I was in Samburu mid August monitoring the resident lions there. Whilst out early on the 24th of August, I saw lots of lion tracks near the tip of Koitogor Hill. There were tracks everywhere including those of the cubs. It had been a while since I had seen the cubs and I was excited of the possibility of seeing them again.
I suddenly got a radio-call saying that lions had been seen; about 150 metres away from where I was driving. But… there was a fight going on! I rushed to the spot and got there in time to see Nabo being chased by a lion. But who was the lion? I tried to look through the binoculars but the lions were moving so quickly in the thick bush and it was hard to see.
One of the males
I then realized that there were actually new lions here. 3 new males were attacking Nabo and in the process her cubs had dashed off and hid in some bushes. I was worried for their safety but Nabo spectacularly pushed off the males and kept them away from the cubs. They would rest for a few minutes and then attack her again but she fended them off. She was scratched and wounded, and streaks of blood covered her body, but she did not give up.
An injured Nabo
Whilst this was happening, I noticed that there was a more familiar looking lion in the area. It was Baasi – the resident male of the reserve. He was not looking in good shape. He was limping and looked very skinny. Baasi stood and watched the on going battle between Nabo and the 3 attacking males. At one stage he walked towards them for a few minutes but after hearing the vicious growling, he stopped, turned around and walked away.
Baasi watching the fight
Nabo pressed on and managed to keep the males at bay. They sat down in some bushes and I tried to photograph and identify them but it was hard since they were nervous and kept hiding in the bushes. Nabo eventually sat down and watched the males from afar.
One of the males disappearing into the saltbush
I left the scene and returned a few hours later. Nabo had moved a bit and was sitting in the sun panting and keeping an eye on the area where the males had been earlier. I could not see the males and was also not sure where the cubs were hidden. I had to leave then but heard later on from some friends who were watching Nabo that she eventually stood up and sniffed around in the entire area where the males had been earlier in the day. She then went over to a bush and called out to the cubs. They came bounding out and she ran off with them across the road and into thick riverine habitat.
Nabo watching keenly for any sign of the males
I was concerned that if these new males would hang around, not only Nabo’s cubs, but Nashipai’s as well would be at risk from being killed. Male infanticide is when males get rid of offspring in a newly acquired pride that are not genetically related to the male coalition. However, solitary males are also capable of killing the offspring of an encountered pride. Infanticide is very advantageous to the new incoming males as they are removing offspring that do not carry their genes. The other advantage of killing the offspring is that a female will quickly enter estrous following the infanticidal event. The incoming males are then capable of copulating very soon after taking over the pride.
I was also a bit concerned about Nabo’s injuries but a few days later saw a lovely scene of Nabo, Nashipai and Uni sitting by the river full after eating an impala.
Nashipai and Nabo at the river a few days after the fight
But the question now is who are these new male lions?
Thanks to the Bhaskar family for photos and their account of what was seen.