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Robert Ball

Contributor

Robbie developed a passion for the African bush from many visits to his family’s small holding in a greater conservancy just outside Johannesburg. Living in the big city his whole life, he always found refuge in the outdoors and has grown to appreciate ...

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32 Comments

on The Talamati Pride: Who Are They?

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Francesca Doria
Master Tracker

The lions dynamics are really complicated and always changing… a real challenge. The Camp Plain Males sound rather sinister as killers of females, as they are suspected to have killed the Tsalala mother. Very intriguing tale of lions troubled life

Robert Ball
Contributor

It’s a never-ending saga indeed! The Plain’s Camp males are certainly making a name for themselves.

Christa Blessing
Master Tracker

Thanks Robert for the story of this pride. Rather complicated all these taking-overs of prides by new and old coalitions.But it’s good to know who is who. Very good looking lions they are and great pictures.

Robert Ball
Contributor

You’re welcome, Christa. It is sometimes tricky to keep up to date with it all, but we try our best!

Vin Beni
Master Tracker

The progression of the lions is making following the storyline more complicated. The dark-maned Avova has made life interesting for himself.

Robert Ball
Contributor

An uphill battle it has been for him…

Denise Vouri
Guest contributor

Oh my, what a mission you undertook to explain the arrival of the Talmati pride, their origins, etc. It’s a lot to absorb and I’ll need to re-read this so that the important details will stick. It was my original understanding that the Talmati pride was comprised of the breakaway sub-adults of the Nkuhuma pride who needed to form their own pride due to their age. But as I’ve just read, it’s more complex than that. It appears it all comes down to the mature males – Birmingham, Northern Avoca, Ndhzenga, Plains, and whoever else thinks they may have a chance. I appreciate all the work you put into this blog!

Robert Ball
Contributor

I’m glad you were able to learn something new Denise, I certainly did too whilst researching the Talamati pride.

Michael and Terri Klauber
Master Tracker

Robert, How exciting! Lion dominance and “warfare” can be pretty amazing to watch – looks like esciting times ahead!

Robert Ball
Contributor

Exciting and interesting indeed, I wonder what other twists in the tail their will be (pun intended…)

Mary Beth Wheeler
Master Tracker

What a complicated pride genealogy! Thanks for untangling it all, Rob.

Robert Ball
Contributor

You’re welcome Mary Beth, I too enjoyed finding out more about the pride.

Jen Purchase
Explorer

Awesome Robbie, thanks! Can’t wait to read about how it unfolds in the upcoming months!

Robert Ball
Contributor

You’re welcome Jen! Will be sure to keep you in the loop with any major developments.

Talamatis and the Nkuhumas are my 2 favorite Prides. Enjoyed the history lesson on them. Such a beautiful Pride. The subadult daughters are big and beautiful and I agree the males subadults males.are very big (and handsome too) . Definitely pulling for them all.

Robert Ball
Contributor

I’m glad you enjoyed it Kimberly. They are both amazing prides!

William Paynter
Master Tracker

Robert, great story and update on many of the lions of Londolozi. Thanks for sharing.

Robert Ball
Contributor

You’re welcome, William. I’m glad you enjoyed it!

Mj Bradley
Senior Digital Ranger

Thank you for the nice write up on the Talamati’s. One thing I noticed is that you said the N Avoca’s pushed the Birmingham Males oot of their Northern territory. The Birmingham Males had abandoned the North and the Avocas moved into their abandoned territory.

Robert Ball
Contributor

Thanks for your comment MJ. It would have been a combination of the Birmingham males voluntarily moving further South in pursuit of expanding their territory as well as the Northern Avocas putting pressure on them to do so.

Lisa Antell
Master Tracker

Silver Eye and the other oldest lioness are seriously strong and beautiful lionesses and we have really enjoyed getting to know the Talamatis on Djuma via WildEarth! Last year, in June 2021, we enjoyed a great sighting of Tavangumi and the 2nd oldest lioness in a bit of a sparring match over about 24 hours, regarding a nyala carcass that the lion pilfered from Tavangumi, and which he tried valiantly to reacquire! And the loss of the Stumpy Tail young lioness early this year was very very sad…..she was definitely a favorite of ours. Now we are seeing the 3 lionesses that broke away, with their new cubs and the Imbali male on Djuma again…..so the pride lives on and hopefully those cubs will make it!

Robert Ball
Contributor

Thank you for sharing Lisa, that is great to know! I too hope that the pride will continue to thrive and that the cubs make it.

Debra Matott
Senior Digital Ranger

Thanks for the low down on the Talamati’s! Those boys are going to be formidable in a few years. I know they have already been in some battles by their dad’s side. I thought maybe they would help him out in his old age, they seem to have had a close bond! Great pics, too!

Robert Ball
Contributor

Naturally they will probably look to establish their own territory in the coming years and so partnering up with their dad is fairly unlikely, however stranger things have happened!

Chelsea Allard
Master Tracker

Thank you for clarifying! I was afraid the Ntsevu breakaway pride had earned an official name for themselves and I’d missed the announcement. At what point does a breakaway pride become its own and receive a name?

Robert Ball
Contributor

You’re welcome, Chelsea. Good question, it is usually once they have established themselves in an area and reared cubs that have been sired by the dominant, territorial coalition in that area.

Jennifer Horne
Explorer

That is so complicated Robbie! Even after 3 reads I am having trouble putting it together. I don’t know how you have pieced it together. A diagrammatic version would be fantastic: The Talamati Pride
Family Tree.

Robert Ball
Contributor

It is complicated indeed and I agree, a diagram would be useful however sometimes the lines connecting all of the dots get confusing too!

Anthony Goldman
Guest contributor

Thanks Rob for all that detailed information and background of this interesting pride.We had a great sighting of them when they first moved onto the Londolozi property in April this year.

Robert Ball
Contributor

You’re welcome Tony! Yes, I think i remember being in the same sighting as you!

Valmai Vorster
Master Tracker

Robbie it is astonishing to read the whole story of there existence stunning cats in their own right. What is the chance of the Tsalala female teaming up with them, or will this be a huge fight for her.

Robert Ball
Contributor

I’m glad you enjoyed it Valmai!It is unfortunately very unlikely… The lionesses will especially take offense to her trying to join.

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