Mutlwankanda The Shy Partner of Mayenga

Last week we introduced you to Mayenga and her pride, while letting you wonder about the big male that accompanies them. Well, wonder no more! Meet Mutlwankanda!

 

Mutlwankanda (that’s a silent “l”) means “The Forager.” He has fathered the cubs in the pride and been regularly seen with Mayenga and her mother since the beginning of our research.  Many men in the village who have gotten to know Mutlwankanda feel they can really identify with him, jokingly saying that they like him because he has two wives like them. Polygamy is a culturally accepted practice throughout Africa, including our focus area.

Mutlwankanda was originally part of a coalition of two large males, but in 2015 we stopped seeing his brother. It is possible that his coalition mate was killed by villagers towards the beginning of our study, although there is no direct evidence of this. Given Mutlwankanda’s shy behavior, it is certainly possible. During many of our sightings of him and his pride, he is tucked away in the bushes and hard to see. However, we have had a few nice encounters with him.

The photograph above was taken after he and the pride moved into the area in response to roars from a new male. Mutlwankanda and company are usually found around the local safari lodges that are south of the villages where they are “safe.” They do occasionally make trips northward into the livestock grazing area and villagers appreciate knowing when they do.

Next week, meet a lioness who might be even more elusive than Mutlwankanda.As we are nearing the end of the campaign we will have more frequent updates, so stay tuned. Once again, a big thank you to all of our backers! We are at 90% of our goal.