It’s a common question on and off the vehicle, something I had to follow up on myself; the age and make-up of the Ntsevu pride and their cubs. If anyone has had the pleasure of seeing the full make-up of the Ntsevu pride walk past your vehicle, you know how impressive that pride can look. The main reason being their sheer numbers.
A bonding moment between two lionesses as they lead the pride down to the Sand River
Being the daughters of the Mangheni females, the Ntsevu females were born in 2013, making them six years old. After no cubs in their first litters survived, they gave birth to presumably 15 cubs of which today we only see 11.
Those 11 cubs are all within three months of age. The oldest cubs, born in August 2018 are now around 15 months. Meaning the others are 14 and 13 months respectively. Now don’t take my word for it but I believe after a few viewings that there are eight males and three females (can anyone confirm this?).
The males are already starting to show signs of manes.
The majority of the pride and the two Birmingham males satisfy their thirst after feeding on a zebra they had killed earlier that morning.
This means that if the female cubs remain with their mothers, that Nstevus will become a pride of over nine lionesses. What’s even more exciting – or terrifying -, is there could be a coalition of eight brothers that may form, which will lead to interesting times for lion dynamics within the whole of the Sabi Sand.
Let us not forget that there was also a late litter of four cubs born in June 2019, making them around 5 months old. The sexes of these cubs I cannot confirm yet.
One of the four younger cubs sits and watches as his older relatives slowly make their way to drink at a nearby pan.
We know that five females gave birth, with the sixth female still unable to fall pregnant but continually seen mating. Could she be infertile?
Former Londolozi ranger and a man I look up to a lot, Ian Thomas, talks about the Power of the Pride and how teamwork leads to the success of the pride.
The mothers have worked as a team with the Birmingham males to raise these cubs to where they are.
Now, there is no saying the pride will stay together but there is a chance they will. In this case, Ntsevu pride could become an even greater force to reckoned with. It will be interesting to watch their movement over the next few months as they have started to travel great distances, needing to hunt more often to feed the pride, but is this sustainable? We have seen the Mhangeni pride push their offspring out once they reached proper independence. Will their daughters the Ntsevu lionesses do the same?
Containing my excitement about the unfolding saga is not easy.
It is exciting Dean. They can become a super pride. When last was there such a big pride in the Sabi Sands?
Dean, what a wonderful story about how a pride works together, to obtain food. Loved the pride of lions drinking from a water hole!
Thank Joan
It should be very interesting to track the dynamics of this potential population surge on the overall animal population.
That it will be Vin.
Dean I will be following this story. Keep us posted. Power in numbers but might they become too large to feed their needs
We will do.
This looks like becoming a very, very powerful pride. Look forward to following this account further
Do we know what happened to The misfit??a young Male from the ntsevu pride that became famously through the series Africa’s hunters.
Hi Maria, that is a different pride from Zambia (I think) with a slightly different name. I’m afraid to say I can’t remember what they are called bu the names are very similar.
Dean, the sightings and stories just get better and better. I was fortunate enough to spend time with the Mhagene pride of 16 in February, 2017, as they swarmed past our rover, padding softly along each side sometimes gazing up at us! A thrilling moment and so close our camera lenses were rendered useless. Then just a year ago, while driving into the river bed from Londolozi into Singita, we found two females with 5 cubs hidden in the reeds. Two older cubs around 4 months and three little balls of golden fluff, bounced around each other and came close to our vehicle, then exhausted went for a feeding break. Heart melting for sure. The dynamics and sheer number of mouths to feed must seem daunting, and time will tell if the moms and the Birmingham males are up to the task….. I’m staying tuned.
What an awesome sighting Denise. Do stay tuned.
Such interesting dynamics! Waiting and watching! Love it!
What happens if the lioness who hasn’t been able to become pregnant is, indeed, infertile? Is there repercussions to her?
Not that we have noticed as of yet Mija. There has been occasions where her sisters havent tolerated her near the cubs but only time will tell.
So impressive! Just to see 17 lions walk by would be fabulous but to imagine that their numbers could grow is really a treat. Even the leopard community had better watch out!
That is very true.
Ok..thank you for your prompt response!:)I m gonna try and find out the name of the pride..and yes, they’re in Zambia!!!
Hi Dean! I recently asked a ranger at Mala Mala, Nic Nel if he could confirm the sexes of the cubs and he told me the older 11 consisted of six males and five females and the younger four are “believed” to be two males and two females. But very glad the pride is doing so well. If all the cubs make it to adulthood/independence, the Birminghams will be arguably a super successful coalition (because as James Tyrrell has rightly pointed out many times before, the true dictator of a coalition’s success is its genetic legacy), as they already have four (1 young male who is now independent, and three young adult lionesses) surviving offspring in the Nkuhuma Pride (born in 2016), four (1 young male, 3 females) surviving offspring in the Styx Pride (born late 2016 or 2017, not sure which litters the offspring are from), and 7-9 (6-8 young adult females – number still haven’t been able to confirm, 1 young male) offspring in the Torchwood Pride (born 2016).
Hi Michael, thanks for the detailed comment and insight. Nic could very well be correct. I will confirm the sexes as soon as i can. Unfortunately, especially at this age, the sexes can be quite confusing. As soon as I know, you will.
Thanks Dean, no rush at all. All I know for sure is there are a lot of male cubs and yes, understandable at the age they currently are it would be difficult to sex them. Thanks again!
I believe Liam Henderson from Mala Mala said there’s 6 males among the older cubs and 1 from the young litter born earlier this year
Seems to be that 6 males in the older litter is the general consensus but will confirm as soon as I can.
It should be very interesting to watch the 8 adolescent males grow a bit more and see if they all stick together when they leave or if they split up. Regardless they will surely be a force to be reckoned with. I hope they all make it. I’m sure they have voracious appetites already which must be putting a lot of pressure on the mothers to hunt daily.
Lots of pressure indeed however we are already seeing fierce cubs showing an interest in hunting.
Hi Dean! I recently asked a ranger at Mala Mala if he could confirm the sexes of the cubs and he told me the older 11 consisted of six males and five females and the younger four are “believed” to be two males and two females. But very glad the pride is doing so well. If all the cubs make it to adulthood/independence, the Birminghams will be arguably a super successful coalition (because as James Tyrrell has rightly pointed out many times before, the true dictator of a coalition’s success is its genetic legacy), as they already have four (1 young male who is now independent, and three young adult lionesses) surviving offspring in the Nkuhuma Pride (born in 2016), four (1 young male, 3 females) surviving offspring in the Styx Pride (born late 2016 or 2017, not sure which litters the offspring are from), and 7-9 (6-8 young adult females – number still haven’t been able to confirm, 1 young male) offspring in the Torchwood Pride (born 2016).
I am very curious what will happen to the male cubs in the future. That will be a strong coalition.