Again we find ourselves asking; what is going on with the Tsalala Pride?
A few weeks ago, Tom Imrie followed the tailed lioness from the pride to Doc’s Crossing in the Manyelethi Riverbed, a beautiful sandy stretch of river punctuated with the occasional palm island, and scattered here and there with clumps of debris from the January 2012 and 2013 floods.
The lioness had been seen over the previous few days with definite suckle marks on her teats, and as she moved along the Manyelethi in the direction of Marthly Pools (where the pride has denned a number of times before), Tom was hopeful that he might be the first to see her new litter.
He followed her until she reached a densely thicketed island in the riverbed, just South East of Southern Cross Koppies, and emanating from the bushes shortly after the lioness had entered, Tom and his guests heard the unmistakeable sound of cubs crying from within. At least two cubs, possibly more, was Tom and Tracker Jerry’s guess.
They were proved right, as the following couple of weeks saw a few rangers catching glimpses of the cubs as the lioness made repeat visits to the den. At least 3, but more likely 4 cubs was the final number we were sure were being secreted there.
First view of one of the four cubs – Photographed by Kate Neill
This one was a little more inquisitive and stopped to look at us for a while – Photographed by Kate Neill
The tailless female who was mating with one of the Magjngilane males not far from the cubs – Photographed by Kate Neill
The two that have been mating – Kate Neill
Recently, the mother has moved the den site, out of the riverbed and onto the Southern Cross koppies themselves. Our concern now, is will she continue to raise the cubs, or will they be abandoned for unknown reasons, as we know at least two Tsalala Pride litters to have been in the last year.
Lionesses who birth a single cub will generally abandon it, knowing that the energy investment of attempting to get a single youngster through to maturity is not worth it when they could start again and potentially have a litter of four, five or even six cubs at the next attempt. The tailed, tailless and even the older tailless lioness have all been unsuccessful over the past year in raising cubs, with the current sub-adult in the pride the only surviving offspring of the pride since the Mhangeni females were born over four years ago.
Although a couple of sightings have been had of the tailed lioness at the Southern Cross koppies in the last week, over the last few days the females have been with the Majingilane coalition in the Sand River on a buffalo kill, and it is unclear whether or not the cubs have been nursed. They are still very young (we estimate somewhere around 3 months old) and so still require a lot of attention, yet unless the female has only been returning to the den at night, it seems they have been left unattended for a good few days now. That is not entirely true, as the sub-adult in the pride was seen at the den yesterday morning, although what contribution she can make in helping raise the cubs will be minimal.
Why would a lioness potentially abandon four apparently healthy cubs to their fate? It is certainly too early to say for sure, but given the erratic behaviour of the pride around their last few litters over the last 12 months or so, our suspicions are beginning to be raised. The pride was found at Finfoot crossing this morning, and their tracks came directly from where they were with the Majingilane yesterday morning, so it doesn’t seem as if the mother visited the cubs last night.
Will this be another failure in the ongoing saga of this most interesting yet often confusing of prides? Or are our fears unjustified?
Your thoughts below, please…
Written by James Tyrrell
Photographed by Kate Neill and Londolozi guests – Jackie and Leo Wessling
i hope they make it! I would take one if they want to abandon them 🙂
The same was thought about BB’s last cub. She went in and out either without you believing so or knowing so and choosing to be dramatic about it. I choose to keep a positive outlook since this lioness has raised cubs before and I believe knows what she is doing. She lost older cubs/subs during takeovers and with the now sub adult’s litter due to floods and the uneasy relationship they had with the Majing males. The relationship with the coalition males seems more stable now from reports so there is no reason for worry unless another predator found this litter as I believe is what happened with her last litter.
Hi Vicki,
That is certainly most likely what happened to her last litter.
We do not try to overdramatise things, merely simply state the possible scenarios. It is hard not to feel some kind of connection with the animals though, especially youngsters. One of the things that makes the bush so fascinating is that we don’t know half of what goes on in the lives of the nocturnal animals like lions, and are left to guess and speculate based on our observations during game drive times.
Let us hope that this litter is more successful.
James
It feels like forever since we first saw these cubs with Tom and Jerry three weeks ago. I long every day to return to Varty camp. To smell the air and to be at peace. It is my hope that these cubs survive and that we can follow their adventures through updated pictures and stories of them on the blog. Until we return to this heaven you call Londolozi, the blog will have to suffice. Thank you for the most unbelievable vacation we have ever had. The only way to top this one is to return and stay longer!!!!!!
Jackie, Leo, & Nathan Wesseling
I really do hope they look after there cubs this time, it is a bit strange when they leave them, I sometimes wonder if they really want there cubs this pride, great blog really enjoyed readings this about them thank you, how old are these females now
Story is too sad to comment.
Looking at photo of Female she was not happy with station being near? Maybe she is trying to prevent attention of sightings and it should be closed?
Hi Trevor,
I’m not sure which photo you are referring to. In the two photos that have the tailless lioness in them, she was at least 100m away from the den, and is also not the mother of the cubs.
Photos of the cubs in which they are looking towards the camera are merely expressions of curiosity, and all were taken with high zoom lenses so as not to come too close and impact on them. The cubs are not viewed if the mother is not present and vehicles are always sure to leave the sighting long before sundown to prevent drawing unwanted attention from nocturnal predators like hyenas.
We are particularly sensitive around den-sites like this with young cubs.
I hope I have allayed your concerns somewhat.
James
Thanks James.
So it looks like the sub-adult female is surviving? At what age do the males/Majingilanes leave her alone? If the breakaways killed BB who practically raised them, will they accept these two and the sub-adult or perhaps they are responsible for the cub deaths??
All I can say is ‘HURRAY!!! Three cheers!!’ Don’t know why, but the Tsalalas are my favorite!
HI James,Just want to tell you how much I enjoyed the photos of these little babies and the story is once again very well written.Well done and pleeeeeease keep on telling these wonderful stories