Tsau! White Lion Conservation Programme Volunteer Feedback

British Volunteer Neil Hollingworth gives a "Monitors Report" entitled "Day of Freedom" on 15th December 2009 at 6am alongside Head Lion Ecologist, Jason Turner

Focal Lion/lioness: Mandla
Activity: Courtship with consequences

Laid in the shade of a small bush, Mandla panted steadily in the muggy heat. It was midday and the majestic White Lion was content with his world and his territory. His pale eyes opened and looked around and then closed into slits as his massive body rose up and down with the gentle rhythm of his breathing. He was nearby the perimeter fence of his territorial boundary and all was good. Suddenly his head jerked to attention and his senses were alert. Still and scanning he had detected the presence of a change to the serenity of the day. There at the other side of the fence a beautiful tawny lioness emerged from the green and lush bush and walked regally to the fence without a sound and stared across at this King of lions.

Mandla rose from his rest and stood tall, his senses still on high alert. This was not normal; there had never been any lions in this part of the land. Where was she from? What was she doing there? This was a new event, this was unheard of. He slowly stepped towards the fence; he stood tall and elegant and stared into the lioness’ eyes. For a moment there was silence and all that could be heard was sound of the bush in the searing heat as these two beasts stood and faced each other at each side of the fence. Mandla issued a loud roar which prolonged for a while and tapered out into the chuff, chuff, chuffing noises so distinct of the lions. The lioness turned and began to pad up the fence line, Mandla followed. She was looking at him affectionately, admiring this huge male for the handsome beast that he was. They padded side by side up the fence and the lioness slowed down and stopped. She held her head low for a while and again they stared at each other. She looked like she was smiling at Mandla and Mandla was beginning to fall for her charms. She knew it
too and just to make the intention clear she wandered over to the grass that lined the dusty fence path and rolled onto her back playing affectionately, swiping the air with a paw. A second roar emitted from Mandla as he paced around the other side of this impenetrable high voltage fence, wanting to get closer to this playful and pretty female and see what she was about.

In the distance way down the line of the fence another lion could be seen moving swiftly up the slope. It was Zirah. She headed rapidly in the direction of Mandla with the heat waves rising making her figure shimmer in the distance. As she got closer Mandla detected her presence but his eye was on the new feline. The feline rose to her feet as Zirah was now in view but her presence did not bother the stranger for she knew she was safe behind the fence. Zirah moved in behind Mandla weighing up this infiltrator and staring angrily at her. Who was she to court her mate? What right did she have to be there? Mandla strutted some more in front of the tawny and roared once more and Zirah pushed her way forward letting her presence be known. Suddenly Mandla was infuriated with Zirah’s presence, he turned round and roared at her and Zirah cowered and bared her teeth at him. But the situation was too severe for Zirah to be put off by her mate’s act of open infidelity. She was not going to give up that easily.

The playful lioness was not so happy with Zirah’s presence and now stood up and walked away back from where she had come, still in full view and she kept close to the fence enticing Mandla to follow. Mandla did so and stood tall and dominant as he padded side by side with Zirah in pursuit stalking the tawny intently. Suddenly Mandla decided that Zirah was interfering far too much. He rounded on her and gave a warning tap with his powerful paw and Zirah cowered respectfully but let it be well known she was not happy, and she bared her teeth at him. But Mandla was the king, he had seen a new mate and wasn’t about to be told by his disrespectful mate that he was in the wrong. With Zirah told her place, he swung back round again to continue the courtship with the delectable feline who had come looking for him.

He found the feline had changed direction and was moving away and so he deftly followed like the male that he was, attracted by this beauty. But Zirah was still not giving up. She didn’t like the situation and kept a good check on the female closely behind Mandla. On they went following the stranger in tandem. Mandla wasn’t going to give up this female easily. His whole natural instinct was to mate with this newcomer, but Zirah knew this was trouble, she knew this wasn’t right and that the tawny should leave before things got worse. She wasn’t going to give up easily and let Mandla win. Suddenly Mandla turned on Zirah once more. He was aggressive, stressed and annoyed at Zirah. He wanted the female and Zirah was just getting in the way. Zirah cowered once more, letting Mandla think he had the upper hand. But even now she wasn’t going to give in. Mandla turned once more and resumed his intent on the other side of the fence. He began to pad quickly now to catch up with the tawny, she was heading towards the bottom of the hill where the fence reached the intersect of 3 properties and where the tawny could go no further.  Zirah followed keeping a very careful eye on the situation. Suddenly she decided all was not well. She had left her cubs unprotected to come and see what all the noise was about. They were vulnerable. If there was a lioness, then there may also be a lion nearby and if he were to reach the cubs they would be in grave danger of their lives.  She instantly made the decision to leave Mandla to his fate. The cubs were her priority, Mandla was just asking for trouble and she was not going to let her cubs be in any danger at all. She spun round and paced rapidly back up the fence line and headed back towards her cubs. Would they be OK? Would they be in peril? She needed to know. Mandla stayed behind and continued to eye up the tawny lioness. Then he roared so loudly and a new sense of something was in the air. The roar was louder and aggressive this time, something was different. Then it became clear, a large tawny lion with a deep black main had appeared at the tri-section of and interchanges that were marked by the perimeter fences.  But the tawny male was not with his lioness, he was stuck on the Kapama land looking through the fence at his defiant female on the intermediate land, and she was looking through the other fence at the interesting new White Lion male, showing off his superior build.  The tawny lion was not happy. He called to his unfaithful mate seemingly trapped in this no-man’s land that neither male could reach.  His call was pitiful, not aggressive as if he was sad that she was not interested in him but in this opponent.  The tawny female was not bothered.  This was interesting; she could find a new man. She was wanting to know more, see if she could find a way through to this King of the White Lions.

To be followed by Part II

Simone Elena Blomsterberg, from Denmark,  joined the programme from October 1st to November 16th 2009

I had an amazing 7 weeks at Tsau! and the stay has changed my life and me. I can’t imagine people being able to go back to their old way of life after the experiences I’ve had. I read a lot about the program and the Trust before I went to South Africa, but nothing prepared me for the way it touched my very soul. I connected with the people, the nature and especially the lions in a way that’s deeper than you can ever imagine. You have to experience it yourself. You have to feel your own heart skip a beat as these majestic beings walk towards your vehicle with their elegant yet lethal features. I’ve never before in my life felt completely exposed until I had eye contact with Zihra or Mandla for the first time. It’s like they see right through your mask and defenses. They see the real you! But at the same time none of the lions are judging you, merely observing. It’s a breathtaking experience to have been offered the privilege of seeing these angelic creatures in their natural habitat. I never have and never will experience anything like this.

Every day started with the early morning lion check. Never before have I enjoyed getting up at 5 in the morning. It never got boring to sit and observe the lions. I never could tell who my favorite was, because they all have different personalities. There’s Mandla who’s a king of kings, yet a bit clumsy and cute. You have Nebu, Mandla’s daughter, who’s cheeky and very self confident. You really can’t do anything but absolutely love her. They all had one thing in common though. They were all simply amazing. This one morning our vehicle was parked in between Mandla and a male lion from the neighboring reserve, “Kapama”. Each of the lions was a good 80 meters away, but their roaring still made the vehicle shake. It was fantastic to experience this verbal battle between two kings. Eventually both of them got tired and flopped down on the spot. We used to call it “flat cat” when the lions were just lying there, so relaxed you could hardly see them breathe.

We also did these enlightening workshops. We did this workshop on dreams with Linda. It was amazing and it really opened my eyes to the possibility of our dreams being more than just random images from our sub consciousness. And in total contrast to this, the social life off all the involved people was maintained with several gatherings, e.g. a braii at the Farm Manager Abel’s house. A braii is the South African name for a barbecue. We also had some amazing nights out at the local bush pub called Jos Mac’s. I think I left an everlasting impression on Jason, Xolani and the other volunteers that night. One of the days Wendy took me and another volunteer out to see a couple of the local schools. When we arrived all the kids from a nursery school came out to greet us. These kids were 3 years old and they started chanting “Amandla Awethu” (“Power to the People”) and were flipping us off. All the time they had big smiles on their faces. They had no idea what the gesture meant. They were so cute! They were all over us when we were allowed to enter their playground. They sung for us and recited poems. I’m not how much they understood of the things they were saying. After that we went on to a public school were the students did some poetry reading and songs for us as well. After wards we went to a privately funded school. All these three schools lay right next to each other, but yet they were so different. Here there were more poems and songs. Most of them were about the white lions. Their English was so good; actually it was better than a lot of Danish grownups’. I felt very privileged to get a glimpse of the local community.

I went to South Africa because the University of Copenhagen (I’m from Denmark) had just denied my application for the bachelor of veterinarian science. I was out of a job and I felt like I needed to explore the world and see what other options it offered a 19 year old girl like me. This trip to the white lion project in South Africa has changed so much in me and it will forever be a part of me. Already before I left Tsau! I was talking with Jason about coming back. So far I’m planning on going back next year, and until then, I’m going to do some voluntary work here in Denmark, to create awareness of the project and its goals. The nine lions of the Tsau! project will forever be in my thoughts and in my heart.

My name is Nikki Wilkinson I’m a 25 year old student from Exeter University studying Bsc Hons Conservation Biology and Ecology. As part of my course I had to undertake work experience in an area which interested me, it has been my dream to work with big cats in the wild so when I found the opportunity to intern at the White Lion Trust I raised the funds immediately.

 

 

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