As the Ntsevu Males continue to carve out their place in the north, a question has surfaced: where is the sister who once roamed alongside them?
The Ntsevu Breakaway Pride make use of the elevated railway while resting after an unsuccessful buffalo hunt. The only remnants of the former railway line are the gravel stones that are found along the length of it.
For many months, the lioness was a constant presence with her brothers, learning to hunt and growing into a formidable lioness. Now, with the males having moved on, she has also begun her own journey.
![Ntsevu Sub Adults Drinking [rcb]](https://media.londolozi.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/26100527/Ntsevu-sub-adults-drinking-RCB-1598x1065.jpg)
A Solitary Start, with New Company
Initially, she was seen roaming alone, navigating the challenges of life as a nomadic lioness. A relatively unfamiliar existence as lions know it. Being gregarious animals by nature, surviving and thriving in groups, and having a lioness spend lengthy periods alone, she would undoubtedly find this more challenging than what she was used to. But as we know just how adaptable these animals can be, it will be a quick transition.
However, more recently, reports of her spending time with the Styx Young Male have surfaced. Although he is not yet a dominant male, his presence offers some company and a much-needed alliance for the time being. Together, they’ve been hanging around the southeastern parts of Londolozi, often moving along the Sand River.
This partnership, while temporary, has been fruitful. The duo has successfully brought down a few buffalo, proving that they are thriving in this small pride. Having another lion around, even one not fully established, makes life just a little bit easier for her than it would be if she were completely alone. Hunting becomes easier and more successful, effort vs reward increases, and the ability to detect, protect and defend against danger is drastically improved.
What’s Next for Her?
As a sexually mature lioness, she will eventually seek out a more permanent mate, but for now, this partnership with the Styx Young Male is providing her the support she needs. The lion dynamics in the area are fluid, and her fate will depend on her ability to avoid dominant females in the area.
Our hope is that she is eventually accepted into another pride, however, the nearest pride and most likely for her to encounter are the Kambula Pride. Although relatives of hers would see her as a threat to their cubs and would probably show immense hostility towards her. If any pride were to accept her, the Ntsevu Pride would have the strongest chance with her being the daughter of the one female in the Pride, but with the time that has passed since they were last together, the bonds between them will have worn thin.
Another possibility, albeit a very slim chance is to join up with the Tsalala Lioness. In my opinion, sadly this is highly unlikely. With the Tsalala Female now raising a litter of her own, she would not take any risks or chances of losing those cubs to a lioness she does not know and trust.
The Ntsevu Young Female looks on as the Styx Young Male feeds on a buffalo calf.
So for now I think that this alone lioness will live out the next while as a solitary lion and could potentially follow the footsteps of the Tsalala Lioness and try raise cubs of her own by herself when the time comes.
A Strong Future Ahead
While we may not know how long she will remain with the Styx Young Male, one thing is certain: this lioness has inherited the strength and resilience of her lineage. Whether she remains solitary, continues her partnership with him, or finds new alliances, her future is filled with potential.
For now, she and the Styx Young Male have carved out their own corner of Londolozi, thriving on their hunting successes and proving that even temporary alliances can be powerful in the lion kingdom.
Would have been such a beautiful story had she joined up with her Tsalala half-sister. Hers will be a beautiful story to observe in the coming months and years.
It really would have been such an epic story. Lets see where she ends up now and maybe runs a similar story line to the Tsalala Lioness.
It would be absolutely a dream if she joined the Tsalala female… two champions of strength and experience, needing company. Unluckily for the Ntsevu Breakaway female, the Tsalala lioness has already had cubs on her own. If they had met earlier maybe that would be a chance. But, as you said, cubs must be protected from all possible dangers. They are both fantastic. You can see the Birmingham genetic print in her. Wish her luck. At least the young Styx male is not alone too… Thank you Sean.
You are welcome, Francesca. She is an impressive female and so I cannot wait to see where she ends up and what she gets up to on her journey there.
We saw them together last month in the Kapen drainage line! They tried hunting a zebra foal, unsuccessfully, but it was fun to watch them perk up from sleep, and then a quick stalk and hunt!
It just shows how quickly they can go from what appears to be a deep slumber, to up and at it in seconds.
Thanks for this update on the Ntsevu break away sister. I have asked myself for a long time where she might be. It’s good to know that she is fine and together with that male. I have also always been wondering why she left her own pride and went with her brothers. A question that can probably never been answered.
She appears to be doing very well. She left her pride because she was too young when the Ndzhenga Males arrived, they would have killed her. She left with her brothers for her own safety.
Thank you for the update, Sean, I’d been wondering about her. Roughly how old is the Styx young male?
You are welcome. I think he must be roughly around 5 years old. I will hopefully find out exactly when he was born and share that soon.
Thanks for the update Sean on this lone Ntsevu Breakaway female. It’s good to know she’s still hanging around the fringes of Londolozi with the Styx male, but perhaps she will try to rejoin her natal group, unless they chase her away. You pointed out various options but none of them seem realistic. She is strong as well as young, so the single life may be enough for her. We will have to wait to see what paths nature reveals for her.
We will have to wait and see what happens. She could very well survive by herself but the road will not be easy.
Great story Sean, I hope she is successful in living a full life.. That goes for the Styx male as well.
Thanks so much, William. Let’s hope she does live a full life.
Thank you for this update, Sean! I’m glad they have each other for company and assistance, even if only for a short time. I can’t wait to see how her story continues to unfold.
Yes, a bit of company for the time being will hopefully do her wonders. Let’s see what happens going forward.
Awesome article!
Interesting enough, it is believed that her mother is actually the elder female of the Kambula pride who had her and her littermate brother in 2019, with the Ntsevu females being her aunts.
Londolozi’s neighbors have reported that the Kambula pride have chased Styx and the Ntsevu Breakaway recently, and the Styx male was seen trying to feed with the elder Kambula, mother of the Breakaway female, without the Breakaway lioness around.
Back in the day when the Ntsevu and Kambula prides were still together and the Breakaway female tried to join back, it was one of her aunts, the bigger/pale/barren lioness that chassed her off, so now it is unlikely she and her 2 sisters would accept their niece back.
Several months ago before she split from her brothers for good, she was seen with the last Talamati female in the north. Talamati has no cubs currently, or any pride mate as all the subs were lost, so she could be the best potential partner for her, the issue is that Talamati will probably be within the Ntsevu males control, while the sister will seek unrelated males to mate.
Thanks, Rein. Not so long ago the Styx Male was found with an older lioness where there was a bit of hostility shown from the female. The Ntsevu Breakaway Female was then found not too far away calling. So I am sure there must have been contact between all three of them over the course of the evening before the game drive vehicles got there. At the time we were uncertain of exactly who they all were. But that is an interesting development that it was in fact her mother that was there. So I guess that it is not entirely out of the question that she could join up with the Kambula Pride if here mother is there. But I think it will be a slow and aggressive process which could result in the Breakaway Lioness being seriously injured or even killed.