Lions are the only social cats, relying on their pride for hunting support and protection.
Many aeons ago they were solitary though, and have evolved their social nature over millenia, so what happens when individuals are all by themselves for prolonged periods of time?
Case in point, the Tsalala lioness.
Without a pride, this lioness has had to fend entirely for herself, but as incredible a story as hers is, this is not en entirely novel situation for a lioness to find herself in.
Females that give birth regularly isolate themselves from their pride, although sometimes they don’t have a choice in the matter. Keeping tiny cubs in a den, they generally have to base themselves at or near that den, hunting alone for the most part, unless the pride happens to be nearby. If the pride is operating on the far side of their territory, the lioness may be on her own for well over a week or more.
The Tsalala lioness has no pride, so her situation is set to continue indefinitely, or at least until offspring of hers (two of the cubs are apparently female) grow up and become fully fledged pride members.
She has therefore had to fully embrace her solitary lifestyle, which means a few subtle changes in her food-procuring strategy.
She is hunting far more in the day, for one thing. Although this may well be the legacy of her mother and grandmother – both of who were renowned for daytime hunting – it is behaviour far more akin to the local leopard population.
When a leopard is looking up a tree like this, expect it to climb. When a lioness is doing it, it’s not quite as likely, but with the Tsalala lioness, it is swiftly becoming that way.
A quick leap into a marula tree to investigate where a leopard must have had its kill.
Although no kill was to be found in the branches, the smell of one must have still been lingering, as the lioness was sniffing around the area for some time before climbing, and tracker Milton Khoza saw the tracks of many hyenas at the base of the tree, almost sure indications that something had been hoisted there recently.
Her hunting techniques have also had to be adjusted. Whilst before she was able to rely on other pride members to help her in circular ambush hunts, now she is having to rely far more on direct stalk-and-pounce.
Scavenged food forms a far larger part of lions’ diets than many people realise, and the Tsalala female is no exception. Although we regularly see lions (lionesses far more than the males) climbing trees to rob leopards, the Tsalala lioness seems to be going up every second tree on the reserve. If the faintest smell of an old carcass happens to be detected around a tree, she will almost certainly go up it; she simply can’t afford to pass up the slightest opportunity for a meal.
Lions aren’t the best climbers, and descents are often awkward affairs.
The lioness recently moved her litter of three down into the Sand River, to an inaccessible island that we aren’t able to view them on.
The wisdom of this move is questionable, as up on the koppie where they were previously being kept it seemed as though they had many more hiding places, and down in the river the chances of an errant leopard or hyena stumbling upon the den is almost certainly higher.
What happens, happens, and we’ll just have to await events. As usual.
She has survived against all odds so far. We sometimes question their decicions, but I am sure she has got a reason. I am sure her and the cubs will be fine. But as you say what ever happen, happens. Waiting for more updates.
like the lions in lake manyara
Oh wow, what a sight, what a story. Thank you.
Well written James. I read this with interest as well as curiosity. Since the Tsalala female had successfully given birth in the familiar koppie, protecting her three cubs within the narrow crevices, would she have moved them in order to find better and more prolific prey? As I recall, the Sand River is a popular place for not only finding a source of water, but also a convenient highway for leopards and lions, especially during the dry season. During my last trip we spent time in the sandy riverbed, watching a three weeks old cubs playing alongside their exhausted mother, a Mhagene female. I worried they were too exposed….
This lioness is strong and intuitive and so as you state, we’ll just have to wait and see, and make a few prayers to the lion god of protection.
Was this lioness once part of the pride that „Tailless“ was?
Hi Cindy,
Yes, the original tailless female was her grandmother and the second one was her aunt.
We are delighted this lonely lioness has her 3 small cubs to keep her company, although it does lay a burden of responsibility on her food wise. She is a courageous Mom and we pray she continues to successfully provide food for the babies and for herself. She is doing amazingly well……… Wendy M
James – she certainly is acting like leopard. I have never seen a lion climb a tree, but I know are capable of climbing trees.
Hmmm. Here’s an interesting project for somebody with the time and resources to undertake it. Hypothesis:- are animals generally adapting their behaviour to be more elastic, to give them more options as elements of their world becone more constrained – as we are adapting ourselves to a changing world? For example, dogs and cats seem to be interacting with their humans at a far deeper, more intuitive level. Cat’s – more cats – are starting to be born with ‘abnormal’ thumbs. Wild animals are starting to interact spontaneously with humans – positively. Are the IQ’s of some animals increasing in tune with our own increasing leaps into the scientific, philosophical and generally intellectual unknown? Is there indeed, a sort of inter-species ‘hundredth monkey syndrome’. Look at Youtube videos and see what is happening between animals and humans and between animals and animals. This might be a fascinating field of study for somebody with an open enough mind to undertake it…
Wow, those photos of her in the tree are awesome! I have to agree with you on the relocation of the cubs. They seemed to be safer in the koppies! Maybe she is aware of something that we are not? It has to be very tough for a lioness by herself.
James, was just thinking in addition to her hunting habits mirroring that of a leopard, could her cub-raising also do so, in that she hides them while she goes hunting and then fetches them to bring them to kills or brings kills to them (something I know leopardesses don’t normally do, but given she is an apex predator, maybe she could afford to)? To me that would be more effective than bringing her cubs to kills where they could be caugh unawares by other lions or hyenas?
Interesting question Michael.
They’re probably a little small to be taken to kills yet but they’re almost there, so the next few weeks will probably tell us…
Am looking forward to seeing how she goes about raising them. Fingers crossed/thumbs held!
Thumbs, fingers and toes crossed that this girl makes it and by doing so has a family again! Great article!
Great write up James. Such rich and wonderful history has come from the Tsalalas from over the many years. Sure hope she can keep it going.
Cool that she climbs trees
Very intersting read. She sure is one remarkable lady.
Just goes to show how resourceful lions can be. I assume that she would also be hunting smaller prey like warthog and impala, although she could still take wildebeest and kudu.
Hi James, I read about the Tailles lioness who died early 2018. She also belonged to Tsalala. I wonder what wounds she had on her body and why she was not treated and what caused her death. And she was famous along with her sister.
Oh boy, no small challenges for her! Love seeing the shots of her up in a tree!
My very first memory of her was in a tree on a stormy day, she was feeding of a carcass in the Mxabene, I had only been at Londolozi for a couple of days.
Long live the queen!
Hi