Presumed dead
Silver Eye of Talamati
Also known as Queen Silver Eye · The One-Eyed Queen of the Talamati Pride
c. 2007/08 – 2022
Born in Northern Sabi Sand area, South Africa
Silver Eye was a lioness of the Talamati Pride on the border of the Manyeleti and the northern Sabi Sand in South Africa, named for her blind eye, which looks silver-blue. She is not the Silver Eye of The Last Lions in Botswana. She and her sister or cousin were the two oldest lionesses of the pride, born around 2007–2008 when the pride was breaking away from the Nkuhuma Pride and mating with the old Nkuhuma males.
Her life reads like a list of the Greater Kruger’s great coalitions. In 2011 the Matimba males took the pride, and Silver Eye mated with them as she reached adulthood. The Selati males followed after 2015, then the Birmingham Boys, and from 2018 the Northern Avocas; in early 2020 Dark Mane Avoca stayed with her and the Talamati lionesses, and they fathered nine cubs in 2019. Guides watching on WildEarth described her as a seriously strong and beautiful lioness.
In later years she often lived on her own, joining the pride from time to time. She was last seen in early September 2022, in bad condition, being chased and with an injury to her back. Followers believe she died at about 14, having raised three litters to adulthood with Damaged Tail.
Profile
Identity
- Name
- Silver EyeThe name she is best known by
- Nicknames
- Queen Silver Eye; the blue-eyed lioness
- Origin of the name
- For her blind, silver-blue eye
- Sex
- Female
- Distinguishing features
- Blind in one eye, which looks silver-blue
- Weight
- Information not availableFor reference, adult lionesses usually weigh 110–180 kg
Birth & Family
- Born
- c. 2007 – 2008
- Birthplace
- Northern Sabi Sand area, South Africa
- Birth pride
- Talamati Pride (then breaking away from the Nkuhuma Pride)
- Father
- Information not availableOne of the old Nkuhuma males
- Mother
- Information not available
- Siblings
- Information not availableHer sister or cousin, Damaged Tail, the other original Talamati lioness
Pride Life
- Role in the pride
- A senior lioness of the Talamati Pride
- Prides
- Talamati Pride
- Pride size
- Information not available
- Years in the pride
- Information not available
- Pride-mates
- Damaged Tail and the Talamati lionesses
- Coalition
- Information not available
- Home range
- Southern Manyeleti and the northern Sabi Sand, South Africa
- Territory size
- Information not available
Death
- Died
- Information not availableLast seen in early September 2022, injured and being chased
- Age at death
- About 14
- Cause of death
- Information not availableNot confirmed
- Place of death
- Information not available
- Burial
- Information not available
Names & Meanings
For her blind, silver-blue eye; also called the blue-eyed lioness.
Used by fans.
Family & Lineage
Life Story
- c. 2007 – 2008
Born as the Talamati lionesses broke away from the Nkuhuma Pride.
- 2011
The pride was named the Talamati Pride and taken by the Matimba males; she later mated with them.
- 2015
The Selati males claimed the pride.
- 2018
The Northern Avocas became the dominant males.
- 2019 – 2020
Dark Mane Avoca stayed with her and the Talamati lionesses.
- Early September 2022
Last seen, injured and being chased.
Legend & Truth
Two Silver Eyes
This lioness of South Africa’s Talamati Pride is not the Silver Eye of The Last Lions in Botswana, who has her own record.
Photographs
Film
Animation
Sources
- Londolozi — The Talamati Pride: who are they?
- Sabi Sand — The history of the Talamati lion pride
- Arathusa — The history of the Talamati lion pride
Where sources disagree, the most widely reported figure is shown, with other reports noted beneath it.