I was surprised to find Manyari back with her pride this afternoon, after I had seen her a long way to the southeast at 8am still feeding on her zebra carcass. The pride were now on Banyini all passed out. The boys were also well fed but not Magwaza.
They lay around fat and useless till after midnight.
While waiting around with them a couple of elephant bulls came to drink at Banyini pan.
Then Magwaza headed off east. The others were going to follow but just couldn’t find the enthusiasm to do so.
But now the boys were being ultra attentive of Manyari. It could well be that she is coming into oestrus again. Both of them mounted her but she never gave in. But this sure looks like the beginning of another mating session! God help me!
All night Sjambok shadowed Manyari’s every move and mounted her several times but Manyari never gave in.
Just before dawn I heard a lion calling a long way to the east. Probably Magwaza. These guys all responded and then headed east.
Into the day they headed east through the most horrible scrub mopanie for miles. Really tough stuff to drive through.
They walked for about an hour and then packed it in. That will probably it for them for the rest of the day and possibly tonight they’ll follow up on Magwaza. That’s only if Manyari isn’t mating again!!!
Kim, I love the “lurking” picture.
Last night we were treated to a NG documentary of a bit of your life with Tjololo, courtesy of Ontario’s public TV station (TVO). You and 4 year old Lindy had a special treat to see the pair hunting & I was amazed at the flood pictures.
Cheers,
m
Great roars. Great.
Good grief, round four isn’t it?
About Magwaza breeding, am I wrong in thinking a lioness has to lose her latest litter to come into estrus? Is it possible her cubs are still alive?
Appreciated the picture of Nduna a few days back. He looked fine and was even having a good mane day!
b.
I have seen leopard’s mate about a month after having their cubs. Some false estrus. So initially I thought this is what was going on with Magwaza. But after 3 days of mating her mammary glands had almost totally disappeared. And now for the last week she hasn’t been back to the hills. So either her cubs were killed by the males, or she just abandoned them. in which case they would have died by now anyway.
That’s always a sad state of affairs….
do you know what has become of Manyari’s youngsters that were with her for quite a while?
Also, could you please refresh my memory…. did Manyari leave her original pride and why?
tia..
We’re not sure what’s happened to her youngsters and another 5 that left the Nduna pride with her about 6 months ago.
some lions have been seen in the south but i haven’t seen them.
Not sure why Manyari left the Nduna pride but it seemed to be her choice. She left with those youngsters and then when she came into oestrus she teamed up with the males and Magwaza and the rest is history.
Thanks. That’s how I remembered it. But for sure the others are off on their own somewhere and didn’t rejoin the Nduna pride?