Category: lion

The lives of male lions are difficult!

They start in life by being looked after very well by their mothers and other female family members until they reach two to three years of age.

Once their father has driven them away (to avoid adult male competition), they now have to fend for themselves. They have to hunt for themselves and avoid encounters with any dominant or territorial males.

Only one out of ten ever gets to take over a territory (and its prides) once they are grown adults. All others perish in the process.

Sometimes brothers from the same litter stay together through this process and form what is called a ‘male coalition’.

Or they meet one or more unrelated young males during their growing-up period and form such a coalition.

They will then move around together, hunt together, and protect one another from dangers. They will also fight other males on the way to the top together.

If they are strong enough and lucky enough, they will replace another male (or another coalition) as dominant males in a territory.

And this is when the trouble starts…

Once they encounter a female in estrus, they will usually fight one another for the right to mate (to propagate their own genes).

If one of them is significantly stronger than the other(s), then the fight is over quickly, and the submissive male(s) back off to let the dominant coalition partner mate with the female.

Once the mating period is over (usually after a few days), the males team up again as if nothing had happened.

But if two of the males are matched in strength and determination, then the situation can get quite serious, and the fights for the ladies can result in serious injuries and even death of one of the contestants.

This picture shows a male just after he had an argument with his brother over a female.

The next day, the lioness was gone, and they were once again together, even licking one another’s wounds.

Technical data: Canon R6 with RF lens f4-6.3/24-240mm | ISO 160 | 1/500 sec | f6.3 | EV +0 | 240mm | WB 6500K | AV Mode

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This morning I captured a short video clip of one of Thanda Safari’s male Lions roaring. One of the most impressive sounds to be heard on the African savanna!

Technical data Video: Canon R6 with RF lens f11/800mm | 4K video recording | Cropped/sized to HD

Technical data Picture: Canon R6 with RF lens f11/800mm | ISO 400 | 1/60sec | ev+0 | WB 6500K | AV Mode

#CanonOnEyeLevel 

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This young Thanda Safari Lioness was following her mother across a recently burned area. I took this  picture last night just as the sun had set. I love the stark contrast between the cat and the background. 

Technical data: Canon R6 with EF lens f2.8/70-200mm | ISO 16000 | 1/500sec | f2.8 | ev+0 | 200mm | WB 6500K | AV Mode

#CanonOnEyeLevel 

#amazingwildlife #africansafari #safarigetaway #christiansperkaphotography #thandasafari #big5 #gamereserve #wildlifephotography #learnphotography 

If you want to read more of my stories and see more of my pictures, you should visit my blog at https://sperka.info/blog/ 

Just a few minutes ago I stopped at a Thanda Safari waterhole on my way home and I encounter our oldest Lioness with her new cubs having an evening drink. As cute as it gets! Enjoy your evening.

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This morning, Thanda Safari’s new male lion coalition was released from their boma (holding area) onto the reserve.

They immediately started exploring their new realm by going walkabout and scent marking their territory.

At only four years old, the two brothers are already large and very good-looking.

I am looking forward to capturing many great shots of them in the years to come!

Music by Root

#amazingwildlife #africansafari #safarigetaway #christiansperkaphotography #thandasafari #big5 #gamereserve #wildlifephotography #learnphotography 

If you want to read more of my stories and see more of my pictures, you should visit my blog at https://sperka.info/blog/ 

I love taking pictures of all fauna and flora, but there is something very special about an interesting cat portrait.

I love the picture of this young male Lion that I took earlier this week.

I hope you like it too.

Have a great weekend!

Technical data: Canon R6 with RF lens f11/800mm | ISO 4000 | 1/750 sec | ev+0 | WB 6500K | AV Mode | Crop to 35% of original image

#amazingwildlife #africansafari #safarigetaway #christiansperkaphotography #thandasafari #big5 #gamereserve #wildlifephotography #learnphotography

Today was a very exciting day at Thanda Safari. The Lion leadership changed with the arrival of two new dominant males from a game reserve in the Eastern Cape.

I photographed the arrival of these two beautiful and large cats, which replace Thanda’s current dominant Lion. He is moving to a new home in another Big Five Game Reserve in KwaZulu-Natal.

This change ensures that the Lion genes at Thanda remain strong.

The two four-year-old brothers will stay in a boma (enclosed area) for a while so they can get used to their new surroundings.

Left: Technical data: Canon R6 with RF lens f4-6.3/24-240mm | ISO 640 | 1/2000sec | f6.3 | ev-0.5 | 24mm | WB 6500K | AV Mode | Crop to 90% of original image

Right Top: Technical data: Canon R6 with RF lens f11/800mm | ISO 3200 | 1/750sec | ev+0 | WB 6500K | AV Mode | Crop to 10% of original image

Right Bottom: Technical data: Canon R6 with RF lens f11/800mm | ISO 2000 | 1/500sec | ev+0 | WB 6500K | AV Mode | Crop to 10% of original image

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All the common ‘rule books’ for Lions talk about well-formed prides ruled by single males or coalitions of males.

Our Thanda Safari Lions have not read these books. The dominant male roams between multiple prides and often chooses to have quiet time by himself.

And our pride structures are quite loose, especially when various females have litters of cubs of different ages.

Females give birth secluded and then, on many occasions, choose not to join their original pride again but to raise the young ones by themselves.

So keeping track of all groups of Lions is not an easy task, but a very interesting one.

Technical data: Canon R6 with RF lens f4-6.3/24-240mm | ISO 25600 | 1/20sec | f6.3 | ev-3 | 240mm | WB 6500K-edited | AV Mode | Crop to 30% of original image | Note: This picture was taken last night using the light provided by a spotlight from another vehicle. Side-light works very well for night portraits | Limited image quality did to distance and low light

#amazingwildlife #africansafari #safarigetaway #christiansperkaphotography #thandasafari #big5 #gamereserve #wildlifephotography #learnphotography