Othawa M

Summary:
Video shows the start of Young Othawa Male. Othawa male was born in February 2015, still in the heyday of his fathers the Majingilane male lions.

Being part of a litter of three cubs - two males and one female - he wasn’t a single male from the start. But while his sister survived and just recently gave birth to new cubs sired by the Tumbela males, his brother who had been the bigger one among the two males at that time, was unfortunately killed by hyenas already back in 2016. Something that would stack the odds against the Othawa male in the future.

The following years passed by without major trouble. Even after the demise of the Majingilane males in April 2018. The Othawa pride and it’s young male weren’t faced with direct consequences. Without dominant male lions that would push the Othawa male out he continued to stay with the pride and contributed to the protection of the Majingilane males‘ latest cubs. Only when the Matimba males moved in over the course of 2018 the Othawa male left to become the dominant male of the Mhangeni pride that was conveniently abandoned by the Birmingham males. Today this pride has seven cubs sired by him.

Compared to other male lions of similar age of the Greater Kruger and the Kruger National Park as a whole the Othawa male was growing and maturing above-average. At the age of 6 years he had grown into the most impressive male lion of the Sabi Sands Game Reserve sporting a spectacular mane. The fact that he pretty much enjoyed a carefree youth may have contributed to this. But if there’s something that holds true for lion society then the circumstance that numerical superiority triumphs over body size.

In recent months the Othawa male was seen repeatedly pushing into the territory of the Birmingham males, roaring, scent-marking and mating with Kambula lionesses. But being the only dominant male of the reserve without any partner and entirely surrounded by bigger coalitions meant a not compensable disadvantage right from the start. And as sad as it is, the final outcome is far from a surprise. Four days ago on Thursday he finally crossed deep into the heart of Birmingham territory, heading straight and with full intent into the direction of the roars of a Birmingham male and a Ntsevu lioness. And into the very same direction where a Ntsevu lioness had stashed the prides‘ newest cubs. An unfortunate accident to say the least. He most likely ran into way more lions than he had expected. This was the last time he was seen. In the words of Londolozi Ranger Sean de la Rey, „We may never know how it all unfolded that evening or the night after but he was ultimately defeated, paying the ultimate price.“ Following the newest Londolozi Blog that was published today it can be now considered a sufficient probability that he was killed by the Birmingham males (possibly with the aid of Ntsevu lionesses).

Othawa male was in particular loved by many wildlife fans and especially those who closely follow the lion dynamics of the Sabi Sands became emotionally attached to him - despite being hundreds of miles apart from each other. He stood for what an impressive male lion should look like and will be remembered as one of the most beautiful males that graced the reserve with his presence.

A prince once, a king at the end. Farewell! "

Othawa male with Junior Othawa and his siblings in 2018: Image

Othawa male (left) with his brother and one of their fathers, Dark Mane Majingilane, 2016: Image

Othawa Male Death (May 10th, 2021) [NEWS ]
Sadly Othawa Male playing with fire for the last couple of years, moving in an out of the Birmingham Male territory caused him to lose his life.

The last video of him seen roaring (basically suicide) calling for a fight with the Birmingham Males, once they showed up 2 of them must have pinned Othawa Male down because the injuries seen on the Birmingham Males later was very minor, which is constituent in the pattern of 2v1 (or more) lion fights. A dental comparison of the carcass of the lion found, points to the remains definitely belonging to Othawa Male. The most magnificent male on Londolozi is gone.

R.I.P Video

Family:
Parents: Othawa Male's Mother is a daughter of the Mapogos & His father was Scarnose Majingilane or Hipscar Majingilane.So both Mapogo & Majingilane bloodline.