The Marsh Pride takeover latest update

Yesterday:

The takeover in progress at the marsh by the 4 new males continues to affect the pride composition and habits of the members. By yesterday, the majority of the members, Sienna, Charm and the 9 subadults had moved to the rocky area on Rhino Ridge overlooking Bila Shaka. Joy and her 4 cubs and the one for Sienna were at the top of Silanga lugga, while Joy was a short distance from them dowstream.

The 4 males were still with Bibi. However, the mating has taken a new trend. Now the males are takign turns to mate with her, unlike in the begining when only one of them kept her, chasing away the others. The one with her yesterday was one male with a noteable scar over his right eye. I and my guests named him ‘scar face’

Today:

By this morning, the gap between all the above is getting smaller. Joy just moved  ashort distance from where she was yesterday and the rest of teh pride took her place. White eye has now joined Bibi and the four males. It seems the boys are slowly wining the pride to their side. I believe with Romeo and clawed now absent, the females may slowly accpet teh new fellows. It will be interesting though, to see what the new males will do with the subadult  males still with Sienna and Charm. The four males with Bibi and white eye were this morning at the junction of Silanga and Bila shaka lugga. They are now all within less than a square kilometre. Clawed has not been seen  fro 3 days now, whihc is a worry in that wiht the rest of the pride away an dhis bad health, he may not be able to eat, and that is not good.

The main pride members rests on Rhino Ridge overlooking Bila Shaka yesterady morning

2 of the young males in the pride whose future in the pride is uncertain with the takeover

Joy and her 4 cubs with one for Sienna sleeping under an Olive tree int eh open

3 of the four new males with Bibi and another male in the back at Bila Shaka near where they killed a buffalo 3 days ago

Bibi and scar face moves away from teh other males as they are the active mating pair at the moment

New males taking over the marsh pride,

The history of the marsh pride in the Masai Mara game reserve is about to be re-written. The pride has been dominated by two males Romeo and clawed.

Four days ago, some 4 young males, thought to be 4yrs and one slightly older moved inot the marsh area from Olare-Orok conservancy. They have been moving around the border of the park and the conservancy. I remember, 2 weeks ago they gave us rough time when they came and moved through our camp for almost 3 nights in a row, forcing us to go to bed early.

These new males whne they arrived at the marsh they almost got up with Joy and the cubs, btu Joy managed to take them to safety. They only settled whne they came across Bibi, one of the females whom they went ahead to mate with. One of the males seem to be dominant to the other 3. When they came in, we knew it was a take over in process. I remember my fellow guide, Simon Chebon comment  ‘’this is a take over already’’

Normally when new males take over another pride, they will kill all small cubs. We got worried imediately these males came into the marsh that they will kill the young cubs. Currently Joy, one of the females at the marsh has 4 young cubs, about 6 months old and has lately been looking after a 3 month old cub belonging to on of the other females. I have been spending the whole day at the marsh since these new males came in, just to watch teh unfolding changes.

Last night these new males fought the resident  males and badly injured clawed, but Romeo managed to take off and was today found up on Rhino Ridge, while clawed lay the whole day below the airstrip with a fatal injury on his spine sustained from the fight. He also got injured on upper and inner thigh. He can now barely move or even roll over due to much pain.

The new males seem to be in no rush now, especially that clawed is helpless and and Romeo has fled. Our hearts goes to Joy and the cubs as we know only well that the ineviatbel will happen if the new males come across them.

I will keep documenting the unfolding tomorrow and sharing here, the new development.

Clawed in great pain from injuries sustained from fight with new males. his injuries are too bad ha can barely move

Clawed lying out in the sun today; he is injured and could not even move to look for shade

One the run: Joy with one of the cubs run away from danger of the new males

Joy taking the cubs to safety when the new males almost killed them 3 days ago

Two of the four new males at the marsh

The dominant male among the 4. He is the one that claimed Bibi and fought off the off the others

Romeo, with white eye next to him and charm plus some of the sub-adults feeding on wildebeest carcass yesterday morning not far from the 4 intruders