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the kings

The Kings!- Article by Gareth Jones

THE KINGS OF THE NAIROBI NATIONAL PARK

In August 2007 I drove along the road that goes along a stream towards no. 4 junction, as I rounded a corner, suddenly there was a strikingly majestic lion standing right next to the road. He stood towering over his “honeymoon” lioness, and then flared his fangs in a grimace as he smelled the air. This action is scientifically known as the flehmen response, this is because lions have a special sensor called the Jacobson’s organ. This organ is effectively an olfactory mechanism for identifying the reproductive state of lionesses based on the pheromones in the female’s genitals or urine. Lions seemingly “smell the air “ as they detect heavy moist particles in the air and then make a decision regarding a particular lioness. Well, this majestic lion decided that his Queen was ready for him to ensure the future of his bloodline. I watched as they repeatedly coupled approximately every 15 minutes, to this day I am not sure what cubs came from this lion romance. However, I did note that this lion was the prime King of the Central and Northern areas of the park. As humans we like to give names to lions, this majestic lion was known as Ujanja.

It should be noted that by the year 2003 the lion population of the park had been tragically reduced to only 7 individuals, largely due to the lions moving out of the park during the wet season. Their practice of targeting local livestock, unfortunately, resulted in the Masai moran warriors taking revenge and actually actively going out and hunting and killing a number of lions. For thousands of years, lions have roamed the area we call Nairobi today. Humans have also co-existed with wildlife in this area for thousands of years. However, within the last 120 years, there have been dramatic changes due to rapid human developments. The area immediately south of central Nairobi used to be known as “commonage” in the 1920s & 1930s, and military guns used to fire practice rounds across the plains during the second World War. It was thanks to the efforts of people like Mervyn Cowie that the Nairobi National Park became the first National park to be gazetted in Kenya on the 16th of December 1946.

It is an amazing miracle that wildlife, including lions, have managed to survive for so long next to a growing ever-expanding mega-city. The Nairobi lions are indeed remarkable in that they live with so many millions of humans around them, and tourists come from all over the world just for a glimpse of the less than 40 lions that frequent the tiny 117 sq/km Nairobi National Park.

I have over many years been one of the few people that have had the privilege to spend much time in the park, with close to 5000 visits. As a result, many of the lions became well known to me, and some of them have even been given names. It should be mentioned that there are a few special people who continue to give much of their free time towards conservation, people like Trish Heather-Hayes (aka Mama Simba) who has a really in-depth knowledge of most of the Nairobi lions. Also, David Mascall who for many years ran the orphanage, and in recent years did lion ID research and then began installing flashing LED lion lights around livestock bomas to ensure maximum protection for livestock at night. Michael Mbithi has also done some noteworthy work together with David Mascall to ID the Nairobi lions over 5 years ago. It is also well overdue that the lions need to be systematically identified again, hopefully, this will happen in 2020? There also are quite a few other people who really do care and continue to support lion conservation in the park, mainly through the efforts of FONNAP (Friends of Nairobi National Park).

In April 2016 – a Magnificent lion we called Mohawk was shot south of the Nairobi National Park – this is a tribute to his life. It was September 2007, on a cold cloudy grey morning as I drove along slowly. Suddenly a young lion emerged from the long grass and walked into the road, he looked to be about 2 years old and had a long funky looking tufty mane on the top middle of his head. Soon people gave him the name “Mohawk” because of his funky immature mane. At that stage, the King was a lion known as Ujanja who was a mighty lion and was also Mohawk’s father, however, the young prince Mohawk still had many years of maturing and testing moments before he also emerged as the King of the Middle part of the park in 2011, when Ujanja was getting old.

Mohawk was a magnificent lion in almost every way, powerfully built, with a dark black mane and he was definitely popular with the lion ladies and many cubs came through him. I remember once being amazed that he killed a huge eland near No. 6 dam, the pride really enjoyed that feast. For many years I drove through Mohawk’s territory almost twice daily, and always looked to see if he was around, sometimes he would go roaming for a week or two. But often he was seen in his territory that consisted mainly of the Embakasi plains (from no4,5,6,7 junctions and the Eland Valley area), Masai gate and Kingfisher area and even stretched up into the forest. Mohawk reigned successfully not just because of his power, but also because he had coalitions with various lions like Charlie, Sam and Cheru.

On the 30th April 2016, the sad news of Mohawk’s terrible killing quickly went global. We cannot bring him back. I know many people including international tourists loved him. He was one of the most photographed lions in the park, seemingly not bothered by people in cars all looking at him. We hope and pray that the Kenya Wildlife Service will ensure the future of the Nairobi National Park lions by improved conservation management methods.

Early one morning as we approached the Kingfisher picnic site. We saw 12 lions including cubs in the road as they moved on to entertain us by occupying the picnic site and climb the trees. However, apart for the excitement of seeing this, there was a sad moment when we saw one of the two male lions, known by many people as Sam. He had seemingly been in a fight of some kind and was now nursing a serious eye injury. Thankfully KWS did respond quite quickly and were able to dart Sam and treat the injured eye. I doubt if he will gain sight in the eye after the flesh wound has healed.

The two lions known as Sam & Cheru have been in a coalition for a number of years, however, lions like all species have limited lifespans. According to a study done by Michael Mbithi & Dave Mascall, M1- Cheru was estimated to be born in 2004 and M2- Sam in 2005, so effectively this means that they will be about 16 & 15 years old this year. Based on research throughout Africa, male lions in the wild are estimated to live for about an average maximum of 15 years. Although there can be exceptions and these two lions are already above average, their reign as Kings of the Kingfisher pride is in imminent danger. The threat of stronger younger mature lions attacking and taking over the pride is quite likely.

There are already a number of strong young princes in contention. However, whatever happens, the younger lions might also form a coalition to eventually emerge as the future ‘Kingfisher Pride Kings’ in the Nairobi National Park. Just last week a powerful new coalition of two young lions was seen near Hyena dam, these 2 lions are known as Sirikoi and Kemboi. Interestingly, there are also other mature lions like Embakasi & Kitili, who are also powerful contenders for the title of NNP kings. And so the constant challenge for dominance continues in the park, only the strongest survive, and in doing so ensure that their stronger genes are passed on to future generations. Will the year 2020 be the year of the changing Kings? Only time will tell!

And so the constant battle continues for the Nairobi Lions to survive, we hope and pray that God will make a way where there sometimes seems no way for the Nairobi National Park to survive and thrive into the future!

The park is open daily from 06h00 to 19h00.

the kings
Gareth Jones – Nairobi Park Dairy – A passionate writer & photographer

Comment(1)

  • Derek Loudin

    January 25, 2020

    Outstanding. Inspired article.

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