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Kirst Joscelyne

Ranger

At less than a year old, Kirst went to her family’s hut in the Greater Kruger National Park, and has been fortunate enough to continue to go there ever since. Sharing a passion for the bush with her family, led to countless trips ...

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37 Comments

on The Tsalala ‘Pride’: The Next Chapter

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Kirst, thank you so much for this follow-up to Tsalala’s story. As you know, I’m such a fan of her and her late mother, and once learning that she was on her own last November, I feared for her survival. But, given the true Tsalala genes, it was written that she would survive and thrive. Now, even better, she has a friend and a relative from her mother’s past. I so hope this new pride stays together and that there will be cubs in both of their futures. Who knows, perhaps next year when I return for another week, I will see her again – maybe with cubs!

Such a great story, of Perseverance, by the Tsalala female. Have been following her story, with growing admiration. Keeping my fingers crossed, that she can stay with her newfound partner, and have her own cubs soon!

Thank you for the update. I have followed the Tsalala lioness with you. Great news to see she has company and some emotional support.
Let’s hope to see cubs in the near future.

I will be coming to Londolozi next July with my family, and it can’t come soon enough! This blog has brought everything to life, and I confess to developing attachments to the animals already – this story is so touching and exciting – lots of hope for both these females now that they are together. I can’t wait to see what comes in the days ahead ❤

This has been wonderful to watch, but of course no one knows if the rest of the Mangheni pride would accept Tsalala…..I sure hope that these two lionesses stay together regardless. However, I do not want Tsalala mating with Nenha…..he is her likely father!! Much better for her to seek out the Plains Camp males, and stay cohesive with the Mangheni girl, if she does go ahead and have another batch of cubs.

I read the Legacy of the Tsalala Pride and for the first time reading your blog I shed a tear… I can’t believe how strong and resilient through the years these lionesses have been, and so unlucky at the same time. I think many people know the Mapogos or Majingilanes stories, but lionesses are overlooked and they are true heroes of the wilderness. I can still hardly believe the Tsalala mother is no longer. Her daughter deserves a bright future together with her new pride mate. Let’s hope to see a new numerous Tsalala pride!

Great to have an update on how the Tsalala lioness is doing. Looking forward to more good news about the new pair!

Senior Digital Ranger

What a heart warming story. I so hope that these to related females can successfully mate and continue to thrive as a strong pride once more
The roar of a lion is so powerful… glad the found each other!

This is very interesting and exciting to hear!

It would really be fascinating to watch the offspring if the Mhangeni Female and the Tsalala Female both give birth.

It would indeed Vin!

Absolutely love this entry Kirst, and yet another fantastic anecdote in the Tsalala Pride’s history! One minor thing I thought I would just point out is the tailless female who took the original four Mhangeni lionesses was the original tailless lioness, who was their grandmother. The second tailless lioness was one of their mothers (the “tailed” female was the other), but took the Tsalala lioness’ mother and uncles away after the Majingilanes moved west and the Matimbas arrived. The generational history of both the Tsalala lioness and the Mhangeni Female (dare I say Tsalala Pride, haha?) and their respective lives to this point are so remarkable when you think that the events of over 10 years ago both led them to their current situation. Just amazing.

Such an amazing story over the years!

Senior Digital Ranger

I hope this is the start of good fortune for the Tsalala female. She deserves it after losing all her family. I’m so glad she’s found a fellow lioness for companionship – and a relative no less. I’ve always wondered whether the history of the Tsalala Pride would have been different if the four lionesses that founded the Mhangeni Pride hadn’t been rejected by their natal pride. I hope the events of the present day go some way to correcting that part of history. May they stay together and prosper together. Amen!

That would have been interesting! It is amazing though to know that many lions we see stem from the Tsalala Pride.

I would like to see a post on how do you distinguish the prides and single lions/lionesses?

Thanks for the suggestion Beth. The Tsalala female still has a pink nose with some small black spots clustered in the middle as well as amber eyes.

Kirst it just goes to show that the Tsalsla female is a successful survivor. When we were all afraid for her life, she kept going on and spent many days and nights alone. She has now a companion in her great aunt and I certainly am thrilled to bits that she has a friend. Hopefully soon she too will have cubs of her own. Beautiful lioness that she is, will make an excellent mother.

I hope these two lionesses are able to stay together and raise cubs as a team. I wonder, even though they have not met one another previously, if they know they are related by means that we aren’t aware of.

I feel so much joy seeing images of them together after the Tsalala female had been alone for so many months. It might be anthropomorphizing, but one can’t help but sense her relief.

Which lion was presumed to be the Tsalala lionesses father? I thought it was one of the Birmingham males. Would she know her father and make sure not to mate with him?

Senior Digital Ranger

Thank for this informative update for the Tsalala Pride. Isn’t it amazing how the Mhangeni female found her self back with the Pride of her birth. The Tsalala’s and the Styx were the first prides I became acquainted with back in 2008

That is amazing Mj. The Styx Pride although we don’t see them anymore they are one of the longest prides in the Sabi Sands.

HUGE huge smiles after reading this. Tsalala Pride is a legendary pride in Sabi Sand and to see hopes of the pride having a chance to build again is beyond awesome. If wild animals could carry family traits, I would say that BB had a role in this. <3

Thanks Karen

Thank you for writing up a great story. Touches the heart.

Thanks, Karen. The story of the Tsalala Pride has really been an amazing one to follow.

This is such an amazing story. I’ve been following the Tsalala’s for a while, and I loved the Othawa male and the Mhengeni pride. I’m so happy this young lioness has been able to pair up with this older lioness, perhaps with cubs to come. I hope they stay together and begin their own pride. The young Tsalala female has been so tough and strong, but I felt bad for her because we knew she was lonely. Now she has a friend! Wow!

Thanks, Wende, time will only tell. We can’t help but hope so too!

Kirst, Thanks for the fantastic news and history of these two beautiful lionesses! We had been hoping the the Tsalala female would survive and now it seems as though it is possible! We will hope for her to begin mating and extending the Tsalala lineage and “the next chapter”!

Hopefully, they will indeed be a next chapter!

Thanks for the blog on the Tsalala lioness and her companion. So great to hear good news about this lioness. I don’t know why but her fate is really touching and I am always so glad to hear that she is fine. I’ll keep my fingers crossed that the two of them will continue to have good luck together and maybe raise some cubs, Would be wonderful!

Thank you so much Christa

I am so happy to get news about the Tsalala female! I read the blog everyday hoping for news. I am so happy she has companionship at least and remain hopeful for a pride. I love Londolozi

Thanks so much Terry!

Thanks Kirst for a very informative update of this fascinating pride.I also first saw the Tsalala pride in 2008 and have been fascinated by the evolving story with its multiple ups and downs and eagerly hope to see cubs again in the Tsalala pride and so heartwarming to see the association with the Mhangeni lioness and look forward to perhaps photographing them in the near future!

Thanks Anthony hopefully the pride will keep growing in the future!

Kirst, thank you for keeping us up to date on the Tsalala Female. It is good to she her with another lioness, I hope to two can thrive in the future.

Wow, what an incredible development! The chances of the two lionesses meeting, and then getting along sound remote, and yet here we are. Looking forward to hearing news of their adventures, hopefully together, and the possibility of the continuation of the Tsalala Pride!!

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