Update on Ndutu's biggest cats from the Kope Lion Team

By Ololotu and Ingela from Kope Lion (https://kopelion.org/)

Pride Dynamics

In Ndutu, the lions of Twin Hill and Twin Hill Sister have gone through big changes. Since last year’s takeover by a coalition of five strong males, known as Team Tano (tano=five) the prides that once moved together are now very scattered across the land. Team Tano, originally from the Big Marsh pride, managed to drive out the collared male Lopirr and kill his brother, a pair who had been the resident males for the Twin Hill and Twin Hill Sisters prides for the last couple of years.

Lopirr’s collar reached the end of its use and dropped off automatically in February. With and without his collar we kept seeing Lopirr and his son TWH-45 throughout the last rainy season – including their attempts to make their place in the Big Marsh area. This caused commotion in the Big Marsh pride, which appears to have scattered after the arrival of these two males.

Even as the prides spread out, new life is beginning. At Esusunoto—a busy and risky area during the dry season as livestock pass by on their way to water—two lionesses of the Twin Hill Sisters pride, are caring for a bundle of 8 cubs. The mothers stay on close guard of their young, while often attracted to take a sheep or cow as they pass by them. A GPS collar on one of these females would really help to mitigate the high risk of conflicts here. So, on August 14th, our team and the NCA authority veterinarian successfully collared one of the 2 lionesses, TWH-33, and gave her the fancy name Nemambai, based on her favorite area. This was the very first collaring led by Ndolok, who began for KopeLion as a lion scout in 2015, then as Ilchokuti (Lion guardian), until he was recently promoted to the lion monitoring team. He was proud to guide the operation, which went smoothly and marked a big step forward for him and for KopeLion.

The Masek pride is often seen on the shores of Lake Ndutu, the cause-way and in Hugo's Valley. This pride consists of 4 adult females and 9 yearlings (born in March and June 2024). Fathers are the Team Tano (this gang of 5 currently residents in all Ndutu lion prides). They have done really well, raising all these cubs throughout last dry season. But the last report I had they were looking a bit skinny. A giraffe (nowadays a common lion meal in the Ndutu area) might solve that overnight. If you hear lion roars by the lodge at night, most likely it is the Masek pride out on a prowl.

Meanwhile, the lions of the Big Marsh pride remain a mystery. Before Lopirr & son made them scatter, 11-12 lions were regularly seen in the marsh area: Cassandra, Eyewart and her sister and their 8 cubs, plus one male of Team Tano. Fresh tracks southeast of Lake Ndutu fit with the constellation of the Big Marsh group. Cassandra and her 2 yearlings were seen again in July, but in poor skinny condition – obviously struggling to get enough to eat. Thereafter, no sightings and their absence leaves us searching and waiting, hoping to see them again soon. Any updates on lion sightings from visitors are always helpful in our search.

The lions of Ndutu continue to show us the strength of survival, the challenges of change and conflicts, and the beauty of new beginnings.

For more information on this project or regarding Ndutu Safari Lodge, please contact bookings@ndutu.com or charlie@campbell-bell.com or call 01931 713288