Sharubu diaries.....
Lions (local name: Sharubu) are the only felines that
form social groups. All other cats are solitary hunters. The social groups are
called prides. A pride of lions typically includes about five females and two
males and their young.
Prides are often described as matriarchal because more females
belong to a pride, they remain long-term members of the pride and they live
longer than male lions. The life of a male lion is socially more precarious
than that of a female lion. Males must win their way into a pride of females
and once they do they must fend off challenges from males outside the pride who
try to take their place.
Male lions are in their prime between the ages of 5 and 10 years
and often do not live long after that period. Male lions rarely remain part of
the same pride for more than 3 or 4 years.
Female lions often give birth at about the same time, which
means the cubs within a pride are of a similar age. The females will suckle one
another's young but that doesn't mean it's an easy life for cubs within the
pride. Weaker offspring are often left to fend for themselves and often die as
a consequence.
Lions often hunt together with other members of their
pride. The prey they capture usually weighs between 55 and 330 kgs. When prey
within that weight range is not available, lions are forced to either catch
smaller prey weighing as little as 15 kgs or much larger prey weighing as much 500
kgs. When forced to feed on small prey, lions make the kill and eat their catch
by themselves. When forced to eat larger prey, they must hunt in groups and
risk injury during a hunt due to the large size of their prey.
Ruaha
national park in the southern Tanzania, beholds many prides of lions. The
prides witnessed have lions in huge numbers. Up to 24 lions. I have had the
possibility to spend some time with the different prides of lions during my 3
weeks stay at the Kwihala Camp in the prime gaming (central) area of the park.
We know of 10 different prides co-existing in this beautiful landscape having
the imaginary boundaries (territories). A pride of lions
will live in a territory that they will defend from other lions. Lions identify
their territory by roaring loudly or by physically scent marking trees or rock
outcrops. While female lions will hunt and kill most of the animals for the
pride to eat, male lions are around primarily to defend the territory from
other lion prides or nomadic male lions.
Due to the
fact that these prides of Ruaha contain lions in huge records, they usually
hunt big game. The bushbuck pride & the Mwayembe pride are known to hunt
giraffes and buffalos. Zebras and other large animals are just teatime snack
for such big prides.
Below are
some pictures taken while spending considerable time in company of these
beautiful cats.
The prides include
The Kipunji Pride (Mwagusi area – 7 lionesses), The Bushbuck pride (up to 24
lions including cubs), The Njaa pride (10 lions – also known as the Kumi Juu –
Njaa stands for hunger in swahili), the Kumi pride (10 Lions. Kumi means 10 in
Swahili), Msembe pride (up to 12 lions), Wakali Pride (12 lions @ W7 – 2 big
lions Grumpy & Brother, one big female locally known as Jessi with 3 young
cubs), Mwayembe pride (21 lions – 1 big old male whom I call Ceaser), Mdonya
Juu pride (16 lions), Ifuguru pride (12 lions. 2 males from the fabulous four
coalition still remain part of this group) and the Ikuka pride (4 females and 6
young males - near Mpululu).
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ6Q4P_DkgutNYjzqiIA1YJul-vHnAUC2eoM_3PL2I-vn4eUZRBr2jsJQmEg5Trq3mnEi5lyi_ouN6aO7KkOQew5SqxIj5xWvNYr1SaR8fO1jYak7RiWWQncKupRQ3Hl4Vdf7RnWW9T2ih/s320/Mwanyembe+2.jpg) |
Mwanyembe Pride |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrHw1FLJ15FneMeEf7G3bs04cq0Sddul1P82iePs_YmSdFLUJLpsk8uzN0lF4NS39eKJqtpICMuGd9gVZJnUYp1_qT50E1lhl1TjfIklxaVwx_EQLtmFL56Ha3Ky7y2zpMVqxFwywHxmlx/s320/Mwayembe+3.jpg) |
Mwanyembe Pride |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7fLawWqLE2iTtGIymqqS7uFSx4SFeR_6IgKDD5BEYYYuEnAOgdPS8LknrkjxEUgu6SYxdtIqgcst7r0Y0O9OKjymwCQWIW5C5akUTRDaiJoISpyor6h-CJpch3CwVcpE78b_YLBYM89RB/s320/bushbuck+1.jpg) |
Bushbuck pride |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgeKK_zCPE45Rr_iQY7XLnlzRps0EjNNAnsfz6mquzGeWuEzKAIfCND0NjkoyyFhZd-C-4bRlPAVP8reFzYQZANn2ffnabWrPOF8qafdOxfFt6gAkTHO4TPlllfJVjy8E5LcogP-HiCUyb/s320/bushbuck+2.jpg) |
Bushbuck pride |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7LFljF6RmQ3fEcKTgj0aF5WzL62mrhiMHCsWNkajjkU6Cobp5-yjVeUF57Jti_jxcoKEz8E8boJvTi2mPBUTySHhkdBF67IE3WYCu4YmKJoF1qGQBsKo5V9PX6-MyyjmtJaeR8WmgGWfB/s320/grumpy.jpg) |
Grumpy - Giraffe Kill - Wakali pride |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8ydL0t_qsqpSB-9RP6emcGI0UYArQGoXDUSQ_UjPW59hc6HUeYrC2d5gEbnba5xPTixzzAvh-mzXAdKzpttKpmR2wnLEIX_3UplTw2zHBSZbp7IQgrO1cC2wHOeKbQ2wwUJzFfo2SxE0b/s320/ifuguru+-+fab+4.jpg) |
Ifuguru pride - fabulous 4 |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaET61peXLax8eygrhgbNb2g569eudBk7U-otW44TcjgD03M-DNtF-s6nLCgh-yIJ7dbC2QHuUcuMo6-3J0rTUFR4RA2U6ZldORpe28leNYjtTY-PVOqMzCU9wDlTJedNJ9t3H9JMsw1IB/s320/kipunji+3.jpg) |
Kumi Juu |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlvE0q-zxN59gY-0Jk_cYiUksYbPxP7rj2mDm6WS-80azcdgsvyFBJ2U_axV1WTSP45xq28clglfNGZHJnRR0JpNjo4lwrqAHDQ9qFAS8SiiwURmpOQUATbAMwQuEOGM5cX6Zsh803NZll/s320/kipunji+4.jpg) |
Kipunji pride - Sunset |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXeGsG7jgscb_SVBqfATHDbJDY2E_xnmUqTunxNU0fdhaybAoy2c7U0jYuRYkNMemAS-imn1JES5zu7zHxW7L8wY3hrci8II1IhMXsN9m50dbpYwSdE5nVewq7bf5eLtjVo9VmdHiXUZNU/s320/kumi+2.jpg) |
Kipunji |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUXv2q8eOveqhWliubv-iNMn1oHKq8UjgS4f5dZmVExQCNIV9j6XnY2OFAsHXbQy6ffkgfIhyMdT4RlkvmZCZRdYF-D0HV3cL7fPKC7uIQHTFDNa1RiJvJ-6wTuipfijvBt4fJS8ZfWxlw/s320/kumi+3.jpg) |
Njaa male |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjHbxIdlbdLzzYAlqtNDE04NATz27kE6nSrVWbIQbfGcD7B7U_bpUJ2dQPE7J_4-YNWqnG4cksfHXEN0iJJCUDGaSWd-GWoMKS36tBOD_oZPN7ht2_9n71zFN0xTJPsVEFQuqz3cwq2gz0/s320/mdonya+juu+2.jpg) |
Mdonya juu - at Kimilimatonge base |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiieHwEYr3u2uiatlkmpKwKB6WatNtLWdHCk9AK9NCE2wLVjCu2uo-vXDrYDvQ4ZqjMAl0scB5gBTQRX5L0D67pPpNJta3rE7MS37xpt-5-4s9gGa1VS7vEECteMYWkZthiz-0yuLPbC5_9/s320/mdonya+juu+4.jpg) |
Mdonya juu |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvL33UP3z4ACgAPc6fMO411lzrrfQRG43nb2wrjMoDHx-ycXEtQZvXy8mz0aVa4gsDDgROc2hgh9-zUeYYV2GzytpmCEUh9uAyK1nFYhyphenhyphenKVbCRwPWD9f2N9kvMWmwK1z4rLIFkrq-r32nY/s320/mdonya+juu+5.jpg) |
Princess - Mdonya juu |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiG8CqnZ6pZPPmeNNZT6rLvlfGWrReMnrOPEFHyP2S2i9Q0glb7nQ-co9eiYK_OrKJdwkcKDMw2XvkuXUu1wUgSU3CnYmo5xgjoz-guDYpOGS6NKHxSs5vKmeFFwNSAII9KnTOgFkfO30D/s320/msembe+1.jpg) |
Msembe pride |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPTrgnl4TTnE6xzoTPR9h7kxwziPXtpLktdkOw6cBAO2Y1pSpM6eB9K01eAQ6vANHmx6Wfu7taCUFjp58FnGbt3noc_UJFvw4Vphm1w7y3gDLukQayiepQXzxlx5RmxH6zqpi8ppgfbQSg/s320/msembe+2.jpg) |
Msembe pride |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxe8MYpmfWsLPEGy1zAkWfWWt_RgBuatYb7Pgfr_19-btHseCC8NMdv1kL9o2fCEahLPWG739zpo0E4OfFE328KK848Rz6TBp5w8zOHAUoR4HmqW-EuPc35Mwc4wzO79IDlvM4Arraa1rd/s320/wakali+2+-+Brother.jpg) |
Brother - Wakali pride |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT1nqNWqGl2raOF0GypKibyrsL8huT3J6VvgPhLrHTFkvAFzLZWkwTfCXqUo7_VUeIejFD5s3rNfpt7laOosvUwmb0c1MeKuzQl8JHLjyePrw11tyLWmMt4tEpKgIAZh8aV2s1d5nhPKQy/s320/wakali+4.jpg) |
Wakali after a Zebra feast |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLSwL-QXY2Ak0czVug4OtJBzlKkLcqQI62vaIc1VIFvMcF8Uk6ti5bEmUqGvjDa9mYPYZEGbGHnbOsAqwbiy9p4OUUzWG5RLKWPd-WmoweQpU6ZeHX0NyUXR60iaWSQwsBm2K71kN4oGeG/s320/wakali+5.jpg) |
Wakali |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHEus60BUs7Fm_yZQdZdeb8vENsaJPrEXYB64robZyqO7GROxIZPohQvJ1EBduDnC5e1CaoNgRI2KrZwg_RNHUfNhSi5-99EYnGa8M6np6xJQVdvgeNqAt1o8ahsgVElz5TlOB29rRkTDo/s320/wakali+6+-+grumpy+&+brother.jpg) |
Grumpy & Brother |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixNk_aXYnDJqmX1W8Hw5FC0_S3CEhA2WMZMocvPvRCKJXn4uZvcNNVy3pxTii_ETMv1esjoYDRovabbXMtrco49ez85zTYcO7XJBvV2gFcA7mtYiStMGAqE-ZNv8CLJ1gZJW37oyQsq12p/s320/Mwayembe+1+-+Ceaser.jpg) |
Ceaser - Mwayembe pride |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjom6ZSBeshHu2YX6lSl9FB-zYiUKCjpYUyLLUKQO-AaT4kB1bFTj4q8R01iTwpgCxEMdwgRUd9m83ZDdcAykWBBBUQ4xVT7S2lly6M7Ed41eNaJgIvIkdWW_iDeCKkEJd1UUXLqBdahLS2/s320/Wakali+1.jpg) |
Lunch time - Wakali |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsXyT0mkA42CpRwWgEQLIY0CNPE-MZNPfRPSBxpWq5DTFVKeCfXw_Wudg7g-IBAScJkidoW27M76qINxE3o-ymyfMfLDy3O7V_sEcmHEGu6yKO9P53JTKJP-QBHhHoognJdtQj7FxT_caB/s320/kumi+1+-+George.jpg) |
George - Kumi |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjQwUM9OnZ5vMHZiUbt44LjFtShPYVMmJ05vQ9JLAp68bnspJA2lyw5QpIFJj5UvJ-ueAy2N-R9S_DJdNDMcNSBBRwKZQ2Vix48-uXBejvB8JPVT_vCGqfVWvVxhTOCigh5TeP7f4e8kjS/s320/kumi+1.jpg) |
Kumi pride |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBm3HICFCPj1VK6AH89pDwuqiFRruu8l3brymAzek6bCKdgkElny0cCz45mWHYatK4tm8ooy9UtRBMgD7OQU07qQQwz9Ou1hcPrxh0yBVc6t2rNjgPQVB8cQYk1s14JWcWKGUdY07SuHfZ/s320/kumi+4.jpg) |
Njaa lioness |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD3WkTYZdUQA_YI2Xy5qUsoVR78iYTwiUoPmnRD6dnTSZWtqDlIZkPMXC5SzIr04JNYfkQg1vQe-a6zTVIGLZRPpAKaLS_64T8q3KkKYKoZoYKbFVv-BDESTeg4axT02ZxihP11DVM4Gwj/s320/mdonya+juu+1.jpg) |
Mdonya juu |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5AA-LmH3i6TA91L-pzy1gG1qB-_j_8ujqZmReOy5pY19clwfdsPChM6oKfXnE9FEtPuc7sw618kvRblNW-22tFQ1kcXbH_xlSSgzLJgnv-nrkHU2neoYECsnGfhIlDoigPSpFvXuGXSw1/s320/kumi+5.jpg) |
Msembe pride |
All photographs copyright .... Akil Halai
Hey Joy,
ReplyDeleteVery nice man, good work with the lens toy too.
Keep it up. post on birds are required.
Jiyo
Mandi