The Marsh Pride Today
The three main threats to lions in general are loss of habitat (lions have lost up to 95% of their historical range), loss of prey (the bushmeat trade involved in killing wild animals for food is an enormous problem, along with the decline in prey species due to a reduction in forage caused by illegal cattle incursions), and conflict with humans. As Professor Craig Packer who headed up the Serengeti Lion Project in Tanzania for many years said: “The greatest threat to lions can be summed up in one word - people.” Lion numbers have halved since The Lion King was released by Disney in 1994. Other factors impacting lions in the Maasai Mara are the opening up of wooded habitat due to global warming, a burgeoning elephant population, and the impact of safari vehicles driving in to acacia and croton thickets creating pathways that seasonal fires can most easily penetrate. For instance, the natal breeding ground for the Marsh Pride, an intermittent water course known as Bila Shaka (meaning “without fail” in Swahili, and named because you could always find lions there) was demarcated by trees, acacia bush and croton thickets. But the area has increasingly become denuded of vegetation and suitable den sites for the pride. While the poisoning of predators has had an impact on both lion and spotted hyena numbers, hyenas tend to run away from Maasai attempting to spear them while lions are more vulnerable - they tire more quickly when pursued and then take cover in thickets where they are more easily killed. With less lions, the hyena population has increased markedly. One clan monitored but the Talek Hyena Project numbers up to 100 individuals, and predation on lion cubs has increased with less secure den sites and with lionesses bringing cubs to feed on kills in the open at a young age. Herds of buffalo also take their toll as they make their way along the thickets.
When Professor Joseph Ogutu studied lion numbers in the Maasai Mara National Reserve in 1990-1982 he documented 22 prides in the Reserve with 20 or more individuals in half the prides. The largest pride - the Talek Pride - numbered 48, with 17 lionesses and 4 males. Today there are 18 prides, mostly with less than 20 individuals. The Marsh Pride at the height of its fortunes in 2004 boasted 29 members - today it numbers 2 males, 4 adult females, 5 sub-adults (3 females and 2 males) and reportedly a litter of small cubs - 11 to 14 members. Currently they have moved out of their territory and are eeking out an existence in Leopard Gorge Conservancy due to lack of prey and disturbance by cattle incursions along Bila Shaka and surrounds.
