory), or eventually in the northern section of Sabi Sands which is an area of fluctuation since the Gijimas are gone. Some of the young nomads may go into Kruger, or have already gone (maybe Styx, also Othawas if they are still alive). I am also intrigued by the Tsalalas and maybe they will play a role in all this. If the tailless lioness stays with Majingilanes, it may bring stability and peace, if not the warfare or insecurity may go on, especially when the young Tsalalas become fertile. Will they split definitely, or even split more into 2 sub-groups and
establish separate territories in EP/Simbambili and Djuma-north ? I find it also strange that the Nkuhuma males did not stay with the Othawa lionesses, as they may very probably have fathered their actual offspring (which sadly will be annihilated by the Selatis). Lion world is never predictable. I think the Krugers in the south seem to be very dominant and determined males. They have surprisingly not been challenged until last week. However, that may come because there are
a lot of lionesses and that’s the ultimate goal for any males.

Rosie
Guest

I think that the Matimbas will also play a large part in this Lion chess game, they are very large lions already, and with 6 of them, if they can manage to stay intact, they could take over anywhere soon. It depends whether they want to stay in Manyeleti or move permanently into Sabi Sands, I guess it’s a game of “wait and see”.

Terry
Guest

We will just have to see how it all plays out, hopefully with as few deaths as possible. Thanks for the diary and okease keep us updated! Thanks Adam.

PoutyGorilla
Guest

Thank you for your information & insight. Having been an observer of the rise of Mapogo years ago and now knowing they will soon be gone gives me great pain. Regardless of the outcome of this war, history will repeat itself again in several years. Just as it has for as long as the King of Beasts has reigned upon this earth.

Adam: thinking it would be interesting to see a map accompany the ” soap opera” of lion warfare. It is fascinating and think the stories would be enhanced by a depiction of the territories presently held by the males,and locations of the prides. so that we can speculate about possible conflicts and understand the movements you describe so well.
Thanks for your fascinating accounts!

Bader
Guest

Great suggestion Joyce. I’ve been wanting, for the longest time, for somebody to post a map showing all the lion pride areas in the Sabi Sands and the male coalition areas. Also, showing the overlapping (shared) areas between the coalitions, if any.

James Hebert
Guest

Somebody did this map already and it is posted somewhere on one of those facebook lion coalition pages. I am not certain if it is under Majingilane, Selati, Mapogo, KNP, or maybe Matimba facebook page. But it is there somewhere, buried in a thread that you have to click on the comments section and it opens up. I wish I could give you better directions to where it is located, but I get lost scrolling through that information sometimes and didn’t save the page. It is a fascinating map although it doesn’t give an accurate distance meter as I remember, it is also not accurate now that the Selati boys have taken over the Mapogo kingdom, but fascinating nevertheless. Thanks for all the effort and risky work to you rangers and other people that give us all this priceless information. James in Oregon, USA.

Kk
Guest

Do the Matimbas have any pride under their domain or just a bachelor group?

Syl
Guest

Great blog…
Big question…I see the photo of the Nkuhuma male & Tsalala lioness…when were they together? None of seem to recall when that happened. Thanks for any help with this.

This particular image was taken on Dec 10 2011. This is the one of the few images I have of the Nkuhuma male. rich

Wodaj
Guest

Thanks Adam for your candid theory as to what may transpire in the coming weeks. As a fan of Mapogo, it hurts to think the days of the veterans are numbered (which is most likely scenario). But I don’t expect Mapogos to die in a fight. Mapogos are already keeping low profile and will always flee any approaching male lion. The dominant males know Mapogos are not a threat to their reign. Unless they are caught accidentally, I don’t see Mapogos being killed. They may die of old age and starvation. I also do not expect all Ximhugwe lioness cubs to be killed by Selati males. At least some lionesses will be on the run with cubs while others surrender to continuous harassment. I hope some Ximhugwe cubs will be saved. Unfortunately, I don’t expect any Othawa lioness cub to survive Selati males attack. Yet, no one can be sure; let us wait and see.

Syl
Guest

thanks Rich..very helpful

Brett
Guest

Hi Adam,

Fascinating reading, many thanks. Out of interest, are there any external resources or websites you could recommend in terms of obtaining a better understanding the lion dynamics and identification in the Sands? I found this one (which is great) – http://www.africam.com/wildlife/lionpridescoalitionssabisands – but it hasn’t been updated for a couple of years.

I’d be grateful for any insight you may be able to provide…

Many thanks!
Brett

As crazy as it souds you you find that most of the individual lions and lion prides have their own facebook fan pages which followers keep updated and post anything written on these individuals. Hope that helps

Brett
Guest

Great, thanks Adam – much appreciated!

Ingemar de Vera
Guest

I love reading your article in the Lion Warfare Adam . Great work!!! Please post more updates on what’s to come.

ash
Guest

Hi Adam just woundering if any new updates to be heard about the majingalane males and mapogo

ketan solanki
Guest

i think ,the good thing for remaining mapogoes will be to form collition with their own sons,young ottawa males.

Connect with Londolozi

Follow Us

One moment...
Anonymous
Be the first to this photo
You and 1 others this photo
q

Filed under
Anonymous
10 April, 2798
+
Add Profile