Mara Predator Project

Follow the day-to-day lives of the Mara lions with Sara Blackburn of the Mara Predator Project, as she identifies new individuals and collaborates with tourists and guides to build up an online database of individual lions.

http://marapredatorproject.blogspot.com/
WS

Thanks for the nudge on Mara Predator update LW. For those of you who have never read one of their updates, below is a copy of their latest so that you see the information that we get on the Lions of the Masai Mara
If you click the link to Mara Predator Report you will be able to see all the photo's as well
http://marapredatorproject.blogspot.com/

The Marsh Pride’s Family Vacation
Sunday, May 9, 2010
Posted by Sara Blackburn at 4:50 PM
WS

This morning I drove out of camp to be met by a gang of thirteen very special lions. Within the bunch was a number of youngsters, along with some familiar faces.



Just outside of Serian, Chemi-Chemi (the spring) is in the northern reaches of the Mara North Conservancy on the Mara River. It’s certainly some distance from the Musiara Marsh, which is why I was surprised to identify the lions as none other than the infamous Marsh Pride.





How many lions?!



Four adults – Siena and Grace (Stacey), Bibi and White Eye were lazing in the sun with Romeo and a whole assortment of cubs. Grace’s two male cubs, now around 15 months old, and six cubs around 5 months old – four belonging to White Eye and two to Siena – were all happily playing in the long grass and exploring their new environment.



The cubs practiced their tree climbing skills amongst the Acacia



The pride have been slowly working their way into the conservancy, and have been spotted on a number of occasions. Although they are far from their home, the territory is open, as many of the River Pride lions are residing on the escarpment. Romeo too has visited the area often to mate with new females.



A lion’s pride territory is not as fixed as you’d think. Although lions spend a lot of time in a core area, prides rangers are large and overlapping. However, two prides will not occupy the same shared territory at the same time, and will advertise their presence to neighbouring prides by roaring.



White Eye the one-eyed lioness. A caring mother but also a fierce hunter



The Marsh Pride is also in a state of flux – with Clawed (Mpengo) seemingly absent, Red no longer with us and the five sub-adults from the females’ last litters, the large family has split into a number of sub-groups. It seems that White Eye and Bibi are forming an alliance with the Three Graces – including Siena and Grace – whilst Lispy remains with the daughters of the pride. Lispy has also been seen flirting with two handsome chaps from the border of the Marsh. Perhaps Romeo and Clawed’s reign is facing an uncertain future?



However the pride forms, here’s hoping that the Marsh females will be as successful at raising this family as they were with the last. They’ve got a lot of experience on their paws!



Sara

WS

Another Great update from Sara of the Mara Predator Project
Some Great Photos to see as well. To see them the link is
http://marapredatorproject.blogspot.com/

Yesterday I heard that two new males had gotten themselves in a spot of bother. Long story short, one lion had to rescue his brother from a very angry herd of buffalo!


Becky and Matt, two guests at Serian Camp, saw the event unfold. After finding Nura (Silver), the couple noticed a herd of buffalo surrounding a tree. The herd looked somewhat agitated, and so they went over to have a closer look. What should they find but a young male lion trembling precariously in the branches of a thorny acacia?


This boy’s in a spot of bother!





It’s certainly no myth that lion and buffalo don’t get on. What was this young lion going to do? Lucky for him, help was on the way. Another male, most probably his brother, distracted the herd by circling upwind and luring the angry buffalo away. He led them on a wild goose chase across the plain, giving his brother enough time to slink timidly out of his prickly perch.


Is it safe out there yet?





Buffalo will often kill cubs and young lions, and demand some respect. On the flip side, however, buffalo aren’t always safe – in certain parts of Africa, such as the Okavango Delta, male lions specialise in buffalo.They certainly present themselves as a tasty feast, if a lion can get past those mean horns, that is!


These boys are new to me, so I’ll be working hard to find them over the next few days. Here’s hoping they don’t get themselves in any more trouble!




Thanks to Becky and Matt for the brilliant pictures.



Sara

What a photo of him up the tree - lucky there was a tree close by! These buff boys can be mean

Great update so thanks for posting WS
Laikipia

Sorry Lai I have moved Mara Predator Project to a new thread thats why my Photo is showingnot your
WS

Not a problem WS -

Lai

Another great update from Sara with news of Joy one of the 3 Graces, and even Honeys Boys meeting up with two Male Lions dated Mon 24th May

http://marapredatorproject.blogspot.com/
WS

A lovely read WS - thanks for posting the update

Lai

Just had a quick look at the database Doogs - it's far more extensive than before - now we can be really confused

I could only find two of the three Graces and so need a better look later. As you say this will be a great help on our next safaris (note the positive there)

Lai

You Lucky pair
WS