Birmingham Males Coalition

The Members & Information
Topic Birmingham Males Coalition consists of Brothers Nhenha, Tinyo, Nsuku (Blondie), Mfumo, Scrapper (Tokoloshe)

The oldest of the Birmingham males, the one who is usually called Blondie, is around 4 or 5 years old, so he was probably born in 2010. the Birmingham males were expelled from their pride by the Matimba males, possibly 1 or 2 years ago (this was as of 2015)

The Birmingham males fathers were also called the Birmingham males (these males controlled a pride called Birmingham, that's why of the same name). Two of them were poached and the last one lived to an elderly age and was also targeted for poaching. He escaped initially, but I think he was also killed.

Mala Mala named them as Gowrie males, considering the Birminghams are spending more and more time in Mala Mala. They don't name prides or coalitions as other reserves do, but they do it according to where said coalition is mostly seen or in which territory they become dominant. So, whenever you read about the Gowrie males, you'll know is the Birminghams.

Naming Guide:
Birmingham Boy #1 previously called Blondie is now officially named "Nsuku" which means Gold. Nick in his right ear. Deep puncture marks on cheek

Birmingham Boy #2 has a relatively unscarred face and an equal sign across his nose. He is officially known now as "Nhenha" which means Warrior

Birmingham Boy #3 Has the somewhat split lip is now officially known as "Tinyo" which means Tooth.

Birmingham Boy #4 who has the distinct crater in his cheek is now officially known as "Mfumo" which means Authority.

Birmingham Boy #5 (Scrapper) was never edited due to passing away before all this.

Video Source

The Start: (2015)
The Five Birmingham males have been seen in Majingilane territory (Elephant plains and apparently the territory where the Othawa pride is), killing a buffalo yesterday.

In 08-06-2015 video Birmingham Males are challenging the powerful southern Matimba males. Now, I recognize that they are just testing the waters, to see who they're up against, and that they still lack some confidence, but being scent marking in the middle of Matimba territory and roaring directly at them is a big, neon light shining sign that they're for real.

08-08-2015: The action continues in the Sabi sands, with the Birmingham males as the main actors. Last night, they killed an adult lioness of the Nkuhuma pride and fed on her.

Video In addition to this, something very interesting happened while they Birmingham approached the Nkuhumas. The young male, who is usually referred as Junior, stood up for a while against one (or two) of the Birmingham males in a quite fearless way, considering that he could be beaten badly or even killed by the B boys, even more so considering what happened to that lioness.

08-12-2015: today sadly 2 styx lion cubs have been killed by the Birmingham males Image Image 2

09-16-2015: A lone lioness (presumably Nkuhuma lioness) was hanging around the Birmingham Males yesterday afternoon and on various occasions attempted to get them to mate with her. They were having none of it, and chased her. Their behaviour was that of hunting her, with absolutely no interest in mating. As the photographer "Jaci" says, those Birminghams are wicked, they are pretty scary and incredibly powerful. It's clear mating is second in place to their interests right now. They are hell bent on conquering, and I think it's great they don't let the females to distract them from their mission.

09-17-2015: Video Flirty Nkuhuma lioness with the Birmingham males, from today's Wildearth safari live. Apparently, she was seen mating with the older lion, and again she was getting touchy and trying to come closer and closer with one of the other boys.

Oct 8, 2015: It seems to have become a fact that the Birmingham males are now the confirmed new territorial males in the Northern Sabi Sands. They have chased the Matimba males off, have been mating with females from both the Styx and Nkuhuma prides and are constantly calling and scent marking without challenge from any other males. The take over started out on a rather rocky road, with the Birmingham males killing various lions from the Nkuhuma and Styx prides, as well as the Styx pride cubs, which led to the lionesses leaving the area for a while. After eventually mating with the two different lionesses, we are now seeing the prides settle down back into their previous territories. The Nkuhuma pride are resting up on the eastern sector in Buffelshoek, and the Talamati pride (5 of them) have also re-entered their old territory. The Talamati pride are on a wildebeest kill close to our northern boundary and the Styx pride have been seen resting up around Djuma dam on Cheetah Plains. The Birmingham males have been hunting extremely successfully. After following a herd of buffalo north, they managed to make not one, or even two, not even three, but Four kills last night around three in a row pan on Cheetah Plains. We found them resting up next to the pan, looking very well fed. The kills are two buffalo cows and two calves, and it appears that these males are really prolific hunters. We got word that the Matimba males are settling quite far south of our boundaries, but moved off when the Birmingham males were close. We hope that the lion dynamics will start settling down again, and that we will see the Birmingham males starting to sire their own offspring soon.

11-27-2015: Video Blondie roaring on top of termite mound

12-12-2015: video showing one of the Birmingham Males a little injured, could be with a fight with an other male (The injury probably came from a fight with any of his brothers, for mating rights) Image Image 2 Image 3

12-23-2015: Video 4 Birmingham Males killing 3 buffalos and a fetus.

2016:
17 Jan 2016: Video This morning we woke up to one of the Birmingham males on our open area near the pan. As we headed out on game drive he began walking to the west of the pan, in search of one of his brothers. He later found his brother, gave him the cold shoulder (didn't greet him) and they lay down near each other. They will probably stay here for the day.

01-28-2016: Video Got this little recording from my phone and the spotlight was my torch!! But this is right now at Nkorho driveway. These 4 boys should be down at the pan sometime tonight. The fifth male is mating with a female not too far away from them. Amazing to hear all of them roar together!

02-07-2016 Image rare to see all 5 brothers together having bush breakfast.

Feb 16, 2016: Video Video 2 Image showing a male lion with an injured leg, most likely is Nsuku. (probably got injured fighting with some of his brothers for mating rights)

03-03-2016: Image One of the Birmingham Male Lions was located at first rock. He is still limping and looks in need of a meal, but on the whole, he doesn't appear too badly injured.

03-17-2016: Video The Birmingham males appear at min 3:00 more or less, they chase away the Tsalala youngsters. You will see that Male 1 is still limping a bit, but it seems much much better. Also, you will notice how their manes are darkening.

03-22-2016 Video The Birmingham Boys enjoying each other's company

31 March 2016: Image Image 2 Image 3 One of the N’kahuma lionesses was honeymooning with one of the Birmingham males. They certainly make a handsome couple and I enjoyed watching them in action and how unimpressed she seemed by his performance. Blondie is also better now from his paw injury.

22 April 2016: Image 4 Birmingham Brothers doing their patrol.

5 May 2016: Image: A Birmingham Male was attempting to mate with an Nkuhuma lioness this morning. She wasn't overly impressed, and fired back at him.

19 May 2016: Video: The new cubs of the Birmingham males with the Styx pride.

11 July, 2016: Image A Birmingham male lion was located with (who we believe) a torchwood lioness!

24 July, 2016: Image Image 2 Styx females, 6 Cubs!! and 2 of the Birmingham males. All seem to be doing well.

1 August 2016: Image Image 2 Image 3 one Birmingham male eating a carcass with a Cub.

8 August 2016: Image Image 2 One of the Birmingham males having a tender moment with the Nkuhuma cubs

11 August 2016 Video: Nkuhuma Lionesses (who have 8 cubs) come to blows with three of the Birmingham males. The cubs escaped later unharmed.

9 September 2016: Image 1 Image 2 Image 3 Mfumo possible injury from a beat up from his brothers. He's been getting quite the rough treatment from his brothers, and I also think the lionesses prefer the other males over him.

8 November 2016: Image Mfumo face injury is almost healed and mating with Lioness

12 November 2016: Image Mfumo with the Nkuhuma pride. it's clear he's also a very tolerant male with the kids, as his brothers. And they like him too in return, it's clear how they are drawn to him & the lionesses are less mean to him when Tinyo is not around, even coming to greet him with head rubs.

15 November 2016: Video Big fight between Mfumo & Tinyo, a few lionesses try break it up. Mfumo stayed with the girls.

17 - 22 December 2016: Video Image Mfumo has either re opened his wound on his face or this is a new fresh wound.

2017:
11 Jan 2017: Video Tinyo, Mfumo and Nhenha on this mornings drive. We haven't seen Nhenha for a while. His Mane is magnificent. Was nice to see 3 out of the 4 Birmingham Boys.

13 Jan 2017: Video A great way to end the day with three of the Birmingham males getting active yesterday afternoon. This morning (not on video) they were chased off a buffalo kill they made by the Majingilane males. Nobody was hurt these boys just ran away very fast.

31 March 2017: Image The Styx pride and a Birmingham male were resting out in the west this morning. There is still no sign of the new cubs moving with the pride, but we will wait and see.

28 -29 August 2017: Video: One of the Birmingham Boy roaring after having the buffalo for lunch. Video 2 Birmingham Boys on territorial patrolling. Even though these boys not thinking of conquering other territories, but still guarding their territory to find out that is there any intruders.

1 September 2017: Video Tinyo trying to be ladies man.

9 -15 September 2017: Video Three Birmingham Boys on patrolling. Video 2 Two of the Birmingham Boys fighting for the impala kill.

28 September 2017: Image Image 2 Image 3 Image 4 Tinyo now has battle scars, not sure how he got them other than from fighting, however Mfumo lost his dew claw in Tinyo's face a few weeks ago.

19 October 2017: Video Birmingham Boy up on the tree, Nhenha tried to bring the impala kill down from the tree after he scared and chased the leopard away.

24 October 2017: Video The Matshapiri male has over the last 2 days, been enjoying the company of 4 Kambula lionesses but 2 of the Gowrie males caught wind of them this morning. The 2 males were in hot pursuit near Campbell Koppies when one of the lionesses veered away and drew their attention. As they caught up to her the testosterone-filled Gowrie males turned on each other. By the time they’d settled their differences the lioness had disappeared. The Matshapiri male got away unscathed. One of the aforementioned Gowrie males had been with 2 of the Kambula lionesses yesterday. Looks like either temporarily or permanently they have moved south, They've had territory in Mala Mala since the beginning of their reign in 2015. They have dominated the northern part of it after chasing away the Matimba males, and one or two of them have always kept an eye on it. now both the Nkuhumas and the Styx have moved south and haven't been seen around Djuma in ages this forces the Birmingham's to push even further south.

26 October 2017: Video Mfumo and his cute cubs.

12 November 2017: Video Tinyo with his cute cubs

29 December 2017: Video Seems Like Tinyo & Mfumo making a kill

2018:
12 -13 Jan 2018: Image Tinyo fighting one of his brothers. Nice to see three of our Birmingham Male lions back in the north yesterday after their little holiday to the south of the Sabi Sands. Quite interesting to watch some of the dominance behaviour between the brothers while spending some time with the Styx pride. Image 2Tinyo with his cubs. Mfumo seems to have decided to stay at Mala Mala on his own.

17-22 Feb 2018: Image Image 2 Image 3 Tinyo with Styx cub & pride, Blondie was also around.

3 March 2018: Image Tinyo attempting to mate with a Mangheni lioness in Singita, that is Majingilane controlled land. He needs to tread carefully, because the Majingilane won't like it a single bit and as old as their faces might look like, they're still powerful and can shred him to pieces should they catch him alone.

23 March 2018: Image The Birmingham males are making more regular forays onto central Londolozi. With the threat of the Majingilane males steadily waning in the west, it seems likely that they will encroach more and more as 2018 goes on.

2 April 2018: Image This Birmingham male and Ntsevu lioness were found mating early one morning. Lions will mate between 4 to 7 days and roughly every 20 minutes, and given that all the females who recently gave birth seem to have lost their cubs, it is most likely that the majority of the lionesses in the pride will be mating again.

19th - 30th April 2018: Image Image 2 3 of the Birmingham's patrolling together, only 1 week after the successful Majingilane fight win. It also seems Mfumo is back. Video

11th - 28th May 2018: Image An Ntsevu lioness presents herself to one of the Birmingham males for mating. 5 females were together on this morning, with the 6th nowhere to be found; we are hoping the missing lioness is still secreting cubs somewhere, but as there has not been a confirmed sighting since of a little over a week ago, our hopes aren’t high. Image 2 An Ntsevu lioness and one of the Birmingham males stand side-by-side, presenting the illusion of a united front. In reality these lionesses and males have been bouncing between one another, with barely a day going by without a new combination of mating pair being found on Londolozi. Having never watched other lionesses raising cubs successfully, and having failed on their first few tries, there are shadows of doubt cast over these females’ ability to raise litters through to independence. Image 3 Image 4 Image 5 Video Two of the Birmingham coalition come to blows over one of the Ntsevu lionesses, who promptly took to her heels as the fight broke out.

1st - 11th August 2018: Image Image 2 Image 3 Nsuku (Blondie) & Nhenha mating with lionesses. Mfumo has been missing a few months again now, Maybe he is with one of the prides wherever they are, the North is almost completely vacant right now of male lions and prides specially Djuma, prides are all South and the only pride being seen up North is the Talamati pride and Torchwood. The Avocas strangely enough haven't pushed further even though the Birmingham Boys haven't been North for a long while, the last time they were seen was 2 weeks ago on the Djuma Dam Cam, Definitely worrying.. Image 4 One of the Birmingham males follows another male and four Ntsevu lionesses towards the Maxabene river. We were parked down in the sandy riverbed, and it was impressive having this male descend steadily towards us from above eye-level. The Birmingham coalition have been maintaining relatively stable and consistent movements in the east of Londolozi, yet we are still waiting for them to push deeper into the north in particular. The demise of the Tsalala pride and consequent lack of mating opportunities in that area may well have something to do with this big coalition anchoring themselves to the Ntsevu pride. Image 5 Birmingham, Ntsevu and older cubs.

20 August 2018: Image < Here is a map to show the vast distance between the Mbiri males (Blue pin) & Birmingham males (Yellow pin), Some people speculated that maybe Mfumo went too far north into Mbiri territory and got killed. If Mfumo walked 50-60km away from his coalition, that's incredibly far.

3 September 2018: Image Image 2 I couldn’t imagine a more beautiful sighting of a lioness and her cubs. On the rocks, Beautiful light and a whole load of cuteness, Mhangene female and Birmingham cubs.

Scrapper Birmingham Death: (24 April 2016)
24 April 2016: Image 1 & Image 2 From watching the Birmingham males take over on WildEarth safaris before moving to South Africa to my first game drive at my new home Nkorho seeing these boys for the first time, he was always one of my favourites - for his attitude of a personality and not so pretty looks! We called him Tokolosh - which is based on a type of evil mythological character in African cultures who strikes fear into many.. (as he was one of the most aggressive males in the Birmingham coalition take over, killing both cubs and lionesses.) He was already looking in bad shape and from what I saw he was really struggling to breathe. RIP to an awesome lion, the runt of the coalition and one who really made an impact on the future success of the Birmingham coalition empire.

Birmingham Fight with Scar Nose Majingilane (Scar Nose Death | April 12, 2018 ):
It seems in April 12, 2018, a fight between Birmingham boys happened & they killed Scar Nose Majingilane at Singita yesterday. Scar Nose went out like a warrior on his sword. Pretty gruesome stuff. Considering the recent push over the last few months into Majingilane territory, this fight was inevitable.

Mfumo Birmingham Death Speculated (Mid Summer - September 2018)
Unfortunately, I think Mufmo is dead. He could have gone into the KNP where there are no updates, but I find this scenario very unlikely. Assuming if he did leave to look for new females, I would think that he would head into the direction that he's been previously. He had been in Sabi Sabi in the past hunting buffalo so would think he would head in this direction. Also, that area had been vacant for a long time when the Charleston left so he must of known so for the lack of roaring from dominant males. Most likely we will never know what happened (even as of writing this in May 2021) he has still not been seen again.

Nsuku/Blondie Birmingham Death (October 16, 2019)
Once 5 members strong, the Gowrie / Birmingham male coalition is now down to 2. The third king to fall did so overnight. Nsuku's last breath was probably a sigh of relief - this male had been in poor condition for some time. The 2 surviving lions Tinyo & Nhenha are still in firm control of their territory and it doesn’t look like the loss will jeopardize their reign, at least for the time being.

Tinyo & Nhenha Birmingham killed Othawa Male (May 10, 2021)
Image < shows some injuries that Nhenha got from the fight. Shockingly what Othawa Male did was close to pretty much suicide, with entering in and out of the Birmingham brothers territory and roaring for a fight knowing he would be completely outnumbered. It's a very sad and tragic loss, Othawa male was known for letting cubs of other Coalitions live, and was a huge favourite among fans and rangers alike. R.I.P. Last knowing video of Othawa male roaring before he was killed

Video Video 2 On more Information

Tinyo Possibly Starving: (August 9th, 2021) *NOT CONFIRMED YET*
August 9th 2021, shows a picture of what appears to be Tinyo laying on the ground looking rather skinny and frail, not sure yet if he has passed away or if this is indeed Tinyo

Coalition Status:
Scrapper (Tokoloshe) Hunting Injury in 2016 (Deceased)

Mfumo - Went Missing mid 2018 (Presumed Deceased)

Nsuku (Blondie) - Leg Injury & TB late 2019 (Deceased)

Tinyo - Alive

Nhenha - Alive

Sons:
the sons of Birmingham males coming to an age of adulthood,

There's currently 3 males that are reaching adulthood, Nkuhuma, Torchwood and Styx young males:

- Nkuhuma young male: Image

- Torchwood young male: Image

- Styx young Male Image