Deceased
Also known as Shaka · The Fearless Mapogo
c. 2002 – 8 June 2010
Born in Londolozi and MalaMala area, Sabi Sand Game Reserve, South Africa
Kinky Tail was a male lion of South Africa’s Sabi Sand Game Reserve, beside Kruger National Park, and a member of the Mapogo coalition: five brothers and an older half-brother who dominated the Sabi Sand from 2006 to 2012. Guides and trackers recognised him by the kink near the end of his tail, which he reportedly had from the time he was a cub. With his brother Mr. T he was known as the most aggressive of the six, the two who led the charge when the coalition brought down a buffalo.
He was born around 2002 in the Sparta Pride, also called the Eyrefield Pride, on the land of Londolozi and MalaMala, and is usually described as one of the two youngest Mapogos. After Mr. T lost a fight with the coalition’s leader, Makulu, the two youngest brothers broke away and took the eastern frontier for themselves. There they became known as the Mlowathi males, took over the Tsalala Pride in mid-2008 and drove the old Roller Coaster male from the Styx Pride, and for about two years held the largest part of the Mapogo territory as a pair.
In June 2010 five males from the Kruger, the Majingilane coalition, pushed into their land. On 8 June Kinky Tail and Mr. T caught and killed one of them. Within hours, according to most accounts, the four surviving Majingilanes were on the move; Kinky Tail met them alone and charged all four. They pinned him down, broke his spine and killed him, and parts of his body were eaten. Mr. T arrived too late, was outnumbered and fled. Kinky Tail was about eight years old and the first of the six Mapogos to die.
For the kink near the end of his tail, which rangers and trackers used to identify him. It is reported to have been visible since he was a cub.
Used by some guides and fans. Shaka was a famous 19th-century Zulu king; who first gave the lion this name, and why, has not been documented.
The initials of Kinky Tail, widely used by fans.
From about 2008 he and Mr. T spent so much time in the eastern Mlowathi area that they were called the Mlowathi males there.
Born in the Sparta (Eyrefield) Pride in the Sabi Sand, one of five brothers sired by the West Street Males. Makulu, an older outside male, had joined the pride in 2000 and grew up with them.
Left the pride with his brothers and Makulu. As young nomads the six became expert buffalo hunters, with Kinky Tail and Mr. T the most aggressive in the hunt.
The Mapogos entered the northern Sabi Sand, killed one of the four resident males, drove off the rest and killed the eleven cubs of the Othawa Pride.
Mr. T fought Makulu and lost. Afterwards Kinky Tail and Mr. T broke away from the other four and headed east.
With Mr. T, took over the Tsalala Pride at Londolozi. Around the same time the pair ousted the old Roller Coaster male from the Styx Pride at MalaMala.
Known in the east as the Mlowathi males, the two brothers held the largest part of the Mapogo territory, fighting off rival coalitions. On 10 June 2009 they were reported to have beaten three intruding males despite being outnumbered.
Photographed at Londolozi, in one of the last published pictures of him alive.
Five males from the Kruger, the Majingilane coalition, pushed into the eastern territory, roaring and scent-marking.
With Mr. T, caught and killed a Majingilane male, injuring a paw in the fight. Hours later, by most accounts, he met the four surviving Majingilanes alone, charged them and was killed. Mr. T arrived too late and fled.
The Majingilane took over the eastern prides. Mr. T returned west to his brothers, and the Mapogo reign ended in March 2012.
Kinky Tail and Mr. T were almost never apart, yet on the night he died Kinky Tail met the Majingilanes on his own and attacked rather than retreating. Why the brothers were separated that night has never been explained.
Londolozi’s own timeline puts both deaths, the Majingilane male’s and Kinky Tail’s, on 8 June 2010. Its first report said the Majingilanes rested for a day and took revenge the following evening. The exact timing is therefore uncertain.
Reports say he was eaten alive. Londolozi’s team explained that lions do not normally eat their own kind, and that the victors most likely chewed on parts of his body after his death to assert their dominance.
Daniel Huertas
The rise and fall of the Mapogo coalition, filmed over many years in the Sabi Sand, including the war with the Majingilane. Shown in the United States as the series Lions of Sabi Sands on Animal Planet.
Londolozi Blog — Tom Imrie
Londolozi’s report on the death of Kinky Tail, written days after it happened, with one of the last photographs of him.
Londolozi Blog
A day-by-day timeline of the Majingilane takeover, beginning with the deaths of 8 June 2010.
WildEarth
An early account of the six Mapogo males and how they won the Sabi Sand.
Where sources disagree, the most widely reported figure is shown, with other reports noted beneath it.
