In part 1 of this blog, we discussed what a take-over means for the dominant males; in this instance, the Birmingham Males. Now let’s talk about the Ntsevu Pride. This pride is in a very interesting place at the moment. As of two months ago, they sat with 11 cubs of varying ages, from two to three months old all the way to a litter of 3 that are sitting at about eight months old.
Those April-born cubs were already destined to be in for a rough ride given the age and declining state of the Birmingham Males, who quite likely have been reduced down to only one male. Over the course of the year, this situation has grown ever more tenuous as the females have continued to birth further litters. The general rule of thumb is that the cubs really only make it out of the danger zone of being killed in a territorial take-over, or even just by marauding young males moving undetected through a territory, at about one year old. But that can often stretch as far as 18 months, upon which time they are a relatively self-sufficient member of the pride.
A plethora of different aged cubs! It’s going to be hard work for these three females, as well their sisters and daughters, getting as many of these cubs as possible through the coming months/year.
18 months is a long time for cubs to be vulnerable.
And conversely, it is the reason they are likely to be killed; a male, upon taking over, needs to mate as soon as possible to give his offspring the best possible chance of survival.
Females can fall back into oestrus as little as 6 weeks after having lost their cubs. Thus, by removing cubs sired prior to his arrival, a newly dominant male makes sure that he is not expending energy protecting a pride that is raising cubs that aren’t his. This also ensures that as many females as possible come into oestrus at the same time; females will often, where possible, synchronise their oestrus cycles so that there is a better chance of having cubs at the same time. Therefore the odds of successfully raising more cubs to independence are significantly increased if several females birth around the same time.
![Ntsevu Female Cub Feed Kng](https://media.londolozi.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/25212533/Ntsevu-female_cub_feed_KNG-720x480.jpg)
Any new male will know that the mother won’t mate while her cub and his siblings are still alive. At least for a few more months.
And so, in this particular instance, the females are going to be resistant to change. They will support the Birmingham Males where they can, not necessarily out of any direct loyalty to the males but in order to protect their cubs. A pride of 11 females (6 older original lionesses plus 5 newly independent females) as well as 6 soon-to-be-independent young males, despite being heavily fragmented a lot of the time, could provide considerable backup when the need arises!
![Ntsevu Young Males, June 2021, CT](https://media.londolozi.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/09203905/IMG_9553-1398x932.jpg)
The Ntsevu Young Males, along with the rest of the fragmenting pride, may still provide back-up to their sires.
Were there only one or two cubs in the ranks, the pride would likely accept the loss of those for the opportunity to raise a larger litter under the protection of a newly dominant male. In this instance, they would be less invested in supporting the current dominant male(s). At this point, we have to remind ourselves not to anthropomorphize these animals; they are not humans, they have a different set of, for want of a better word, “emotions” that are completely alien to ours. Placing human emotions on these animals is a sure way of skewing our interpretation of their behaviour.
One tactic that this pride may have employed, when mating with the Avoca Males, is distraction. Certain females may enter into a state of “pseudo-oestrus” as a diversion tactic. This serves the dual purpose of allowing the rest of the pride with the cubs to move out of the danger zone – basically anywhere near these males – while also beginning the process of confusing paternity. In this state, the females usually won’t become pregnant; this is not a conscious decision on the females part but rather a hormonal state induced by circumstance. The result is that any cubs born in the near future may be the progeny of either the invaders or the existing dominant males, and so no matter the outcome, the victor is invested in the raising of those cubs.
Another strategy that may be employed is a temporary dissection of the pride where some will remain behind with the newly dominant males, mating more “seriously” and falling pregnant while other members flee the territory to raise the cubs to a safer age, away from the danger of the males. The runaways will usually try to return to the original pride once the dust has settled. A prime example of this was with the Tsalala Females circa 2009, where the original Tailless female lead four of her daughters’ cubs (not even her direct offspring) to safety far from the territory being competed for.
However, upon her return to the pride the following year, the cubs she had protected were no longer welcomed by the original pride and they were forced to break away. Fortunately, they survived and formed a new pride, the Mangheni Pride. Here, this tactic worked despite the pride not reforming; the Tsalala Females had successfully procreated and in doing so, had fulfilled one of any animals’ most basic functions on this planet; reproduction and the furtherance of their genes.
But these tactics may not always work and sometimes, the situation dictates the results. The most notable example around Londolozi is the “downfall” of the previously mentioned Tsalala Pride where despite several very clever plays by the pride-members, their numbers were whittled away from somewhere around 9 (and growing) down to a single female who is yet to turn three years old. But that is a tale in and of itself, and one told beautifully by Kirsten Jocelyn.
One thing is for certain, the Ntsevu Pride members are going to have to manage themselves through the coming period of upheaval. It is something that I am, personally, really looking forward to watching unfold; not from any morbid perspective but because, from a behavioural point of view, it will be absolutely fascinating to see what strategies are going to be used, what gambits played, as these lionesses fight for the survival of their progeny.
And I’d love to hear your views on how you think this will all play out.
Interesting blog, Kyle. But strictly by the numbers, how many females are raising how many cubs under 18 months and how many subadults are there these days? How are the subadults likely to fare in any takeover bid?
My views are this sucks hate it when the cubs are going to be killed. I also think they’d have a better chance of survival if the lion prides had the amount of land they were accustomed to
Kyle whatever happens there is bound to be some cubs that will be killed. So sad really because they are so cute and gorgeous. Ntsevu pride is looking good, we hope the take over, when it happens does not cause to much damage to the respective prides.
Beautiful video of all the cubs together with the three lionessess. So special to see that sighting. Thanks very much.
Will be fascinating to watch. The Nkuhuma pride is currently going through some similar dynamics too. Hoping for the best outcomes for the cubbies!
Hi Kyle, although it is nature’s rule it’s sad to think that the pride will be under attack. Yes, we are humans, but our feelings certainly evolved from bare basic needs to survive and duplicate our DNA. I wonder what happens to animals, after all moderhood is a biological need… we will follow your blog to see what happens
I do hope that the youngster are loyal, and that they support the remaining Birmingham male. However, I do not think lions think like that. On the other hand, in Hwange Jericho also managed to raise the cubs alone (as a lone male). I also hope they realise that there are many of them…………. But it can go either way. It really is a very interesting period of time that is coming up!!
Watching the behavior of those lionesses and their cubs is really fascinating. I am looking forward to their next moves and to seeing what strategies they will use, and how these lionesses will make sure, or at least try to make sure that their young ones survive. They are so extremely cute and it really is such a pity that so many of those lovely cubs won’t make it to adulthood. On one hand it seems to be such a waste by nature, on the other hand, of course, everyone always tries to pass on only his/ her genes.
Fascinating information! Always something new to learn about progeny. Kuddos to these Lionesses for adapting to many of nature’s upheavals–even if it isn’t Covid!
Seeing the last cub straggling along to keep up with its pride is so heart breaking. Life in the Bush for the pride in and of itself is heart wrenching to watch,. The larger (the mama’s, aunties and grandma’s) look well nourished, but knowing that they and their pride have to live “on the edge,” one day at a time as best as they can leaves little room for mental comfort for us humans.
The lions don’t know any better, but we sure do!
From the present looks of the Mhangeni pride, it’s quite large. Hopefully,it will be a pleasant long chapter for them all.
Interesting thoughts and hopefully the numbers alone with this pride will help insure the safety of those cubs with the upcoming independent males and females. However the passé belief that we are anthropomorphising in understanding an animals emotions and thinking for any reason that we are the only creatures on this planet that have emotions, has been proven long ago to be a biased and assumptive statement and wholly untrue. I do appreciate your clarification that you look forward to the decisions and “ strategies” played out instead of some who look forward to a war, where undoubtedly an animal may be mortally wounded. I agree it will be interesting, though I am nervous for some of the more familiar players.
With the lessening impact of the Birmingham male(s), I think the Avoca males will gain prominence.
Fascinating blog Kyle that really poked my brain. I’ve been following the Tsalala, Mhagene and Ntsevu prides for a few years now, amazed by the seeming fluidity of new prides formed out of necessity i.e. Tsalala foursome morphing to Mhagene, etc. Now the Ntsevu, created from the Mhagene sub adults, are in a position to possibly split, maybe to protect the cubs or because the numbers are too great to survive – one Impala brought down won’t feed 16! So, I’m waiting with all of you to see how life goes for this pride. There may be losses, but there will be gains as well.
Fascinating seeing things from the female side… as always they seem to have the more difficult position ahead and I hope that as things play out, as nature intended, that some of the cubs survive🙏🏻 Will be very interesting to read your follow up Kyle.
Goodness only knows what will happen! – but it will be very interesting either way. I should be back at Founders in 3 and a half weeks, can’t wait!
Fascinating as always Kyle!
The times are changing……will be very sad to lose these cubs, and it will be fascinating to see how the lionesses try to move around and save them. I hope that none of the females ends up a victim while she protects her cubbies.