Towards the end of 2014, the Birmingham Coalition of 5 male lions first came into Londolozi. Although it was a brief visit, they were chased off by the then dominant Majingalane Males. At that point, it was just a matter of time before the Birmingham Coalition would become the dominant males in the area.
The Birmingham Males established themselves as the dominant males in late 2017 and claimed the Tsalala Pride, Mungheni Pride and the Ntsevu Pride
They had a formidable reign with the initial four males that took over and then the three that remained here afterwards. One male left a few months after their arrival and moved further north, we never saw this male again. Fast forward to mid-2022 with the last Birmingham Male fleeing to the western sector of the Sabi Sand Wildtuin to escape the new arrivals – The Ndhzenga Males. All that remains on Londolozi are the last two remaining offspring of the Birmingham reign.
The Birmingham Male and Nstevu female stand side by side as they watch vultures in the distance in 2020.
At the start of 2020, the Ntsevu Pride consisted of 21 lions – 6 adult Ntsevu Females and their 12 cubs all sired by the Birmingham Males. These cubs, now subadults at almost four years old, are fractured through the reserve as they nomadically roam the area. A few of the subadult females have reunited with their mothers back into their natal pride and are starting to mate with the new Ndhzenga Males – time will only tell when they start to raise their first litters.
The Ntsevu Pride line up to drink side by side. We arrived as they were approaching the waterhole. It was amazing to see how they all slotted right next to each other for a drink, even though there was plenty of space for each individual to spread out.
Two of the Nstevu Females that were raising younger cubs fathered by the Birmingham Males, managed to avoid the Ndhzenga Males and keep the cubs safe by running further north. From October 2021, they were not seen on Londolozi until randomly one day these lionesses led the remaining four cubs back west through the Sand River and back onto Londolozi in March this year. The rest of the Nstevu Pride had become acquainted with the new males and had begun mating with them.
The three Ntsevu Cubs watch a herd of Wildebeest in the distance. Learning the valuable skill of one day becoming hunters while watching their mothers stalk.
The following months were turbulent as the two lionesses constantly had to avoid the near roars of the new males and spent time near the Sand River close to our camps. Although formidable hunters with only two adults, hyenas often raided their kills which they fled and abandoned to protect their cubs.
Unfortunately, the youngest cub was split up from the pride and was found often on his own, then briefly reunited with the pride but a week later was never seen again.
A young Ntsevu Cub looks down towards the Sand River from a large granite boulder on the Southern bank of the river – where they have been spending a lot of their time in recent months.
Until about a month ago it seemed as though these Nstevu Females were successfully raising the last of the Birmingham Males’ offspring in the uncharted territory. Sadly another cub was lost to unknown circumstances and now only two cubs remain. Today, we see the two mothers and the last two cubs all over Londolozi, stretching from their natal territory in our west where they were raised by the Mungheni Pride, all the way across into our eastern neighbours where they could potentially run into the Ndzhenga Males. It’s difficult to say what the future holds for the remaining bloodline of the Birmingham Males – time will certainly tell as these two females roam the far reaches of their territory in the hope of survival of their young.
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has the last adult burringham male now passed away or u just haven’t seen him?
He joined his nephew the Nkuhuma male and control 2 lionesses in western Sabi Sands
The last Birmingham male is alive and well. He has teamed up with his son/nephew from the Nkuhuma pride and is roaming about west of Londolozi. He has even been witnessed mating with a couple of females there; so more offspring could be on their way!
what happened to all the tsalala pride, considering it was such a large pride
1 young female survives and joined an old pregnant Mhangeni female in western Sabi Sands recently.
Thanks for this update Kirst on the Birmingham lineage, that now appears to have come to an end. They had a good run overseeing three prides but as their numbers dwindled, so did their stronghold. Actually, what is the average time span for male coalitions to control a pride(prides)? I’m guessing it’s in the 3-5 year range. What are the sexes are the remaining two Birmingham cubs and if they reach sub adult age, will they still need to move away if the Ndhzengas are still in control? I think the dynamics of lion prides are complicated as well as fluid. The dominant males seem to constantly remain in a defensive mode, always watching for any interlopers.
As an aside, how is the Nkuhuma pride doing?
Great, 7 sub adults (5M, 2F)+ 1 adult lioness are always together and they often join the Childcare group which conssists of 3 lionesses (who happen to be Birmingham males’ daughters) and their 7 18 month old cubs.
The last 2 Birmingham males looked very worn out when we saw them last July, although one apparently made a recovery.
They are incredibly resilient animals. Unfortunately, only one of the males is still alive and is being seen in the western sector withe the Nkuhuma Male.
A great blog that makes me wish to return to Londolozi.
So sad that two cubs died… they had to face a harsh reality living as refugees. The Birmingham males were beautiful lions, I hope their offspring survive, the mothers are great mums. Lions are incredible the way they need close physical contact even if it’s hot they sleep side to side, i can’tthink of anotheranimal species that does that. The picture of them drinking together is fantastic
It’s nature, but it’s still sad that these lionesses have lost two of the remaining cubs. Let’s hope that the rest of them will make it.
The Birmingham males ruled for only four to five years, didn’t they? That’s not a very long time; probably, I guess, just enough time to raise one litter of cubs successfully and maybe , with some luck, a second one.
They were dominant in Northern Sabi Sands since 2015 after they ousted the Matimba males, so 6 years. And the last of them is now in control of the last Ximhungwe lioness and her adopted daughter, the Othawa Breakaway female. So it’s 7 years for the Birmingham coalition, he joined his nephew the Nkuhuma male (born in May 2016).
Thanks for the insight Agustin. Amazing how the lion dynamics keep chaging
We are hoping so too Christa!
I really love that photo of the big Nstevu pride all lined up at the waterhole.
Thanks, Kirst, for bringing me up to date on the Birmingham Male’s lineage.
The foto of them all lined up to drink is a magnificent foto. What has happened to the last Birmingham male lion.
The last Birmingham male is in the western sector with the Nkuhuma male. Seems the two are doing well and lucky to have found each other.
Rooting for the last two Birmingham male cubs… godspeed boys!!!
The Birmingham males were so magnificent and the Majingilane before them. When will we see another coalition so powerful again. I was lucky enough to see both in their times of dominance.
The Birmingham legacy is all over the Sabi Sands now……Nenha, the remaining Birmingham boy is alive and teamed up with his son/nephew and making new cubbies…..his daughters are part of the Nstevus, and Nkuhuma pride, and of course, the remaining younger male that is his coalition partner. I would say that the Birmingham legacy is firmly stamped in the genetic legacy of lions in the Sabi Sand.