Re: Marsh Pride Updates

**Doogs** Mon Jun 11, 2012 2:12 pm

Posted 10/06/2012 some great info here from Peter Rettig via FB re the Marsh Pride :-

The make up of the Marsh Pride should be as follows:

The Core of the Pride = 15 members

The 4 Musketeers
Scar, Sikio, Hunter & Morani (app. 4 years 7 month old)

Bibi + 1 sub adult (female; 2 years 8 month old)
White Eye + 3 sub-adults (2 males + 1 females; 2 years 8 month old)
Siena + 2 sub-adults (2 females; 2 years 8 month old)
Charm + 1 sub-adult (1 female 2 years 1 month old)

The Satellite Group = 6 members
Joy + 3 cubs (16 month old)
+ 2 young males (3 years and 4 month old)

The Breakaway/Topi Plains Pride = 4 members
4 young females (now 4 years and 10 month old)

The Breakaway/Kichwa Tembo Males = 3-4 members
3-4 young males (now 4 years and 10 month old)

A brief overview on what happened over the last month and on the dynamics within the Core Marsh Pride as observed over the last almost 2 weeks.

Bottom line is that all members of the Core Pride are doing well, hence not all has obviously settled down after the take over of the 4 Ms in October last year. The older Marsh females (Bibi, Siena and Charm) have lost all the cubs born since July 2011. The latest loss is the one cub of Charm. It seems the females have not denned as usual but often brought their cubs out way to early or left them behind for too long to join up with other pride members. One can only speculate about the reasons, but it may have to do with the generation change, incl. the presence of the 4 Breakaway/Topi Plains females roaming on the fringes of the Marsh Pride territory. These 4 young formidable females are offspring of the “old generation” (Red, Bibi, White Eye and Lispy) and the Graces (Siena, Charm and Joy) may not want to leave their territory unguarded for too long and may want to keep their own offspring (3 of the 5 young females belong to Siena and Charm) as pride mates. As Joy is not with them while staying away to protect her offspring from the 4 Ms, this is probably a tense time for Siena and Charm being the core females of the pride at present. Another factor might be that the females are not yet sure about the “qualification” of the 4 Ms as Pride Males. They are still quite young and have to proof their case. Beside this one has to keep in mind, that times are lean at present as the plains game is avoiding the long grass or is absent entirely (Wildebeest and Zebra).

The 4 older young females are getting along reasonably well with the 4 Ms it seems. The males have mated with all of them, but they are still too young to give birth I think. My impression was that those 4 females avoid the males as much as possible and rather stay with Bibi, who is doing very well and seems to be the point of stability in the pride while often taking care of the youngsters.

The youngest of the young females, Charm’s daughter, may be tolerated by the Males but she is not yet accepted it seems. She has been chased by the males as reported by Rich and Simon, plus we have seen her retreating quickly as soon as she sighted the males. On the other hand the young girl is still seeking the company of her mother.

Let’s hope things will settle down and ease up as soon as the migratory herds arrive.

Joy and her 3 cubs (2 male and 1 female) have been last seen on Topi Plains on the 22nd of May. A few weeks before she joined up with other members of the Core Marsh Pride on a kill site. She has sadly lost one of her cubs. Her 2 older sons have not been seen for quite some time and we have to assume, that they have finally started their nomadic life. But who knows, they may stay together again as we speak.

White Eye has last been seen sometime in April by Governors Guides on the northern fringes of the Marsh Pride territory if I recall correctly, along with her 2 sons. As it is very difficult to spot lions due to the long grass and she was staying in an area not highly frequented by Game Drive Vehicles, esp. during low season, she may well be around somewhere. Let’s hope so! But if she is still with us somebody should see her over the next month or so.

**Laikipia** Mon Jun 11, 2012 2:37 pm

That is a brilliant update from Peter R - thanks for sharing Doogs. I will have to read that a couple of times for it to sink in.

Lai

**Doogs** Wed Jun 13, 2012 11:45 pm

Rich & Peter have returned from the Mara and they have been posting a lot of great photos and info about the Lions of the Mara.

I hope everyone can view this but look at each individual photo and all the info that's attached to some of them. Particularly nice are the 4 breakaway females who are called Autumn, Winter, Spring & Summer - they are beautiful lioness's

https://www.facebook.com/#!/media/set/?set=a.475713275778719.130206.100000201514838&type=3

**Laikipia** Thu Jun 14, 2012 11:15 am

Thanks Doogs. I've been trying to keep up with their posts and photos on FB.

They've had an amazing time by the sounds of things.

Lai

**whitestarling** Mon Jun 18, 2012 12:46 pm

**Doogs** Tue Jul 24, 2012 12:55 pm

From Governors Camp FB Page :-

"There has been much activity with the four Musketeers and these lovely photos are kind courtesy of Steve Granger who is staying with us at IL Moran. There are a few lionesses coming into estrus and with this there is bound to be a fracas amongst these four males, the wounds inflicted are superficial only but the fights were dramatic as depicted in Steve's photos"

Link to FB Photos:

https://www.facebook.com/lynn.healey.3#!/photo.php?fbid=475847079094185&set=a.475847055760854.114931.127029937309236&type=1&theater

**whitestarling** Wed Jul 25, 2012 11:20 am

A fantastic series of Photos. I would'nt have liked to be the referee in that fight Marsh Pride Updates - Page 15 40683

Thanks Doogs for the link
WS

**Laikipia** Wed Jul 25, 2012 1:22 pm

Thanks Doogs. Great photos.

Lai

**Doogs** Thu Aug 02, 2012 12:53 pm

From FB - 2 August 2012 :-

Governors Camp Collection

Yesterday, Joy and her 3 male cubs (about 1 and a half years old) were seen at the Windmill on the Northern edge of the Musiara Marsh. They were a few hundred meters away from 3 of the Muskateers and 5 of the Marsh females. Scar was eating a warthog. Earlier in the day The Muskateers had stolen a Gazelle fawn from some jackals.

At one point an extradited Marsh Pride female who is now 2 and a half years old and presumed to be one of Charm's old litters tried to come back to the pride but was swiftly chased and beaten by the Muskateers and one of the Marsh females. She sustained a serious injury to the neck but will likely recover. She was not accepted by the Muskateers because she is not sexually mature and would therefore be a burden to the pride.

**Laikipia** Mon Aug 06, 2012 11:26 am

Doogs. I'm sorry to hear about the young female and hope she can rejoin the pride when she is mature. Life as a lion is tough.

Lai

**Doogs** Mon Aug 06, 2012 1:08 pm

From FB - 06/08/2012 - Governors Camp Collection

Current Marsh Pride Composition

The Four Muskateers (Coalition Males): Scar, Sikio, Hunter and Morani.
Sienna and Bibi (1st Generation Females)
6 mature lioness including Charm (2nd Generation Females)
4 Young Cubs (these are being mothered by one of the 2nd Generation Females although one of the four is actually adopted from Bibi).

**Laikipia** Mon Aug 06, 2012 2:34 pm

Doogs - trying hard to keep up with these lions/lionesses and their cubs.

Lai Laughing

**whitestarling** Mon Aug 06, 2012 5:49 pm

Thanks Doogs its starting to get a bit confused

but I'm sure we'll sort it out
WS

**Doogs** Mon Aug 13, 2012 1:55 pm

From FB : Governors Camp Collection - 13 August 2012

A recent Game Report from Main Governor's Driver Guides'

1. One black male rhino at paradise just walking on the plains

2. Two leopards (male and female) seen together at the main crossing area. We think it must be a mating pair.

3. Notch's sons seen at Intrepids area. They are keeping and looking well.

4. Notch was seen on the other side of Talk river and he looks weak as he seems to have gone for some days with no food. He is together with a pride of lions that have been seen a lot by the Rekero area. Together with him were five adult female lionesses plus two cubs aged between 6-7 months old. They were all together relaxing under a tree.

5. Nyota and her cub Moja were seen at Justin's tree area on top of the fig tree just resting there. She has made this tree a better place for her to get a nice view and also some safety just in case!!! They are not so well fed but at least in better condition.

6. Muskateers seen near Musiara gate. Two of them had killed a baby hippo and so they were looking not badly off.........these were SIKIO and SCAR FACE!!

Not liking that news on Notch

**Laikipia** Mon Aug 13, 2012 2:25 pm

Notch.

Apart from that another good update on all that is happening in the Mara. Thanks Doogs.

Lai

**whitestarling** Mon Aug 13, 2012 6:05 pm

Thanks for the update Doogs as you both say good news, but a bit disconserting about Notch, but hopefully the others will make sure He gets enough food. Fingers X with the migration Nyota and her cub Moja will find it easier to get food to eat, and build themselves up
WS

**Doogs** Tue Aug 14, 2012 1:12 pm

From FB 14-08-2012

Real Time on a morning Game Drive from Governor's:

''Found a leopard up a tree looking agitated. Reason was a lioness with 3 cubs and 2 sisters 50 yards away. They were joined by 2 male lions. Lions mating was next on the agenda. Then lionesses cavorting on a tree trunk and looking to hunt. All with 100,000 wildebeest as a backdrop. Reckon the lions will hunt soon. Unbelievable.''

**Laikipia** Tue Aug 14, 2012 1:15 pm

That was some morning.

Thanks Doogs.

Lai

**Doogs** Wed Aug 15, 2012 7:46 pm

From FB: Governors Camp Collection - 15 August 2012

Wildebeest Migration - Latest Update:

Yesterday at 12.00pm an estimated 5,000 Zebra and Gnus crossed at the mortuary crossing point, 4 were taken by crocodile and a further 6 were trampled, one Zebra was caught in a rock crevice and died. There is another big build up as we talk now at the main crossing points at Paradise.

Many more have been crossing the Talek river and large herds passing th
rough the Burrangat and posse plains.

On Tuesday afternoon Joy and her three cubs that are nearly 16 months old were being seen near the windmill north of the Marsh in Masai land, earlier in July two of them had a fracas with two of the large Musketeers when one of them was scratched above the right eye, this wound has cleared nicely.

**whitestarling** Wed Aug 15, 2012 10:46 pm

Its really sad that a few did'nt make it across, but as weknow it happens, and at least other animals get a feed. Sounds as though the migration is in full swing now. Glad Joys youngster healed up OK. Thanks Doogs
WS

**Laikipia** Thu Aug 16, 2012 9:30 am

Thanks Doogs. It's always hard to read about the wildies and zebra but it is nature.

Lai

**Doogs** Fri Aug 17, 2012 1:07 pm

FM FB : Governors Camp Migration Report - 15th August:

In the last few days there have been some very good crossings on the Mara River. Yesterday, many Zebra and Gnus crossed from east to the west at the main crossing points and also and the mortuary crossing point which is upstream from the main crossing and at Paradise Plains. There are many Gnus spread
throughout Bila Shaka, Musiara Marsh and the Musiara Plains. Huge ...lines of Wildebeest this morning can be seen filing across the northern side of Rhino Ridge and it looks like they are headed towards Paradise Plains.

There are two cubs that are the same age as the Marsh cubs at Paradise Plains (about 4-6 weeks old) and the two large males are back there too.

Morani has been seen mating with one of the young Marsh females.

Yesterday evening Sienna, who has three cubs one of which belongs to Bibi managed to tree a young male Leopard at 'Lake Nakuru' and the Leopard was kept high up in a Teclea tree for most of the day, it had moved out of the tree by this morning

**Doogs** Fri Aug 17, 2012 1:12 pm

Fm FB - Governors Camp Update from 16th August:

There has been another large crossing of mainly Gnus on Paradise at the Mortuary Crossing point. This all happened at 11.00am with an estimated 5,000 animals crossing. Three were taken by Crocodile and one Zebra was caught but it was let go.

Sienna as of three days ago (13th) left her two cubs and one of Bibi's cubs to the young lioness, who with her three has now six cubs, this is referred to as communal suckling amongst the social cats.

Two Cheetah, a female and her 11 month old male cub are being seen near Rhino Ridge. These two were form the Mara North Conservancy and they are probably in this region due to the shorter grasses.

**Laikipia** Fri Aug 17, 2012 2:02 pm

Doogs. Two interesting updates, those wildies and zebs must be having a tough time. Mortuary crossing point is a great name isn't it? Not if you're a wildie I imagine What a Face

Good to hear about Siena and her two/three. I hope the cheetah are okay.

Lai

**whitestarling** Fri Aug 17, 2012 6:10 pm

The crossings are really tough on the prey animals, and it's a shame, but it's been going on for many years in Africa, and many other animals would not survive if it were not for the migration. Siena sems to be doing well with the Cubs, and its proberbly a good move on the Cheetahs part, as it will improve their chances of getting food. Thanks for posting the updates Doogs
WS

Sponsored content