MalaMala Diary Entry: 24 June 1998 Lion family dynamics at Mala Mala have taken a major step with four adult  male lions moving into the area once dominated by the three Manyelethi males. This takeover of territory does not seem to have occurred with one big fight as sometimes does happen, with incoming males confronting the old established males and driving them off or killing them. Rather, the takeover seems to have been subtle - the four new males moved in slowly, tested the waters and, by simply showing no fear of the old males, forced the latter out.
Of course things could have turned out much worse - a huge conflict could have taken place deep in the bush and the Manyelethi males, which have ruled the roost for so long, may have been killed. Some of the new males have been seen with serious wounds which could well have occurred as a result of inter-lion fights. This incursion will of course result in a period of uncertainty for the resident female-dominated prides which the males will try to subdue. Should any of these prides have young cubs still dependent upon them (for example the Eyrefield and Marthly prides), these males may well kill the cubs so that the females can come into oestrus and the males can mate with them and sire their own youngsters. The next few months will be unsettling for the lions of the area as the males do their best to establish themselves and get the females to accept their presence. Their presence may already have been the cause of the Styx and Marthly prides moving further north of their usual range. All in all some dramatic days lie ahead for the lions of Mala Mala.
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Leopard viewing has continued to be superb, with usually not less than five or six leopards being seen a day. One sighting was of three leopards, an adult male and two adult females. One of the females is known to have a territory in the area and has been seen lactating. The other female was mating with the male and this activity had taken her out of her own territory into the territory of the other female. The latter was stalking the mating pair, salivating with rage as she watched them. Such matings are dramatic, the courtship and act of mating almost savage. When this occurs the leopards are almost oblivious of everything else, concentrating on mating for several days before they go their separate ways. Other leopards that have been spotted in the area include the White Cloth female and her cub, the Kapen female and her cub, and the nearly two-year-old male cub of the Hlabatini female. The male cub of the Hlabatini female has continued to provide endless entertainment, teasing hyaenas, stalking elephants, giraffe and rhinos, catching rats and generally living the life of a curious young male leopard.
The past few weeks have seen the large herd of 500 or so buffalo move slowly down the length of the Sand River, travelling a few kilometres from the water to graze and then back to the water to drink. Although conditions are very dry, the vegetation has remained nutritious and the buffalo are in fine condition. Some of the females are still giving birth. One amusing incident this week saw the young lions of the Charleston pride trying to circle the buffalo as they came down to drink. The latter were of course not amused and routed the lions, sending several of them scrambling up trees for safety. Only once the buffalo had moved off did the lions venture down the trees and amble away.
