0.1 Maya (26/02/2011) Imported 2014 (South Africa)
1.0 Ato (12/08/2017) Johari x Nilo
0.1 Ayanna (12/08/2021) Ato x Maya
0.1 Malika (12/08/2021) Ato x Maya
0.1 Zuri (12/08/2021) Ato x Maya
1.0 Khari (12/08/2021) Ato x Maya
1.0 Luzoko (12/08/2021) Ato x Maya
@Zoofan15 Khari and Luzuko rotate between being with Maya and the female cubs (with Ato being by himself off-display), and being off-display (with Ato being with the females. Either way, the three males are constantly vocalising, and it shouldn't be long before the male cubs move on.
@Osedax Thanks for that, I’d assumed the males were living separately but that’s interesting to know. I imagine Ato is becoming quite jealous, so agree shifting his sons on is the obvious move. I’d like to see them transferred to Shoalhaven (non breeding) with their genetically valuable founder males joining the breeding programme.
@Osedax@Zoofan15 Interesting to hear. I'd agree it's about time Khari and Luzoko are moved. Taronga can accommodate two separate prides, but I don't imagine this is something they would want to be going for as keeping Ato by himself for periods of time and then reintroducing him to the girls again and again could have its issues.
@Jambo A socially typical male lion will jealousy guard his lionesses, so it’s very strange Ato is rotating access to them. Especially as his sons mature, this could be stressful for all involved. They potentially vasectomise him and house him in a 1.4 non breeding pride with Maya and their daughters.
@Zoofan15 I was under the impression that the plan was to mantain this non breeding family group but it seems the boys have had other plans. Sending the two boys elsewhere and vasectomising Ato to hold a non breeding pride does seem the best course now.
@Jambo Though traditionally male lions are ousted from the pride at adolescence, PVS has for the most part maintained a cohesive pride (transferring out or exporting the occasional trouble maker - male and female); and of course Taronga housed 2.2 for years until Johari left for Werribee and the others for Hunter Valley, so it can be done.
I’d speculate the extended confinement to their indoor quarters may have heightened tensions within this pride. On hindsight, castrating the younger males may have been the best option - though Maya’s only reproductive offspring is currently Baako.
