1 Compiled by the rangers of MalaMala Game Reserve

MalaMalaGameReserveMarch2019

Game Report

“Humankindhasnotwoventheweboflife.Wearebutonethreadwithinit.Whateverwedototheweb,wedotoourselves.Allthings

areboundtogether.Allthingsconnect.”

-ChiefSea le.

Photobyguest,JamesMickelson.

2 Compiled by the rangers of MalaMala Game Reserve

THEMONTH’SWEATHERSUMMARY

Temperature

Celsius(°C) Fahrenheit(°F)

Actual Average Actual Average

Maximum 36 31.3 Maximum 96.8 88.3

Minimum 19 22.7 Minimum 66.2 72.9

Rainfall

Millimeters Inches Daysofrain

43 1.7 5

TOTALSIGHTINGS

Lion 48

Leopard 83

Elephant 135

Buffalo 68

Cheetah 5

Capehuntingdog 23

KILLSTATS

Lion 2impalas,1zebra,1wildebeest.

Leopard 5impalas,1kudu,1warthog,2duikers,1scrubhare,1aardvark.

Cheetah 1impala.

Capehuntingdog 6impalas,2scrubhares.

3 Compiled by the rangers of MalaMala Game Reserve

*AGESAREAPPROXIMATIONSLIONS:

THEKAMBULAPRIDE=183ADULTFEMALES ±6YEARS0MONTHS3ADULTFEMALES ±5YEARS9MONTHS3CUBS 9MONTHS3CUBS 8MONTHS2CUBS 7MONTHS4CUBS 6MONTHSMALAMALA,WESTERNFLOCKFIELD(21sightings)

The18membersofthelargestpridecurrentlyresidingonMalaMalaGameReservewereviewedon21occasions thismonth.Asexpected, themajorityof these sightingswerewestof the SandRiver.Onlythree sightings occurred on the ‘eastern bank’ and theywere recorded at Campbell Koppies, BuffaloPansaswellastheTambotiThickets.A total of 12 playful cubs in the pride ensures that every sighting is entertaining. Another highlightoccurredonthe7thwhentheykilledanadultwildebeestwithinastone’sthrowofSableCamp.ItcomesasnosurprisethatthethreemembersoftheGowriemalecoalitionwereviewedwiththeprideonnumerousoccasions.Theycontinuetomatewiththetwo‘cub-less’lionesses.Aswinterapproachesweexpecttoseea lotmoreofthese lionsastheyfocustheirattentionsontheanimaltrafficapproachingtheSandRiverfromtheeast.

THESTYXPRIDE=101ADULTFEMALE 11YEARS2MONTHS1ADULTFEMALE 8YEARS2MONTHS2SUBADULTS 2YEARS5MONTHS3SUBADULTS 2YEARS1MONTH3CUBS 1YEAR8MONTHSEYREFIELD(1sighting)

Lastmonthwereportedthatitseemedlikesomesemblanceofstabilitywasfinallybeingexperiencedbythis embattled pride. Well, that was premature. We only had the one sighting, just northwest ofMalaMalaCamponthe9th.WebelievetheythenmovedintothewesternpartsoftheSabiSand.

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THEEYREFIELDPRIDE=2 1ADULTFEMALE 11YEARS9MONTHS

1ADULTFEMALE 7YEARS1MONTHCHARLESTON

(5sightings)

Wecannowconfirm,unfortunately,thattheolderlionesshasindeedlostthelitterthatshegavebirthto just over a month ago. Both lionesses were viewed with the Avoca males this month and we’rehopingthattheolderlionesswillbeabletoconceiveagain.We watched the lionesses successfully hunting impalas in Jakkalsdraai Open Area on the 24th. Theunlucky impala was caught within a few feet of our vehicles but the Avoca males relinquished thelionessesoftheirmeal.

THETORCHWOODPRIDE=10 1ADULTFEMALE UNKOWNAGE 8SUBADULTFEMALES UNKNOWNAGES(TBC) 1SUBADULTMALE UNKNOWNAGE(TBC) EYREFIELD,MALAMALA.

(8sightings)Over the last fewmonthswehave seenmoreandmoreof thispride. It nowappears that theyhavetakenoveralargeportionofwhatwasStyxprideterritory.Thus,forthefirsttime,theselionswillnowhave their own section in thesemonthly reports. 7members spent the first three days ofMarch atBuffaloBushDam.Theywerejoinedbyan8thmemberonthe3rdbeforemovingtoClarendonOpenAreaonthe5th.Theykilledazebraonthe12thnearOstrichKoppieswherethe9thand10thmembersaswellasninehyenasjoinedthem.All10lionswerelaterviewedinWildDogRocksOpenAreaonthe14th,atCampbellKoppiesonthe15thandfinallybackinClarendonOpenAreaonthe17th.These lions are regarded highly by the ranging team and we hope that they do indeed make thenortheasternsectionofourreservetheirhome.

THEMARTHLYPRIDE=1

1ADULTFEMALE 5YEARS9MONTHSMARTHLY,MALAMALA

(0sightings)Therewere no recorded sightings of this lioness inMarch butwe do have exciting reports from ourwesternneighbours.Shehasgivenbirth!Thiscouldbethestartofatrulyremarkablecomeback.Watchthisspace.

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THEFOURWAYSPRIDE=6 1ADULTFEMALE UNKNOWNAGE 2SUBADULTMALES 3YEARS4MONTHS 2SUBADULTFEMALES 3YEARS4MONTHS 1YOUNGMALE UNKNOWNAGE

EASTERNFLOCKFIELD,EASTERNCHARLESTON (0sightings)

TherewerenosightingsofthisprideinMarch.

THEGOWRIEMALES=3 1ADULTMALE ±8YEARS3MONTHS 2ADULTMALES ±7YEARS3MONTHS

EYREFIELD,MALAMALA-DOMINANTOVERTHESTYXPRIDEANDTHEKAMBULAPRIDE Firstencounter:September2015. (22sightings)Sightings of this coalition increased slightly thismonth.Aswementioned earlier, they spent the vastmajorityoftheirtimewiththeKambulaprideandtheyalsocontinuedtomatewiththetwolionessesthat do not have cubs. We also talked about how they were on the receiving end of a few hostileencounterswiththelionesses.Oneofthemalesisnot ingoodhealthandhasn’tbeenforawhile.Hisconditionseemstobegettingworsealbeitslowly.Wecan’thelpbutthinkbacktotheMatshapirimalewhodiednearCampbellKoppiesafewyearsagoforthereappeartobeseveralsimilaritieswithregardtosymptoms.

THEAVOCAMALES=2

2ADULTMALES ±6YEARS1MONTHCHARLESTON(8sightings)

Therewasa relativelysharp increase insightingsof thesemales thismonth.Lowsightingscountsarecommon in summer due to the fact that this coalition, along with the Eyrefield pride, reside in thesouthernmost reaches of our reserve.We frequent this area a lot more in winter so we’re lookingforwardtomoreconsistentviewing.Otherlionsencountered:

• TwounidentifiedlionesseswereseenontheKNPBoundarynearClarendonDamonthe12th.

TOTALNUMBEROFLIONSENCOUNTERED 47(15cubs)

6 Compiled by the rangers of MalaMala Game Reserve

LEOPARDS: THEPICCADILLYFEMALE 5YEARS3MONTHS

WESTERNEYREFIELD,MARTHLYDaughteroftheKikilezifemale,independentfirstquarterof2016(7sightings)

TherewasyetanotherdropinsightingsofthePiccadillyfemaleinMarch.Sheappearstobespendingmore andmore time in thewestern half ofMarthly. This spectacularly beautiful area is riddledwithrockyoutcropsandboulders, idealforaleopardbuttrickyforthosewhosearchforit.WehaveyettoseeanysignsofpregnancyafterherboutofmatingwiththeSenegalBushmale. THEISLANDFEMALE 6YEARS1MONTH 1MALECUB 7MONTHS

WESTERNFLOCKFIELD,WESTERNANDCENTRALMALAMALADaughteroftheTambotifemale,independentfirstquarterof2015(12sightings)

Thesetwoleopardsprovideduswithmuchentertainmentyetagain.Theywereviewedtogetheronnineofthe12sightings,withthemotherbeingseenonherowntwice,andthecubonce.ThevastmajorityofsightingstookplacealongtheMatshapiriRiverfromDrumCrossingtoMatshapiriOpenAreaCrossing.TheIslandfemalehasyettosuccessfullyraisea litterto independenceandalthoughhercurrent litterhas gone from three cubs toone,weareoptimistic.Weviewed these leopardswithan impala kill, ascrubharekill,andaduikerkill.

THEEMSAGWENIFEMALE 9YEARS3MONTHS MALECUB 1YEAR3MONTHSMALECUB 1YEAR3MONTHS

MALAMALA(5sightings)

TheEmsagweni femalecontinues todoanadmirable jobof raisingher two rapidlygrowingcubs.Weneveractually sawall three together thismonthbuthad several sightingsofbothmale cubs keepingeachothercompany.Bothcubsarehealthyandremarkablybigfortheirage,somuchsoinfactthatweevenlookedbackatourrecordstoensurethatwerecordedtheirdateofbirthaccurately!TheEmsagwenifemalehadaruninwiththeTorchwoodprideonthe13thandwaslucktoescapewithherlife.Thetwomalecubskilledanaardvarkonthe31stattheconfluenceoftheAccipiterDongaandtheSandRiver.

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THELOOKOUTFEMALE 9YEARS1MONTHDAUGHTER 1YEAR5MONTHS

WESTERNFLOCKFIELD,NORTHERNCHARLESTON (4sightings)TheLookoutfemaleandhernowindependentdaughterwereeachviewedontwooccasionsthismonth.Themotherappearstohaveconceivedagainwhichisexcitingnewsindeed.Thedaughtercontinuestobidehertimeasayoung independent leopardalongthe lowerreachesof theKapenRiverandHyenaWaterhole. THETHREERIVERSFEMALE 2YEARS11MONTHS WESTERNFLOCKFIELD,WESTERNMALAMALA

DaughteroftheKikilezifemale,orphanedonMay22nd,2017(3sightings)

Thismuch-admiredyoungleopardwasonlyviewedonfouroccasionsthismonth.OneofthosesightingswaswiththeInyatinimaleonthe11th,nearRattray’sCamp.

THESIBUYEFEMALE 5YEARS3MONTHS1CUBS 1YEAR3MONTHS

WESTERNEYREFIELD,MARTHLYDaughteroftheKikilezifemale,independentfirstquarterof2016(0sightings)

Therewerenosightingsoftheseleopardsthismonth.THEDAUGHTEROFTHETAMBOTIFEMALE 1YEAR7MONTHS

WESTERNFLOCKFIELD,WESTERNMALAMALA Orphanedinmid-2018

(8sightings)Thisorphanedyoungsterwasviewedwithtwoimpalakills,inthevicinityofPrincessAlicePans.Shehasdonewell to survive thus far and she’ll need her luck to continuewith the presence of the KambulaprideandGowriemalelionsinthatarea.However,herbiggestheadachecamefromCapehuntingdogsthismonthwhentheystoleoneofherimpalakillsonthe22nd.

8 Compiled by the rangers of MalaMala Game Reserve

THEFLOCKFIELDFEMALE 14YEARS11MONTHSDAUGHTER 2YEARS2MONTHS

EASTERNFLOCKFIELD,EASTERNCHARLESTON(0sightings)

Therewerenosightingsofeitherofthesetwoleopardsthismonth.

THETEARDROPFEMALE 8YEARS11MONTHS2CUBS 4MONTHS

SOUTHERNCHARLESTON(3sightings)

All threesightingsof these three leopards tookplacenear theircurrentdensitealongtheCharlestonToulonBoundaryclosetotheShortCuttoJockWalk.

THENDZILOFEMALE 6YEARS2MONTHSFEMALECUB 1YEAR11MONTHS

SOUTHWESTERNCHARLESTON(0sightings)ThedaughterreachedindependenceinOctober2018.

Therewerenosightingsoftheseleopardsonourreservethismonth.

THEXIVINDZIFEMALE 2YEARS3MONTHS

SOUTHERNCHARLESTON (3sightings) DaughteroftheTeardropfemale.GainedindependenceinJune2018.ThisyoungfemalewasseenmatingwiththeSplitRockmaleincentralCharlestononthe21st.

THESENEGALBUSHMALE 6YEARS6MONTHS WESTERNEYREFIELD,MARTHLY,WESTERNMALAMALA

BrotheroftheQuarantinemaleleopardfromtheNorth(10sightings)

TheSenegalBushmalecontinuestoenjoyavirtuallyunchallengedreignoverhiscurrentterritorybutthatmaychangeastheFlatRockmaleencroachesfromthewestandanunidentifiedyoungmalefromtheeast.

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Hekilledandtreedanadultwarthogonthe25thalongWesternSideMlowathi,southofMlowathiPans.

THEACCIPITERMALE ±8YEARS7MONTHS EASTERNMALAMALA,EASTERNFLOCKFIELD

(1sighting)The Accipiter male continues tomaintain a low profile despite the fact that his entire territory fallswithinourboundaries.

THESPLITROCKMALE 4YEARS9MONTHSFLOCKFIELD,CHARLESTON

SonoftheOstrichKoppiesfemale,independentlatterhalfof2015(3sightings)

Wehadtowaituntilthe15thtorecordourfirstsightingofthisimpressiveyoungmaleinMarch.HewaslaterseenmatingwithXivindsifemaleonthe21st.

THEINYATINIMALE ±10YEARS8MONTHS

MALAMALA,FLOCKFIELD(2sightings)

Therewereonlyonesightingsofthismaleleopardonourreservethismonth;bothwerenearRattray’sCamp.

THEWESTSTREETMALE 9YEARS11MONTHS

CHARLESTON(0sightings)

TherewerenosightingsoftheembattledWestStreetmale.Otherleopardsencountered:

• AnunidentifiedandslightlynervousmalewasseenonsevenoccasionsbetweenRattray’sCampandourairstrip.

• TheFlatRockmalewasviewedtwice.Bothsightingswerefurthersouthandeastofhisnormalterritory,asheappearstobepushingthenorthwesternboundariesoftheSenegalBushmale’sterritory.

• An young, but impressive, unidentified male was found with a kudu kill on the 19th on OldBoreholeRoad,southoftheOldBorehole itself.Weweretreatedtoa lengthyandfascinatingsightingwhenthreehyenasarrivedonthescene.Thescavengerseventuallyemergedvictorious.

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• Twounidentifiedfemaleswerealsoviewed.

TOTALNUMBEROFLEOPARDSENCOUNTERED 23(5cubs)

CHEETAHThetwosiblings,ayoungmaleandyoungfemale,whomwe’vebeenseeingoverthelastfewmonths,were viewed on several occasions. However, they were not viewed together. Reports from ourneighbours say that amale leopard attacked them both and this is what led to the separation. Theyoungmalecameoffworsebuthassince recovered fromhis injuries.Wewatchedhimkillan impalanearCampbellKoppiesbutahyenaswiftlystoleit.

TOTALNUMBEROFCHEETAHENCOUNTERED 2

CAPEHUNTINGDOGSOuramazingrunofCapehuntingdogsightingsoverthe lastsevenmonthscontinued intoMarch!Werecorded22sightingsinSeptember,awhopping39inOctober,23inNovember,25inDecember,28inJanuary,23 sightings inFebruary,and23again thismonth. It’sdifficult toaccurately statehowmanydifferent individuals were seen this month but we believe we viewed four different packs. Sightingsrangedfrom1,6,7,8,9,10,12,13and14individuals.

TOTALNUMBEROFCAPEHUNTINGDOGSENCOUNTERED +-40

CAPEBUFFALOANDELEPHANTSTherewereatotalof135elephantsightingsand68buffalosightings.TheyoungleucisticcalfthatwasviewedwithinalargeherdonseveraloccasionsnearSableCampinFebruarywasseenagainthismonth.Ingeneral,elephantsightingsstartedstrongbutuncharacteristicallydecreasedtowardstheendofthemonth.Thistrendwillsurelyendasweheadintowinter.Weenjoyedaslightincreaseofbuffaloherdsightingsaspopulationsstarttobouncebackafterthe2016drought.OTHERINTERESTINGSIGHTINGS

• ACapeclawlessotterwasspottedintheSandRivernearMatumiRocksonthe10th.• ThehyenadeneastofF-BendOpenAreawasactivewithatleasttwoyoungsters.• Sightings of Southern Ground Hornbills were frequent. An active nest was discovered near

MatshapiriOpenAreaCrossing.