In September three years ago we were enjoying some of the most spectacular lion viewing in recent memory, as the newly-named Mhangeni pride with their nine cubs were spending much of their time in the north western section of Londolozi. Zebras were forming the largest part of their diet, and scarcely a week went by without them being found on a new carcass of one of the striped equines.
Being realistic about the survival chances of lion cubs in an area like the Sabi Sands, our hopes were not particularly high that all of the nine would survive (there was also a tenth that disappeared early on), but three years later and all of them are in great health.
Seven of the first batch of Mhangeni cubs atop a rock in the Sand River. Photograph by James Tyrrell
Under the continued protection of the Majingilane coalition, the Mhangeni lionesses were able to raise all the cubs in this photo to independence. Photograph by James Tyrrell
Many of our online followers will know that the nine sub-adults (or Mhangeni breakaways as they are currently known) have been hunting buffalo with increasing success during these dry months, and in recent weeks have had their numbers bolstered by the joining of one of the Talamati males into the group. It is likely that over the next few months the young males will split permanently, ideally for their sake having the Talamati male remaining with them.
What then will happen to the six Breakaway females?
Their mothers, the adult Mhangeni lionesses, have meanwhile been reproducing again, and this time around they have no less than 12 cubs between them! Although they have been seen on Londolozi, they have been spending much of their time west of our boundary in the Sand River, using previous den-sites to stash the cubs.
One of the latest batch of cubs snarls aggressively at one of the adult lionesses from atop a hippo carcass. Photograph by Alistair Smith
The two groups of females might reunite, but personally I think that a pride of 10 big lionesses along with 12 cubs, although an absolute treat to view, will be too big an entity to be properly manageable going forward, especially given the fact that the Breakaway females have been mating and are also likely to have cubs within the year. My gut tells me that given the history of the prides in the lineage (Tsalala breaking away from Castleton pride, Mhangeni pride breaking away from the Tsalalas, and now the Mhangeni sub-adults breaking away themselves), the two groups won’t reunite permanently. The western and south-western areas of Londolozi are primed for a pride to set up a permanent territory there, and with the increased buffalo movement through the area, it is looking increasingly like the Mhangeni breakaways will be putting down roots in the region.
The blue area shows the rough area of movement of the Mhangeni breakaways over the last couple of months. The red dot is the approximate position of the den-site being most utilized by the adult Mhangeni lionesses to stash their current litters of 12 cubs.
In terms of lion viewing, this is probably a better scenario; two prides instead of one. Two groups to track each morning. Two potential buffalo hunts to view at night.
Prides come and go, and to be there to witness the establishment of a new one is a true privilege. Whether it will happen again or not remains to be seen, but I imagine that by this time next year, the Mhangeni pride will consist only of four adult lionesses and however many cubs survive from the original twelve.
The Breakaways will most likely have a new name. What it will be remains to be decided. They have broken away, now they just have to stay away to earn the right to be named…
James thanks for the update. Am interested to know if the Majingilanes have finally fought with the Matimbas. And where is the BBoys in all this? Or we have new lions coming up? I am sure the Majingilanes have now surpassed Mapogos?
There has not been a significant interaction for awhile as far as we know Themba, although three of the Majingilane were seen on Londolozi about a month ago.
It is almost certain the Mhangeni cubs are fathered by the Majingilane.
Hi James. Thanks for the update. Did the Majingilanes sire the new set of Mhangeni cubs? Also, who have the Breakaway females been mating with?
Hi Chris, that is correct, the Majingilane almost certainly sired the new Mhangeni cubs.
The breakaways, meanwhile, have been mating with the Matimba males.
Great write up. But the article is confusing. Can’t tell who are Majingilane cubs, who are Matimbas cubs. Can anyone explain please.
They sired more cubs this time maybe because of dark maned Hairy Belly Matimba. His cubs would have more chances of survival.
I think i haven’t heard of an update of Mhangeni interacting with Majingilane over the last year. Also their territory as shown above doesn’t extend to Majingilane territory. Doubt Majingilane sired the new cubs. Likely fayhers are Matimba Males.
Chris… The new set of Mhangeni cubs are sired by Matimba Males.
The adult lionesses have brought their cubs into Matimba territory very often which is enough for us to believe that those cubs are Matimba Hairy Belly cubs.
That is not conclusive enough proof unfortunately, and in terms of being in Matimba territory, they have only brought the cubs into the very fringes of the areas in which the Matimbas appear.
It is generally accepted by those on the ground here that the cubs are fathered by the Majingilane.
James Tyrrell, i think Majingilane intially did well to protect the cubs from dangers but they didn’t give 100% to allow those previous litter of 9 cubs to reach adulthood. They abandoned the pride early leaving the responsiblity of the cubs to the Mhangeni lionesses. And the lionesses did very well.
And another thing i want to add is that you guys need to clear the confusion of the Mhangeni cubs fatherhood. Since its obvious that there has not been any sort of Majingilane/Mhangeni interaction over the last year. We need to accept that the Matimba Males are the fathers of those cubs.
Rafael it is almost certainly the Majingilane that are the fathers of the cubs, not the Matimbas. They were seen mating with the Mhangeni adult lionesses in Singita and further west.
The Breakaway Mhangeni females have been mating with the Matimba males however, so should they have cubs within the next year it is almost certain they will have been fathered by the Matimbas.
The bottom line:
It is always possible for the Mhangeni lionesses to have mated with the Matimbas without anyone having witnessed it.
Given that different male lions can sire different cubs in the same litter, it would therefore be impossible to conclude with any amount of certainty who the actual fathers of the cubs are.
In a litter of 6 it would be hypothetically possible to have both Matimbas as well as all four Majingilane each fathering one cub….
We cannot therefore say for sure, despite far more mating interaction having taken place between the Mhangeni adults and the Majingilane. We have also yet to see the Matimba males with the cubs. On the contrary, the Majingilane have been spending a lot of time with the youngsters and the adult females.
http://blog.londolozi.com/2016/01/lion-update-coalition-collision-course/
This mentions mating between adult mhangeni lioness and matimba
could this mean at least some were fathered by matimbas even if the matimbas dont know it themselves
Thanks James.
Thanks for the great update James. It’s very exciting to think that, once again, there are Majingilane cubs! I hope they will be able to provide more protection for the cubs this time and not leave the Mhangeni lionesses to struggle on their own, as they did last year.
Great work!
Since the last Mhangeni male has died, Big Boy, everyone is truly heartbroken 😭💔 I don’t know much about the pride but I’ve had many people ask me about the mother and father of the 12 cubs. Could you please tell me what happened to them? And why were the male cubs expelled from the pride? It’s all confusing as to why their parents would expell them from the pride. Thank you 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻