Well this is exciting! Not only have we seen evidence of one of the Ross lionesses with suckle marks on her belly, we have also caught the second Ross lioness mating with one of the Trilogy boys. It is thrilling enough to know that there is potentially a couple of bundles of joy being well hidden somewhere in the Klaserie (Africa on Foot tracker, Enoch, has a sense about these things), but to catch this pair of lions mating means that there is double the possibility of Trilogy-Ross cubs in the near future!
Trilogy Lion stares intensely into camera
It is well known that this coalition of 3 big male lions arrived onto Ross Pride territory over a year ago and the Ross dominant males, The Good and The Bad, fled without looking back. The Ross Pride followed suit, except for these 2 ladies who we now refer to as the Ross Pride breakaway females. The Trilogy lions have now become known as the leading coalition in the area, and over time we have observed them becoming more accustomed to Africa on Foot and nThambo Tree Camp vehicles. In the past, these roughed up lions have backed away from the lime light, preferring to stay hidden, and their grumpy tempers have been duly noted.
Trilogy male profile
Trilogy lion looks more relaxed in his territory
In the last year, both the Ross Pride females have had cubs sired by the Trilogy, but neither litter has survived. Lion cubs can fall victim to many predators, like leopard, hyena, and other lions, as they are born underdeveloped with complete dependency on their mothers for protection and nourishment. They are kept hidden in a secret ‘den’ for the first 6 weeks of their lives where their mother will go to suckle and groom them. This time they spend alone is often when they might be sniffed out and killed by predators. When our Ross Pride lionesses are seen apart, we suspect that they are tending to cubs, and when we see evidence of lactation, our hopes are confirmed!
The Trilogy males will mate with the lioness in oestrus for short bursts every 20 minutes over 4 consecutive days, making it a very intense and exhausting affair for the couple. One can’t help but commend their efforts, given that the mortality rate for lion cubs is very high at 50 %! To put their effort into perspective; for every cub that reaches 1 year old, the parents would have copulated 3000 times. How’s that for determination?
Full bellied Trilogy male in between bouts of mating
Lion pursues lioness to mate
Trilogy male mating with Ross lioness
Ross lioness at dusk
Lion stares through the grass
White lioness and a Trilogy Male mating in the Klaserie! - Sun Safaris