Much has been documented about the Ross Pride of lions, a mega-pride which reigned supreme in the Klaserie Private Nature Reserve between 2006 – 2008. A series of tragic events led the pride to splinter and the numbers began to dwindle. What was once a strong and dominant pride was fast becoming weak, much to the dismay of rangers and lion fanatics. 2010 was the year that became the “make or break” year and the Ross Pride proved to be fighters – a pride who fought for their survival; providing hope for the future.
While I do not wish to delve into the history of the pride, it is important to know that this pride is well-documented due to its rather unfortunate and sketchy history with mother nature. The pride lost its the dominant males and were left scattered, clinging onto the hope that new kings would take over. Rangers noted that two sub-adult males (brothers) began to hang around the Ross Pride females. They fondly became known as the Good and the Bad. The Good because of its near perfect mane and the Bad because of its battle scars.
With two males seeking to take over the pride, it proved to be a stroke of positivity in what we thought was the demise of the pride. It was also thought that either the Good or the Bad carried the white lion gene. This was proved when two white lion cubs were born into the pride in 2012. Unfortunately, the mother of the cubs was injured during a battle and died; leaving the cubs stranded and unable to fend for themselves. Yet another notch to add to the tumultous history of our much loved pride.
This is the “Bad” – one of the Kings of the Ross Pride. He rules the pride with his brother, the “Good”.
This is the Good. Either him or his brother, the “Bad” carry the white lion gene.
Today, the pride is strong and we have 3 new cubs, 2 older cubs and a white lion cub ! That’s right – we have a new white lion cub born into the Kruger’s Klaserie ! When the rangers from Africa on Foot and nThambo Tree Camp discovered the white lion cub there was speculation that it belonged to the Ross Pride but this was only confirmed a few weeks ago when the Ross Pride was spotted on our traverse with the cub. With the rapid decline of lions in the wild and the rarity of a white lion being born into the wild, this is incredible news for the Kruger.
We are hoping that the white lion cub surivives in the wild as they have a high mortality rate. They are born blind and kept from the rest of the pride until they are ready to be introduced. They often fall victim to other predators while their mother goes out to hunt for food. All these factors make them an easy target.
New white lion cub in the Klaserie – hiding behind its mother
White lion cub with its mother from the Ross Pride
White lion hiding behind its mother from the Ross Pride in the Klaserie
At the moment, the cub appears to be doing well; however we are concerned about the sub-adult Giraffe males who have been very vocal within the Ross Pride’s region. The Good and the Bad have a huge traverse and have not been present recently, creating opportunity for the boistorus Giraffe boys to try their luck. Let’s hope the females stand their ground and do not let the Giraffe pride males take over. When new males move into a pride they want to leave their genetic legacy and seek to oust the current dominant males. Unfortunately, this means they might even kill off cubs in order to create a new gene line. When the cubs are killed it forces the females back to estrus creating the opportunity for the new males to mate.
Let’s hope the Ross Pride females avoid the advances of the Giraffe Pride males so we can see this new white lion in the Klaserie reach maturity.
A new white lion cub – the latest addition to the Ross Pride
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