The Majingilane
Rich Laburn — Londolozi
The original short film made during the coalition’s rise to dominance.
Deceased
Golden Mane
Also known as Missing Canine · The Third of the Majingilane
c. 2004 – early 2018
Born in Orpen area, Kruger National Park, South Africa
Golden Mane was one of the four Majingilane, the coalition of male lions that ruled the Sabi Sand Game Reserve beside Kruger National Park from 2010 to 2018. Named for his golden-blond mane, he was also known as the Missing Canine male, for a lost canine tooth. He spent much of his time with Dark Mane and Scar Nose but was firmly the third-ranked male, never taking first mating rights over a lioness in season.
The Majingilane were born around 2004–2005, most likely in the Orpen area of Kruger National Park, and arrived in the Sabi Sand Game Reserve in early to mid-2010 as a coalition of five. On 8 June 2010 the Mapogo males Mr. T and Kinky Tail caught and killed the youngest of them, and that same night the remaining four hunted down Kinky Tail and killed him. When all five Mapogos came for revenge in July, the four withdrew into Kruger, then returned. Over the next eight years they ruled almost half of the Sabi Sand, dominating the Tsalala, Breakaway Tsalala, Fourways, Styx and Sparta prides and later following the Mhangeni lionesses west.
In early 2018 he was reportedly badly injured during a buffalo hunt. He stopped being seen in March, and by early April Londolozi reported that the second member of the coalition had died. Within weeks the last two, Scar Nose and Dark Mane, were gone as well, ending eight years of Majingilane rule.
~8Years of reign
~13Age at death
2ndOf the four to die
4Males in his coalition
Profile
Identity
- Name
- Golden ManeThe name he is best known by
- Nicknames
- Missing Canine
- Origin of the name
- Named by Sabi Sand guides for his most obvious feature
- Sex
- Male
- Distinguishing features
- A golden-blond mane and a missing canine tooth
- Weight
- Information not availableFor reference, adult male lions usually weigh 150–260 kg
Birth & Family
- Born
- c. 2004 – 2005
- Birthplace
- Orpen area, Kruger National Park, South AfricaNot confirmed; some accounts say the Manyeleti area next to Kruger
- Birth pride
- Information not availableNot known; reportedly a pride with a reputation for hunting buffalo
- Father
- Information not available
- Mother
- Information not available
- Siblings
- Dark Mane, Scar Nose, Hip Scar, Golden Mane and a fifth male (brothers or close relatives)
Reign
- Pride king
- Yes, the third-ranked Majingilane
- Prides ruled
- Tsalala, Breakaway Tsalala, Fourways, Styx and Sparta prides; later the Mhangeni prideDominant over five prides at once at their peak
- Pride size
- Information not available
- Reign
- About 7–8 years (2010 – 2017/2018)
- Ruled with
- His Majingilane brothers
- Coalition
- The Majingilane
- Home range
- Central and eastern Sabi Sand Game Reserve, including Londolozi, South Africa
- Territory size
- Information not availableAt their peak the coalition ruled almost half of the Sabi Sand
Death
- Died
- Early 2018Not seen for several weeks by early April 2018
- Age at death
- About 13 years
- Cause of death
- Injuries from a buffalo huntReported, not confirmed
- Place of death
- Sabi Sand Game Reserve, South AfricaExact place not recorded
- Burial
- Information not availableNo burial was reported
Names & Meanings
Golden ManeName
Named for his golden-blond mane.
Missing CanineOther name
For a missing canine tooth. Londolozi rangers used both names.
MajingilaneCoalition name
Coined for watchmen who patrol the night, marching with intent and never changing course.
Family & Lineage
Not knownParentsTheir parents were never identified; they arrived from Kruger as young adults.
Missing CanineGolden Manec. 2004 – early 2018
Brother · first-rankedDark ManeThe most dominant of the four and the last to go, in 2018. His body was never found.View record →Brother · second-rankedScar NoseDark Mane’s constant companion. Died in early 2018, the third to go.View record →BrotherHip ScarThe limping, gentle one at the back. The first of the four to die, in February 2017.View record →BrotherThe fifth MajingilaneThe youngest of the five. Killed by the Mapogo males Mr. T and Kinky Tail on 8 June 2010.
OffspringCubs of the coalitionFathered with the Majingilane brothers across five prides; in a coalition, which male fathered which cub is not known. The Tsalala pride alone had 11 cubs by them, of which 3 survived to 2012.
Life Story
- c. 2004 – 2005
Born, most likely in a pride near the Orpen area of Kruger National Park; some accounts say the Manyeleti area, in a pride known for hunting buffalo.
- Early – mid 2010
Arrived in the Sabi Sand Game Reserve from Kruger as one of five young males.
- May 2010
The coalition was seen for the first time on Londolozi.
- 8 June 2010
The Mapogo males Mr. T and Kinky Tail killed the youngest Majingilane. That night the remaining four, including this male, tracked down Kinky Tail and killed him.
- July 2010
When the five remaining Mapogos marched east for revenge, the Majingilane withdrew into Kruger, then returned once the Mapogos had gone.
- 2010 – 2012
Took control of most of Londolozi and the central Sabi Sand, and became dominant over five prides: Tsalala, Breakaway Tsalala, Fourways, Styx and Sparta.
- October 2012
The coalition caught an intruding young male on their southern boundary and mauled him until a bull elephant charged and he escaped.
- October 2012
Photographed facing an intruding young male that the coalition mauled on their southern boundary.
- February 2017
Hip Scar died, leaving three.
- Early 2018
Reportedly injured by a buffalo while hunting.
- March 2018
Stopped being seen.
- Early April 2018
Reported to have died, the second of the four.
Legend & Truth
One lion, two names
Rangers and fans called him either Golden Mane or the Missing Canine male. Both names refer to the same lion.
Never first
In eight years he was never seen taking first mating rights over a lioness in season; that privilege went to Dark Mane and Scar Nose.
Photographs
Photograph coming soon
Photograph coming soon
Photograph coming soon
Film
The film of Missing Canine’s life is coming soon
Animation
An animated story of Missing Canine’s life is coming soon
Documentaries & Features
Tribute to the Majingilane
James Tyrrell — Londolozi Blog
Eight years of the coalition in photographs, from their prime to their last days.
Sources
- Londolozi Blog — Tribute to the Majingilane
- Londolozi Blog — The final demise of the Majingilane
- Londolozi Blog — Majingilane: stats and numbers
- Londolozi Blog — Farewell to the Hip Scar male
- Secret Africa — The Majingilane lions of Sabi Sands
- Wikipedia — Mapogo lion coalition (death of Kinky Tail)
Where sources disagree, the most widely reported figure is shown, with other reports noted beneath it.