JULY 2017 GAME REPORT

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Meryl Price
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1 JULY 2017 GAME REPORT

2 MALAMALA GAME RESERVE GAME REPORT JULY 2017 AREAS COVERED: MARTHLY / EYREFIELD / MALAMALA / FLOCKFIELD / CHARLESTON WEATHER SUMMARY JULY JULY WEATHER SUMMARY TEMPERATURE Celsius ( C) Fahrenheit ( F) Actual Average Actual Average Maximum Maximum Minimum Minimum RAINFALL Millimeters Inches Days of rain *AGES ARE APPROXIMATIONS AS AT END OF JULY 2017 LIONS STYX PRIDE = 9 1 ADULT FEMALE 14 YEARS 6 MONTHS 1 ADULT FEMALE 9 YEARS 6 MNTHS 1 ADULT FEMALES 6 YEARS 6 MONTHS 2 ADULT MALES* 5 YEARS 5 MONTHS 2 CUBS ±9 MONTHS 4 CUBS ±5 MONTHS NORTHERN EYREFIELD (4 sightings) *Nomadic - males last seen with core pride: May Members of the Styx pride were viewed on four occasions in July. They were seen in the vicinity of the Mlowathi River. The four newest members of the Styx pride have integrated well into the pride. There was a very exceptional sighting of all six cubs in the Nwa Nonanontshemeni donga waiting for their mothers to return from a hunt. We viewed the cubs all morning playing with each other, digging holes for water and generally fooling about. 1

3 The cubs were born at a very good time of year as there is an abundance of prey species moving along the Mlowathi River. The females will have their hands full feeding six ravenous lion cubs but years of experience and the abundance of prey will keep the pride in good stet. EYREFIELD PRIDE = 3 1 ADULT FEMALE 10 YEARS 1 ADULT FEMALE 5 YEARS 4 MONTHS 1 FEMALE CUB DECEASED 1 MALE CUB 1 YEAR 7 MONTHS MALAMALA, FLOCKFIELD (16 sightings) Members of the Eyrefield pride were viewed on 16 days in July. The embattled pride spent the majority of the month in Charleston, only moving west on a few occasions and also moving onto Toulon on a number of occasions. They are still under a lot of pressure from separate male lion coalitions wanting to take over the pride. The Eyrefield pride has lost four of its members since the beginning of the year and July was yet another turbulent month for the Eyrefield pride as they lost yet another member. This unfortunately does not bode well for the last remaining cub, which is now living on borrowed time. FOURWAYS PRIDE = 6 1 ADULT FEMALE UNKNOWN AGE 1 SUB ADULT FEMALE 7 YEARS 2 MALE CUBS 1 YEAR 7 MONTHS 2 FEMALE CUBS 1 YEAR 7 MONTHS EASTERN FLOCKFIELD (5 sightings) Members of the Fourways pride were viewed on five occasions in July. They were regularly seen along the far eastern parts of the property only going as far west as Lion Rocks before retuning back east to Kruger. The relentless pressure from the Mantimahle male lions from Kruger has caused the Fourways pride to seek refuge in the northern parts of the property near Fourways Open Area. With the cubs inching ever closer to adulthood and independence the threat of a takeover has resulted in very sporadic movements from these lions. Hopefully the escape and evasion tactics will buy enough time to see the cubs to adulthood. 2

4 MARTHLY PRIDE = 11 2 ADULT FEMALES* 14 YEARS 10 MONTHS 1 ADULT FEMALE 5 YEARS 11 MONTHS 3 ADULT MALES** 4 YEARS 1 SUB-ADULT FEMALE* 3 YEARS 11 MONTHS 2 CUBS 1 YEAR 1 MONTH 3 CUBS ±1 YEAR MARTHLY, MALAMALA *Tailless lioness and young female have broken away from the pride. **Nomadic (8 sightings) Members of the Marthly pride were viewed on 8 occasions in July, the majority of these sightings were of the three young males who have since gained their independence from the tailless lioness and have become nomadic in Charleston. Although they may come into conflict from the Mantimahle male lions from the east, there is very little competition to their north as well as west. The stretch of Sand River that they now control is prime habitat for any predator. With daily visits from an abundance of herbivores, the young males never have to stray too far for a meal. The two adult females were only seen on one occasion in July; they were seen in the Manyeleti River for one day and then moved back west. The tailless lioness is yet to introduce her latest litter to us. However all of the adults from this pride have their work cut out for them now that there is no support from the Clarendon males who have not been seen since they were chased north by the Matshipiri males in January. KAMBULA PRIDE = 6 6 ADULT FEMALES ± 4 YEAR 3 MONTHS MALAMALA, FLOCKFIELD (23 sightings) The Kambula pride has dominated the headlines at MalaMala in the past months and July was no exception. The lioness also kept up the trend of challenging the rangers on their lion knowledge on a daily basis. All textbooks get thrown out the window when trying to predict the future of these lionesses. Initially the lionesses were scattered all over the property; two of the lionesses were seen mating with the two Avoca males while a third was seen in the vicinity of Flockfield Drift. The behavior of the third lioness as well as the suckle marks would suggest that she has cubs in Flockfield drift. However with the death of the one Matshipiri male and the other on the run from the young Avoca males, the chance of the cubs surviving was slim and sure enough the lionesses were all seen together on airstrip later in the month, a sure sign that the lioness had no reason to return her den. It s always a very difficult lesson in the fragility of life in the African Bush. 3

5 The mighty Manyeleti male lions making a return sparked some interest in the young females and equally sparked fear in the Avoca males who have since moved further south and west. So it s once again back to the drawing boards as far as trying to figure out these ambitious young females. MATSHAPIRI MALES = 1 1 ADULT MALE 7 YEARS 1 MONTH FLOCKFIELD, SOUTHERN MALAMALA DOMINANT OVER THE EYREFIELD AND FOURWAYS PRIDES First encounter: April 2015 (6 sightings) We sadly said goodbye to the male with the mowhawk mane. on the 6 th of this month. We suspect that he had an altercation with some hyenas on the night of the 5 th as his battered remains were located on the morning of the 6 th with hyenas feeding on his carcass He spent his remaining days in the vicinity of Campbell Koppies after sustaining an injury to his hind leg a few months back. The remaining Matshipiri male was seen in Marthly prior to his brother s death as well as two days after. He was then seen joining up with the Fourways pride northeastern Eyrefield on the 18 th before moving east into the KNP. CLARENDON MALES = 2 2 ADULT MALES ±12 YEARS 6 MONTHS MARTHLY, NORTHERN MALAMALA (0 sightings) There were no confirmed sightings during the reported period. GOWRIE MALES = 4 1 ADULT MALE ± 6 YEARS 8 MONTHS 3 ADULT MALES ± 5 YEARS 8 MONTHS EYREFIELD, MALAMALA - DOMINANT OVER THE STYX PRIDE First encounter: September (6 sightings) Members of the Gowrie male coalition were seen on six occasions in July. Only a single Gowrie male was seen on the property this month, he was in the presence of the Styx pride on three of the six sightings. The remaining males were most likely still in the north for the month. With the current chaos 4

6 with the lion dynamics to the south the Gowrie male made sure that the area that he controls stays devoid of drama and that his latest heirs to his kingdom make it to maturity. Other Lions Encountered; Avoca Males: 17 sightings The young Avoca males have taken advantage in the current instabilities in the lion dynamics on MalaMala. With the Matshipiri male now on his own, the Avoca males, at this moment, face very little competition from other, older male lion coalitions. The two males were seen mating with members of the Kambula pride at the beginning of the month. But with the ever-looming threat of the Manyeleti males from the west, the Gowrie males from the north and the Marthly and Mantimahle males from south the Avoca males face a very uncertain future as the volatile lion dynamics reach a melting point. Mantimahle Males: 1 sighting The Mantimahle male lion coalition is a coalition of five large male lions which control the majority of the southern Kruger. They have claimed territory at a relentless rate and continue to push further north and west onto MalaMala. Manyeleti Males: 4 sightings The three Manyeleti male lions made an unexpected return to MalaMala at the end of July. The three large males which are fast approaching thirteen years of age, where seen on four occasions in July. They seem to have set their sights on the Kambula pride (their daughters) and could potentially chase the Avoca males off the property. NUMBER OF DIFFERENT LIONS ENCOUNTERED (approximate) JULY 45 LEOPARDS: BICYCLE CROSSING MALE 15 YEARS 5 MONTHS WESTERN MALAMALA, CHARLESTON, FLOCKFIELD (5 sightings) The Bicycle Crossing Male was viewed on five occasions in July. After his brief incursion northwards into the heart of Treehouse Male territory last month, the Bicycle Crossing male was only seen wondering his normal routes in the southern part of the property. The legendary male leopard is looking very healthy for his age, having far exceeded the life expectancy of a male leopard in these parts despite the best efforts of lions and leopards alike. 5

7 WEST STREET MALE CHARLESTON (4 sightings) 8 YEARS 4 MONTHS The West Street male leopard was viewed on four days in July. He remained within the confines of his know territory in Charleston. He was seen sticking to the banks of the Sand River between Rocky Crossing and Charleston North crossing. There is very little competition for this leopard in his prime so there is a very good future for the cubs he has sired with the Teardrop female and Ndzilo female. TREEHOUSE MALE ± 7 YEARS 7 MONTHS WESTERN MALAMALA, WESTERN FLOCKFIELD, MARTHLY (8 sightings) The Treehouse male was viewed on eight occasions in July. His movements were a little less sporadic than previous months. He was seen close to the Sand River between Main Camp and Rattray s, the core of his territory. A territory that is also the source of all the lion conflict at the moment. But the Treehouse male has done very well to avoid the attentions of his larger feline cousins as well as maintain a significant presence on the property. He currently has cubs with the Island female, Tamboti female and Nkoveni female. and they are in good hands as this impressive male leopard has managed to maintain a territory that few leopards (or lions for that matter) could. ACCIPITER MALE MALAMALA (4 sightings) ± 6 YEARS 11 MONTHS The Accipiter male leopard was viewed on four days in July. He continues to be a highly elusive leopard, with only flash sightings of him from time to time. We are beginning to understand his habits and movements a bit better and know that he controls most of the Matshipiri River and surrounding areas. In July he was seen further south than usual. He was seen around Lion waterhole, which is Bicycle Crossing male territory. But with the Bicycle Crossing male territory slowly shrinking it would be a good area for the Accipiter male to control. 6

8 SPLIT ROCK MALE 3 YEARS 1 MONTH EYREFIELD, MALAMALA, FLOCKFIELD Son of the Ostrich Koppies female, independent latter half of 2015 (1 sighting) There was only one sighting of the Split Rock Male in July. He was seen further north than usual, around West Street Bridge on the 8 th. This area is firmly under the control of the Accipiter male but the nomadic nature of this young leopard sees him exploring all corners of the property. SENEGAL BUSH MALE EYREFIELD, MARTHLY, MALAMALA Brother of the Quarantine male leopard from the North (11 sightings) 4 YEARS 10 MONTHS The Senegal Bush Male has slowly become one of the most common leopards seen on MalaMala over the past few months, having filled the territory formally occupied by the Airstrip Male. The Senegal Bush Male was seen on 11 occasions in July. He was seen in his regular spots around Campbell Koppies as well as the Mlowati and Manyeleti Rivers. The Senegal Bush Male was also seen defending his territory from an unidentified male leopard at Mlowati Dam. He was also seen mating with the young Sibuye Female around Campbell Koppies. Both strong indicators that he is firmly in control of the territory he occupies. PICADILLY FEMALE 3 YEARS 8 MONTHS WESTERN EYREFIELD, MARTHLY Daughter of the Kikilezi female, independent first quarter of 2016 (8 sightings) The Piccadilly female was seen on eight occasions in July. She was seen on three separate kills in July, all of which were stolen by hyenas or other leopards. The first of which was an impala she caught on the 2 nd in the area that earned her name, Piccadilly Pans. The kill was stolen by hyenas before she could stash it in a tree. She was seen later on in the month at Small Paraffin Drift with a bushbuck kill that was unceremoniously stolen by the Senegal Bush male. The last kill was an impala she caught near Campbell Koppies, the Senegal Bush male was in very close proximity but the hyenas beat him to the prize and the young Piccadilly female was once again left hungry and disappointed. The Piccadilly female s inability to hold onto meals should not outshine her ability to catch prey in the first place. This beautiful young female has been making regular kills and has only had to abandon them to ensure her own safety. 7

9 SIBUYE FEMALE 3 YEARS 8 MONTHS WESTERN EYREFIELD, MARTHLY Daughter of the Kikilezi female, independent first quarter of 2016 (4 sightings) There were four sightings of the Sibuye female leopard in July. The more elusive twin of the Piccadilly female controls the area north of her sister. She was first encountered this month on the 6 th were she was seen mating with the Senegal Bush male near Campbell Koppies. She was seen again later in the month mating with an unidentified male leopard near Mlowati Dam. She is showing a keen interest in mating, an interest she doesn t seem to share with her sister. Although a bit young to give birth the coming months will be very interesting as the young female continues explore what it is to be a leopard. TAMBOTI FEMALE 9 YEARS 10 MONTHS WESTERN FLOCKFIELD, WESTERN MALAMALA (2 sightings) The Tamboti female was seen on only two occasions in July. Although we have yet to view her cubs, reports from our neighbors are that the two cubs are surviving well just west of our boundary. The Tamboti female was hunting on the western bank of the Sand River near West Street Bridge, an area very familiar to her as she has previously used the area as a den site. Hopefully she will bring the cubs closer to the river as they get older. ISLAND FEMALE 4 YEARS 3 MONTHS WESTERN FLOCKFIELD, WESTERN MALAMALA Daughter of the Tamboti female, independent first quarter of 2015 (7 sightings) The Island female was viewed on seven occasions in July. She has shifted her territory eastwards towards the Matshipiri River, an area formerly occupied by the Emsagweni female. The Island female was showing definite sighs of pregnancy, and she confirmed our suspicions on the 25 th when she was seen near main camp with her belly absent of swelling and with very clear suckle marks. With the cubs likely in the area around the old airstrip it may limit her explorations into the Matshipiri River. We are all very eager to meet the newest additions to the property and hope that she will have a bit more luck with this litter than she had with the previous one. 8

10 EMSAGWENI FEMALE MALAMALA (2 sightings) 7 YEARS 8 MONTHS The Emsagweni female was seen on two occasions in July. She has become ever more elusive over the past few months. She was seen further west than where she is normally seen, this could be attribute to the presence of the Island Female in her former territory along the Matshipiri River. FLOCKFIELD FEMALE 13 YEARS 3 MONTHS CENTRAL & EASTERN FLOCKFIELD, NORTHERN CHARLESTON (0 sightings) There were no confirmed sightings during the reported period. LOOKOUT FEMALE 6 YEARS 8 MONTHS 1 CUB +- 5 MONTHS WESTERN FLOCKFIELD, NORTHERN CHARLESTON (1 sighting) The Lookout female was seen on the 20th near Pumphouse Pans. Other leopards encountered: Males: (12 sightings, 7 individuals) o There were twelve sightings of seven different unidentified male leopards during July: An unidentified male leopard was seen on the 1st on Campbell Road near the Rattrays entrance. Another unidentified male was seen in northern Eyrefield on the 4 th. An unidentified male leopard was seen at Bicycle Crossing on the 8 th with the remains of an impala kill. A large male leopard known as the Maxabene male was seen evading the attentions of one of the Kambula lionesses south of Rattrays on the 9 th. A young male leopard was seen on four occasions in northern Eyrefield before having an altercation with the Senagal Bush male on the 18 th and was not seen again. The Quarantine male leopard was seen at Clarendon Dam on the 19 th. The Inyatini male leopard is starting to become a regular sighting on the 9

11 property. He was seen on three occasions near Rattrays camp. Females: (20 sightings, 9 individuals) Note; the cubs of the respective females are included in the female tally until such a time as they have been sexed or have reached independence. o There were 20 sightings of 9 separate no ID female leopards in July: The Teardrop Female and her two cubs were viewed on seven separate occasions in the very southern reaches of the reserve. The cubs are still looking very strong and healthy as the approach eight month old. The Ndzilo Female and her single cub were viewed on three occasions in July also in the very southern reaches of the property. The young daughter of the Kikilezi female was seen on four occasions in July. She has been seen around the Airstrip and Rattray s camp attempting to hunt larger animals like impala. There was a female leopard seen on two occasions near Main Camp. Another unidentified female leopard was seen at Pumphouse Pans on the 20 th An unknown female was seen at Charleston north crossing on the 10 th. The Nontshemeni female was seen on the 24 th on the Gowrie Boundary. NUMBER OF DIFFERENT LEOPARDS ENCOUNTERED (approximate) JULY CHEETAH There were a total of six separate cheetah sightings in July. The two Cheetah brothers were seen on four occasions at Clarendon open area. The majority of the sightings of these two males is of them moving through the open area scent marking or sleeping off a meal. There was also a male cheetah seen at the borehole in Eastern Flockfield as well as near Trollop s access. It seems to be the male who occasionally visits the airstrip. He is hopefully looking to expand his territory into MalaMala and will become a more regular sighting. NUMBER OF DIFFERENT CHEETAH ENCOUNTERED JULY

12 CAPE HUNTING DOGS There were a total of 10 sightings of three separate packs of Cape hunting dogs seen in July. They comprised of two packs of three and a single pack of nine (known as the Toulon Pack). Four out of the ten sightings of this formidable pack. They were first located at Charleston River rocks on the 6th were they continued north the following day they put on an impressive spectacular at Maxims Lookout during the morning game drive, bringing down two Impala in very quick succession. They were located two more times in the month, both times covering the majority of the property in very little time. NUMBER OF DIFFERENT CAPE HUNTING DOGS ENCOUNTERED (approximate) JULY CAPE BUFFALO AND ELEPHANTS July saw a very low frequency of buffalo, this could be attributed to the good rains during the wet season as well as the severe drought last year which claimed the lives of many buffaloes. All the dams on the property are still holding water and there is an abundance of long grass for the Buffalo so they have not yet needed to rely on the Sand River as their only source of water. Elephant sightings have climbed however from previous months and they have started occurring in larger herds which is typical in the dry season. OTHER INTERESTING SIGHTINGS Winter provides numerous interesting sightings on MalaMala. There was a new hyena den site located near Styx Crossing, which provided many up close sightings with the cubs. There were also many honey badger, civet and wildcat sightings. TOTAL SIGHTINGS: JULY 2017 LION 77 LEOPARD 77 ELEPHANT 98 BUFFALO 38 11

13 CHEETAH 6 CAPE HUNTING DOG 10 12

14 BIG 5 ANALYSIS: JULY 2017 LION LEOPARD ELEPHANT BUFFALO DATE ANIMALS SIGHTINGS ANIMALS SIGHINGS ANIMALS LH H INDIV. SIGHTINGS ANIMALS LH H INDIV. SIGHTINGS TOTAL MalaMala Game Report: July 2017

MAY 2017 GAME REPORT

MAY 2017 GAME REPORT MALAMALA GAME RESERVE GAME REPORT MAY 2017 AREAS COVERED: MARTHLY / EYREFIELD / MALAMALA / FLOCKFIELD / CHARLESTON WEATHER SUMMARY MAY MAY WEATHER SUMMARY TEMPERATURE Celsius ( C)