In 2010 the Majingilane coalition came roaring into the Sabi Sands. The Tsalala pride at the time had some young lions in it, still relatively dependent on the adult lionesses. These young lions would almost certainly have been killed by the marauding Majingilane had they been caught, and so in what has now become a legendary story, the original tailless female took the young lions away from the pride and raised them to full independence herself. She then rejoined the Tsalala pride. The four young lionesses in question formed what is now known as the Mhangeni Pride, themselves an ongoing saga.
Fast forward six years and it seems that history is repeating itself.
The tailless lioness crosses the Sand River to rejoin her pride. With only a couple of years left in her life, what does the immediate future hold?
As most people will know, the new tailless female (daughter of the original tailless lioness) has taken the four young lions of the Tsalala pride eastwards in what can only be an attempt to keep them out of the clutches of the Matimba males, who arrived on Londolozi late last year. There they have remained, concentrating their movements around the big bend in the Sand River where it swings to the south, hunting buffalo with great success through the worst of the drought.
It is a fine line they are treading there though, as not only are the Matimba males to the west of them a threat, but the Birmingham coalition – to the north and east of them – as well. The Tsalala pride has already been run off a giraffe carcass by the Birmingham males, but as we understand it all members of the pride escaped safely. To the south the Matshipiri males have been spending most of their time with the Sparta pride, and although they have ventured onto Londolozi once or twice, as far as we know their movements northwards have not yet been far enough to threaten the five Tsalala lions.
The five year old lioness, although almost constantly at her mother’s side, does occasionally split off, but never for very long.
Speculation is rife amongst the rangers and trackers as to what will happen over the next 12 months. I’m sure this has all been discussed before, but personally I feel that the young males (three of them) in the Tsalala pride will never rejoin the pride. They are turning three years old this year and should be more than capable of taking care of themselves. Upon their departure, I am fairly confident that the tailless female will rejoin her sister, and the sub-adult lioness will rejoin with her. This will bring the pride’s total strength to four lionesses. I exclude the current cubs as they are far too young and with far too uncertain a future to count as stable members of the pride.
The five year old lioness in the Manyelethi River near her mother’s recent den site. There was speculation that she may have been pregnant recently, but that assumption is now looking to be false.
Having said all this, the tailless female and her sister are 14 years old this year, very much senior age for lions, and whether they have even two years of life left in them is questionable. If anything were to happen to either of the two young lionesses (5 and 3 years old), the future of the pride would be in serious jeopardy.
The next 6-12 months are very likely going to determine once and for all whether the Tsalala pride lives or dies as an entity…
James, do you know if the tailless trait is passed down from mother to daughter? Seems too coincidental to be accidental
Hi Diane,
It was not a genetic trait, but nevertheless incredibly coincidental in that both females had their tails bitten off by hyenas in separate incidents about 6 years apart.
Regards
Thanks for the update, James. The old tailess lioness was the first lion we ever saw in the wild in 2008. We were with Chris and Jerry. She was with a young adult male and a cub at the time. We have since then seen her daughter, the new tailess lioness and marveled at their similar journeys.
Thank you James loved the blog!!
Beautiful!
Thanks for the update James. Let’s hope that the next year goes well for the Tsalala lionesses and the pride is able to carry on, with the young cubs surviving.
I truly LOVE the TSALALA pride. I have from the moment we first encountered them in 2011 with 4 cubs. I believe all died tragically but the mum was a good one. They seem to survive despite all tragedy and I will continue to cheer for them. Honestly, it is ironic to have two females, mother and daughter, lose their tails and still they persevere. Males come and go, wage war and take the spoils; Shakespearean truly! All hail the Tsalalas, Carry On!
Thank you James, it’s great to get news of these wiley, powerful lionesses
Any number of dangers in the life of the pride could account for the tailess lions .I wonder if Rudyard Kipling ((rest his soul) might have a view( ha ha !)
He got the Elephant’s trunk correct!
Hi James has there been recent sightings of the Birmingham coalition around Londo? Thank you and see you in a few weeks.
The history of these lionesses is as amazing as the history of Mapogos or the Majingilanes. Thanks for all.
Long Live the Tsalala Pride!!!! Go girls!!!!!