As winter settles over the Thornybush Nature Reserve, it’s hard to believe we’re already halfway through 2025. The past six months have been packed with drama, power shifts, and survival stories—especially among our predators.
In this two-part update, Sarah takes us behind the scenes of life on the reserve. In Part One, we dive into the lions—particularly the Black Dam males and the Monwana pride—as they navigate territory battles, family upheaval, and a fight for dominance.
The Black Dam Males: A Growing Coalition
The Black Dam males began 2025 with a bang, pushing into the northern reaches of the reserve to expand their territory. Having already bonded with two prides, they set their sights on a third—the Monwana pride.
In a dramatic takeover, the coalition displaced the old dominant male, the legendary Mapoza, and started the bonding process with the Monwana females. Their strategy paid off. With this victory, they’ve secured a massive territory and now patrol almost the entire reserve.
Originally four brothers, this coalition recently welcomed back a fifth brother who had been living separately. Now five strong, this imposing group commands three prides—but in the ever-changing dynamics of the bush, how long will their reign last?
The Monwana Pride: Stress, Loss, and Survival
The past six months have been turbulent for the Monwana pride. The arrival of the Black Dam males brought relentless pursuit, the tragic loss of existing cubs, and high-stakes interactions as the pride navigated bonding with the new dominant males.
For lionesses, mating with new males isn’t always about conception. Often, females engage in appeasement behaviour—allowing copulation even when not in estrus—to avoid aggression from unfamiliar males. This strategy helps protect the pride but takes a toll on the females, who endure months of stressful, volatile encounters.
A Fragile Calm
Finally, after months of upheaval, a fragile calm has settled over the Monwana pride. The appeasement and stressful mating rituals are slowing down. We now often find the females resting peacefully with their new dominant males—a picture of stability. But as we know in the wild, peace is often temporary…
Stay Tuned for Part Two
This story is far from over. In Part Two, we’ll bring you up to speed on the latest with Thornybush’s other predators—cheetahs, leopards, and our elusive wild dogs.
