The Tumultuous Roller Coaster and Mapogo Years
The years spanning the reign of the Roller Coaster males and the rise of the Mapogo coalition marked a dramatic and turbulent chapter in the history of the Styx Pride. In 2006, the Styx Pride had cubs fathered by the Split Rock males. One of the males died in 2006, and the other older male maintained control of the Styx Pride until mid-2007, when he was pushed out by the Roller Coaster males. Prior to the pride being taken over by the Roller Coaster males, they lost all their cubs by the end of 2006, likely due to infanticide by the incoming Roller Coaster males. The Roller Coaster males' rule was soon challenged by the arrival of the infamous Mapogo coalition, a ruthless and powerful group of males that swept through the Sabi Sands in the late 2000s. The Styx Pride lost all their cubs to infanticide, likely at the hands of the invading Mapogo males, setting the tone for years of conflict and survival. Despite immense pressure, the Roller Coaster male managed to retain some influence and even appeared to accept cubs sired by the Mapogos as his own. However, this uneasy coexistence was marked by brutal encounters and shifting dynamics, with lionesses repeatedly defending their young cubs against attacking males. By mid-2009, the inevitable occurred: the Roller Coaster male was finally ousted by Kinky Tail and Mr. T, two of the younger Mapogo males.
The Majingalane Years
Just as things were starting to settle down, a new force emerged in mid-2010: the Majingalane males. This young coalition slowly gained confidence, and it was only a matter of time before the rule of the two Mapogo males was challenged. The confrontation occurred in mid-2010; by the end of the fighting, both sides had lost a member, and the remaining Mapogo male vacated the territory. This marked the beginning of the Majingalane years for the Styx Pride. The Majingalane males brought much-needed stability to the pride after the tumultuous late 2000s. They fathered at least six cubs in the pride, producing a coalition of two males that eventually dispersed, alongside females that bolstered the pride's numbers. The Majingalane males held territory in the area for at least four years, giving their offspring in the Styx Pride ample time to grow and reach independence.
The Birmingham Years
After the Majingalane males left the area for new territories and prides further west, two Southern Matimba males briefly held power before being ousted by a young coalition of five males known as the Birmingham males. The Birmingham males continued the stability of the pride similarly to the Majingalane males. The pride was regularly seen in the company of the Birmingham males and became a cornerstone of the Wildearth safari live streams. Under the watchful eye of the Birmingham males, a young male reached independence, along with multiple young females that increased the pride’s numbers. The Birmingham males eventually moved to central Sabi Sands in 2017, making way for the Avoca males to become dominant in the area.
The Rough Years Avoiding the Avoca Males
By mid-2018, the pride was managing despite losing two cubs and ongoing struggles with mange. The stability under the Birmingham males ended when they vacated their territory and moved south, abandoning the Styx Pride. Facing pressure from new males and other prides from the east, the pride became nomadic around 2019 just as the Avoca males began consolidating power. Around this time, the oldest female disappeared, and the two remaining females faced the challenges of mange and nomadic life. By the end of 2019, the pride consisted of three sub-adults and one young male. Of the sub-adults, the young male and one of the females reached adulthood. By late 2020, the Styx Pride included three females—daughters of the Roller Coaster males, the Majingalane males, and one daughter sired by the Birmingham males. After two long years without a territory, the pride finally settled in an empty territory in Sabi Sands (Lion Sands, Sabi Sabi), far south from their natal grounds where they had roamed for decades. A new chapter began for the Styx Pride.
The Ndzhenga Years
A new coalition of four males emerged in the southern parts of Sabi Sands, later known as the Ndhzenga coalition. The Ndzhengas eventually became dominant in the area and took over the Styx Pride. The pride gave birth to two litters, totaling seven cubs. Of these, at least one young male reached adulthood along with three females, marking the Ndzhenga years as a successful period overall. However, the pride was prematurely abandoned by the Ndzhenga males due to various factors, including pressure from other males and ambitions toward prides further north. The Ndzhengas moved on, leaving the pride in a precarious position with sub-adults still to protect. Nonetheless, the pride managed to survive this challenge.
Current Status
By 2022, the Ndzhengas were already looking toward greener pastures, with the presence of the young Gijima males just south of their territory providing the final push to abandon the area. As the Gijimas took control, there was some uncertainty about how they would react to the Ndzhenga offspring, especially the young Styx male. The young male went nomadic as the Gijimas took over, while the remaining females, nearing breeding age, likely deterred the new males from attacking. The pride is now flourishing under the dominance of the Gijima males and appears to be following a similar path to other prides under their control. The future for the Styx Pride looks promising.
The information was gathered through various public medias such as blog pages, forums, and online groups.
