Mlowathi Males - 2009

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Mlowathi Male - Image by Ranger Gareth Greensill

December 2009

2 Mlowathi Males (8 years): (16 sightings)

The brothers spent much of their time with the two separated Styx females, they moved between northern side Campbell Koppies and Mlowathi dam. At the beginning of the month they were both found with the Marthly pride at Matumi rocks and during the month the kinky tailed male was with the Marthly pride when they attacked and killed a young hippo calf at Mlowathi dam. Another incredible sighting of these two males was when they came across the large herd of buffalo drinking at west street bridge in the early afternoon. Show their disregard for life and utter dominance of the area the two males stalked and attacked the herd mid afternoon. The mohawk male as always in matters of blood led the way, he ran in on the herd in the reeds several times. The herd finally broke from cover and ran out across the sand banks trying to get to the harder ground on the eastern bank, as the herd stampeded the mohawk male was seen amongst the dust and churning hooves chasing after a calf, he brought down the calf and started suffocating it. The mother of the calf turned to try and protect her young but she obviously hadn’t encountered the Mohawk male before. In a stunning leap of power and strength he leapt off the calf and onto the back of the mother who came crashing to the ground with the impact of the collision. Fortunately for mother and calf there were enough buffalo bulls in the area and they turned on the lion who wisely released his prey. During the whole ordeal the kinky tailed male slept only to wake when he saw his brother emerge from the dust storm with out lunch.

November 2009

2 Mlowathi Males (8 years): (16 sightings)

The brothers spent much of their time with the two separated Styx females, they moved between northern side Campbell Koppies and Mlowathi dam. At the beginning of the month they were both found with the Marthly pride at Matumi rocks and during the month the kinky tailed male was with the Marthly pride when they attacked and killed a young hippo calf at Mlowathi dam. Another incredible sighting of these two males was when they came across the large herd of buffalo drinking at west street bridge in the early afternoon. Show their disregard for life and utter dominance of the area the two males stalked and attacked the herd mid afternoon. The mohawk male as always in matters of blood led the way, he ran in on the herd in the reeds several times. The herd finally broke from cover and ran out across the sand banks trying to get to the harder ground on the eastern bank, as the herd stampeded the mohawk male was seen amongst the dust and churning hooves chasing after a calf, he brought down the calf and started suffocating it. The mother of the calf turned to try and protect her young but she obviously hadn’t encountered the Mohawk male before. In a stunning leap of power and strength he leapt off the calf and onto the back of the mother who came crashing to the ground with the impact of the collision. Fortunately for mother and calf there were enough buffalo bulls in the area and they turned on the lion who wisely released his prey. During the whole ordeal the kinky tailed male slept only to wake when he saw his brother emerge from the dust storm with out lunch.

October 2009

2 Mlowathi Males (aged 7 years 11 months): (23 sightings)

The most sighting ever of these two males, they are in complete control of the northern third of Mala Mala. The males started off with a bang when we found them with a big buffalo bull carcass at the beginning of the month. The males introduced us to the new cubs of the Marthly pride when one morning that pride was found at the buffalo kill. This month was also a month for mating as both males were seen mating with the two Styx females, first as always was the male with the Mohawk mane but his brother also got in on the action. For the rest of the month the two males stayed with the two Styx females probably more scared than anything else that if they left them the females might try run away. One night while watching the foursome hunting the females managed to bring down a sub adult wildebeest, the males immediately confiscated the carcass but all of a sudden two big unidentified male lions showed up at the kill site. Initially the two Mlowathi males were a little hesitant but the Mohawk male true to his brutal nature didn’t take long to click and off he chased the intruders. The kinky tailed male soon followed and all four male lion disappeared into the darkness. The two Styx females in the mean time went back to the kill and finished the whole thing off in peace.

September 2009

2 Mlowathi Males (aged 7 years 10 months): (5 sightings)

Having been renamed these two brothers showed little interest in Mala Mala during this month. They would typically spend several days patrolling their territory before moving west again. Perhaps not being able to find the bulk of the Styx pride has taken its toll and they are fed up of chasing them around the countryside. One male was seen a couple of times with the single Styx lioness and her two cubs when she had a kudu kill, other than that it has been a poor month for the males.

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Telephone: + 27 11 442 2267 or 0861 SAFARI.
Facsimile: + 27 11 442 2318
e-Mail: reservations@malamala.com

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