About the Author

James Tyrrell

Alumni

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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35 Comments

on The Beginning of the End for the Majingilane

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Merten York
Guest

Never seen a male lose courage terrible. Recently northern was worse than hipscar for over a year. But recovered. Cause he took part in everything.

GM Majingilane
Guest

no no hope its not true

sau
Guest

i feel just bad for this outcast . one wonders why ?

Tony C.
Guest

Thank you for such great work!! Every time I read your stories, I feel as I am there in Africa. Please keep us posted as the cirlcle of life continues. Thank you

James, I can’t put into words the sadness that I feel as I read your post — sadness for Hip-scar’s solitary life, that he has possibly died all alone and the beginning of the end of this great coalition of beautiful, strong Lions. I was privileged to have spent a few hours one morning in 2013, watching this incredible Lion as he patrolled Londolozi by himself — a mere few hours that I will remember for a lifetime.

Odie
Guest

Hi! I saw a picture of HS Majingilane from instagram it was uploaded 1 day ago https://www.instagram.com/p/BQD-zSJjab1/?taken-by=whenwomantravels let’s hope for the best

Senior Digital Ranger

This is sad news as the Majingi’s have always been “there”, but judging from the pictures, they are all looking old, but the other three are faring well for now! Hoping for better news. Thank you James

Vinay Siri
Guest

Well done Matimbas

Mike C
Guest

Wow that was hard read. This is so incredibly sad if true

Digital Ranger

The Majingilane have always played it safe when it comes to facing off their rivals by using numbers to fight off other Male lions.They have been around for quite a while but eventually their time has to come to an end some day.It is just that i never would have expected that one off the Majingilane might go out because he was having an injury and could not keep up with the rest.It is usually in a fight with other males is what is mostly the case than isolation from the coalition and loss of condition!

Susan Farrington
Guest

Oh, my heart always aches to hear these inevitable stories. Live in the African bush is beautiful, but brutal and unforgiving. I always feel such a sadness for the top predators when they are nearing or reach their end, but it is all part of it. Why is it so heart wrenching? But thank you for always keeping us in the loop, “good” and “bad”.

Susan Farrington
Guest

…”Life”…

Oh so saddening to read, but end of life is part of life’s glorious circle.

Thanks for this article James. Life in the bush is pretty hard on predators and pray. Sad that this old warrior may not make it this time and, sad also that his brothers seem to have abandoned him. Such is the “Circle of Life”.

It will be the end of an era for sure!

It seems strange he would voluntarily leave the comfort, safety and security of his powerful coalition especially with their advanced age and presence of other coalitions in the area. They were a powerful dynasty of true kings in their prime. It’s disheartening to see him fragmented from his brothers tettering on the brink by himself. Hopefully. He hangs on to join his brothers once again. Please keep us updated.

Wendy MacNicol
Guest

We have never been to Londolozi but because we receive a virtual safari every morning, we feel we almost know the Magingis. Terribly sorry to read about poor Hip Scar. Hope he doesn’t have a slow and painful death. A miracle may happen and he may recover this time, but it doesn’t sound as if it will. Poor old lion. Wendy M

Daisy
Guest

the lions seem to have an efficient system. there is no such thing as care for the old. it’s just all too natural. they do develop affections but there is no social norms to reinforce that (like a human society). anyway 4 male lion coalition seems to large amount of males. how many offsprings have they fathered at the moment?

Update from Rob at Idube: “Last night four Majingilanes were reported to be with the Mhangeni pride”.

Thanks George.
I know the three others have been with the Mhangeni pride. Whether the fourth was there or not is unsubstantiated at the moment but we are trying to find out.

Bennet Abraham
Guest

There is online chatter on FB and other forums that a ranger (Rob) with Idube has seen Hipscar and all his brothers along with the Mhangeni Pride. Can anyone substantiate this? Can’t bear to lose any of those magnificent boys.

Thanks Bennet,
We are trying to confirm this.

The course of nature continues without fear or favour. I too felt great sadness for this old lion who probably had to struggle a lot harder than his brothers to survive due to his injury. He has also probably left an indelible memory to all who had the privilege to know him and watch him patrol his turf always watching for the inevitable day he would be overpowered. Thank you for your wonderful and captivating stories of life and the animals in the bush.

Thanks for the update James – we saw this Male at the buffalo kill you spoke of, and we thought he was dead then! I’m shocked you saw him alive (barely) just 72 hours ago. Freddy was very sad – he loves the Magingilanes! As do I – they’ve been a part of every trip to Londoz! ?

bingo
Guest

Rob is saying he didn’t see them he is forwarding a report do confirm londolozi what is going on and post on facebook to put to rest all rumors we are counting on you

He was seen today In Idube. The wounds seem to be healing up, and although he’s not looking good( which is understandable), he’s still holding on.

https://www.facebook.com/rtrwildlifevideos/photos/a.10151781801772591.1073741825.164114072590/10154914682662591/?type=3&theater

Love the blog! Is there another Londolozi site / blog where we can get more info? Or even a collective site between several parks? These sites are excellent–sadly too few and far in between. Whenever I look for info, I have to filter the garbage sites out. The last site I looked at was a “wildlife / lion forum” where a moderator named himself “Majingilane” and said rangers are “biased and unreliable”. So yeah if there is one, please post.

Jamie
Guest

Sad news hearing of the hip scar males solidarity, as a foursome they are formidable but going down to 3, would be a definite negative on there side, just as the mapogos, split into a 2 and a 3, that eventually was there downfall, and of course old age, 2 great coalitions of male lions

Sam A.
Guest

Question. Why do many lion coalition names begin with Ma-? Mapogo, Majingilane, Matimba, Matshipiri, etc. I am assuming it’s something with the language? I’ve tried searching for the answer but it doesn’t seem to be a common answer.

Paul
Guest

Rob the ranger has reported that hip scar has passed away. RIP

Shaun
Guest

HipScar is dead.

I believe he has finally died

Hi Mike,
Sadly he has indeed; his carcass was discovered last week in the western sector of the park. The end of an era…

Salazar
Guest

hi, i am a person who has followed the lion warfare stories on youtube for the last two years. As far as youtube goes, there is limited and old information that goes back to the mapogo days., I am in need of an update on the dominate male coalitions because of the the lack of information available. I have heard of other coalitions like Matimbas and Brimington boys or something like that. I keep hoping to see a video of a majingalane male being torn to peices by a rival coalition, but nothing so far. these males are probable dead or have lost power from a territory takeoves by now right? can anyone share who is the boss coalition right not in the sabi sands? It is now May of 2017 and I would like to know if the Majingalane are dead yet and how they went. That info would be great. thankyou..

Subhankar
Guest

Thanks a ton James for the posts. Had seen and got to know about the behaviour of the Mapogos and Majingilanes in videos, documentaries and from your posts. Sad to hear that but it is like history repeats itself and its going towards the same direction as it happened for the Mapogos, and it is all about breaking of the coalition that invites the gradual downfall.

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