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James Tyrrell

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James had hardly touched a camera when he came to Londolozi, but his writing skills that complemented his Honours degree in Zoology meant that he was quickly snapped up by the Londolozi blog team. An environment rich in photographers helped him develop the ...

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33 Comments

on A Sighting of the South Pride

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Todd
Guest

I’ve read several blogs where the KNP males have been described as huge, or enormous. Are these two brothers particularly large for males?
And is it just me, or are these two playing with fire coming into maji territory?
The KNPs and the southern pride seem to be making a habit of it.
Thanks for the update!

THELMA ALEMAN
Guest

I don´t think they met the Majingilane males, because if they did, the knp males would be deaht by now, 4 against 2 is too much advantage.

Margarita Doychinova
Guest

So interesting, exiting and beautiful!!!!!

Lions do what lions do and so magnificently!

Paul
Guest

You know anything about a fight between the Mapogos and kruger Males?

Syl
Guest

Thank you…when exactly was this sighting?

Rich Smith
Guest

Hi James,
Can you tell us a date of the morning you found them?

Thanks

Jason
Guest

youre right Thelma but the Majingilane males are usually not all 4 together, and if the 2 Kruger males and Selati pride(7 lionesses) ran into all 4 Majingilane males and the Krugers and Selati lionesses had their heart in the fight because of protecting the cubs from the Majingilane then the Majingilane males might be 1 or 2 males down by the end of the fight because the 2 males and 7 lionesses would be to much for even the 4 Majingilane

THELMA ALEMAN
Guest

Yes , don’t mess with a lioness and her cubs, NEVER! , good point Jason. ( I didn’t think in that fact)

Jason
Guest

Todd they are big males, but just recently a ranger at Sabi Sabi stated the 2 old Mapogo were physically bigger than the 2 Kruger males

Raoul
Guest

I’ve heard rumours of a giant coalition of ten male Lions somewhere in Kruger. Can someone verify this ? It’s the biggest coalition I’ve ever heard of.

Senior Digital Ranger

Thanks for the update on the Selati/Southern Pride.. Hope they stay safe and far from the Majingilanes.. Love the Flehmen Grimace, it makes them look like they are laughing…

Great blog entry and wonderful photographs to go with it!

Jess
Guest

Great photo’s Jamo – a special sighting!

Wolfe
Guest

There is a high probability the KNP males may have downed Makulu Mapogo. Word from a private message, from a ranger/guide, indicates a head being found in the last direction a very wounded lion was being chased by the KNP. Has anyone in Londolozi heard anything so far? Lots of people on FB seem quite anxious to know.

Thanks

James T
Guest

Todd these are indeed very big males, definitely bigger that the Majingilane. They have been around our Southern areas once or twice more since this sighting, and their paw prints alone dwarf those of the Majingilane. As Thelma says, 4 vs 2 might be too much for them to handle if they do bump into one another, and with one of the Kruger males having a lame hip, it would be fair to assume that the Majingilane males would come out on top in an encounter.

THELMA ALEMAN
Guest

Exactly , the knp male with the limp is an easy target.

James T
Guest

The sighting took place on July 14th, but the Pride’s tracks and those of the Kruger males have been seen a number of times since then on or near our Southern Boundary.
I might go down there tomorrow morning to take a look….

Jason
Guest

Raoul it’s the Skybeds/Orpen males and they used to be 11, 1 was killed by the 6 Matimbas in Manyeleti, 1 has a broken leg or hip injury and has been on his own for around 1 year or so scavenging kills from Hyenas and the other 9 have been together in Northern Manyeleti, Orpen area and Ngala in Timbavati. They seem to be having a sort of split in the coalition as we speak, large coalitions of 6 or more seem to split often because all the males want to be able to mate and be dominant, with a coalition of 9 the 3 or 4 less dominant members might never get to mate if they stay with the rest.

ash
Guest

is it true that dreadlocks from mapogo was killed by ##### pouchers?
please some one get back to me.

No it is not true

Todd
Guest

Thanks for the info James! I’ve always had a soft spot for the Kruger males. The only small coalition to really have any success in the area.
Not to completely get off topic, but has there been any word on solo, the tsalala/marthy male??

James T
Guest

Todd we haven’t seen the Tsalala male around for about 2 months now. I remember hearing something about him being seen northwest of Marthly, but I might be thinking of another lion, so will have to check for you

Kk
Guest

Interesting pride. They killed off most of the Charelstons I guess-maybe they are trying to expand-as they need more territory to feed themselves?

Do lions kill elephants in the Kruger area. I was reading about an elephant killing pride in Botswana-just wondered if any such prides exist in Kruger. This pride is probably big enough to take on a juvenile elephant??

ash
Guest

cheers for puting my mind at ease rich love the mapogos,any word on the last two
kings of the mapogo?

George
Guest

Any New Mapogo information?Mak Alive?

ash
Guest

can some one please let us no about makulu there has been a rumor going around
saying he has been killed? I just want to say to the people on face book let the profesionals
update us on whats goin on we do not want to hear rubish that is not true let the rangers do there jobs
londolozi is an amazing place and i think all those involved with the reserve should be proud, well done to all the staff .

Paul
Guest

No one seems to know anything about Mak:(

Syl
Guest

Thanks James & Rich. Appreciate the clarifications.

ash
Guest

wow a selati lion was watching one of the mapogos i wonder what is going to hapen if the brothers will be informed

THELMA ALEMAN
Guest

I think we all really apreciate the time for this blog, THANK YOU GUYS.

Toni
Guest

Are the KNP lions also known as the matimbas?

Hi Toni,
The Matimbas are not known as anything else as far as I’m aware. The Kruger Males from this post are different lions entirely, although they look similar. I believe both Kruger males are dead now sadly.

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