Human-Wildlife Conflict
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Lisbeth
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Re: Human Wildlife Conflict
Cats!
"Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world." Nelson Mandela
The desire for equality must never exceed the demands of knowledge
The desire for equality must never exceed the demands of knowledge
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Klipspringer
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Re: Human Wildlife Conflict
https://www.iol.co.za/ios/news/death-wa ... n-42544029
Death warrant issued for rogue lion roaming northern KZN
NEWS / 11 FEBRUARY 2020, 2:12PM / DUNCAN GUY
DURBAN - A death warrant has been signed for the lion at large in the Dundee-Nqutu area of northern KZN.
Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife confirmed a destruction permit has been issued for the creature, although a decision whether or not to exterminate the feline will be carried out if and when it arrives at a baited trap.
“The circumstances at the time of next sighting will determine the method of capture which will probably be killing it to protect human life,” Musa Mntambo, spokesman for Ezemvelo said. “A destruction permit has been issued according to applicable legislation in circumstances like this.”
The Democratic Alliance has objected to the wildlife agency’s intention to kill the lion and has urged them to capture it instead.
“But it would seem that Ezemvelo is incapable of live capture,” said MPL Heinz de Boer who last week intended to question Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs MEC Nomusa Dube-Ncube about its possible extermination during a provincial, conservation and environmental affairs committee meeting. However, she did not attend it, he said.
“Now I shall have to send a written question and that can take a month or two to get an answer. By then the lion will probably be dead.“
He added that the DA had called for a moratorium on the shooting of the Big Five by Ezemvelo and that this has been ignored by the ANC.
Back in the bush where the lion is at large, Mntambo said that only one lion had been captured by a trap camera. It is believed to have been one of two lions that escaped from a sanctuary in the area last year.
“One farmer claims to have lost a cow or so from his farm,” Mntambo added.
“The trap has been set for a lion but it has not yet returned.”
Two years ago a man narrowly escaped a lion attack while he was walking along a bush path near Gluckstadt, between Melmoth and Vryheid.
The Independent on Saturday
Death warrant issued for rogue lion roaming northern KZN
NEWS / 11 FEBRUARY 2020, 2:12PM / DUNCAN GUY
DURBAN - A death warrant has been signed for the lion at large in the Dundee-Nqutu area of northern KZN.
Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife confirmed a destruction permit has been issued for the creature, although a decision whether or not to exterminate the feline will be carried out if and when it arrives at a baited trap.
“The circumstances at the time of next sighting will determine the method of capture which will probably be killing it to protect human life,” Musa Mntambo, spokesman for Ezemvelo said. “A destruction permit has been issued according to applicable legislation in circumstances like this.”
The Democratic Alliance has objected to the wildlife agency’s intention to kill the lion and has urged them to capture it instead.
“But it would seem that Ezemvelo is incapable of live capture,” said MPL Heinz de Boer who last week intended to question Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs MEC Nomusa Dube-Ncube about its possible extermination during a provincial, conservation and environmental affairs committee meeting. However, she did not attend it, he said.
“Now I shall have to send a written question and that can take a month or two to get an answer. By then the lion will probably be dead.“
He added that the DA had called for a moratorium on the shooting of the Big Five by Ezemvelo and that this has been ignored by the ANC.
Back in the bush where the lion is at large, Mntambo said that only one lion had been captured by a trap camera. It is believed to have been one of two lions that escaped from a sanctuary in the area last year.
“One farmer claims to have lost a cow or so from his farm,” Mntambo added.
“The trap has been set for a lion but it has not yet returned.”
Two years ago a man narrowly escaped a lion attack while he was walking along a bush path near Gluckstadt, between Melmoth and Vryheid.
The Independent on Saturday
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Klipspringer
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Re: Human Wildlife Conflict
https://www.getaway.co.za/travel-news/e ... f-village/
Elephant shot dead in Kruger staff village
SANParks released a statement on its Kruger community page on social media confirming that a field ranger had to shoot a male elephant which was endangering the lives of Kruger National Park staff members.
The statement read: ‘Dear all, staff members were charged by a young adult male (bull) inside the Pretoriuskop staff living quarters.’
‘Field rangers had to shoot the elephant. The elephant ran out of the living quarters and died. It was threatening the lives of staff, and there was no alternative. Fortunately, no one was injured.’
According to the Letaba Herald, the ‘elephant ran out of the living quarters and died’.
The news outlet also said that there were ‘several outraged comments’ but that ‘an admin of the SANParks group reassured members that there was no alternative’ and that the rangers had to make ‘an instant life-or-death decision’.
When in musth (a season where testosterone levels can rise to 60 times higher than usual) young bulls can become aggressive and very dangerous.
Elephant shot dead in Kruger staff village
SANParks released a statement on its Kruger community page on social media confirming that a field ranger had to shoot a male elephant which was endangering the lives of Kruger National Park staff members.
The statement read: ‘Dear all, staff members were charged by a young adult male (bull) inside the Pretoriuskop staff living quarters.’
‘Field rangers had to shoot the elephant. The elephant ran out of the living quarters and died. It was threatening the lives of staff, and there was no alternative. Fortunately, no one was injured.’
According to the Letaba Herald, the ‘elephant ran out of the living quarters and died’.
The news outlet also said that there were ‘several outraged comments’ but that ‘an admin of the SANParks group reassured members that there was no alternative’ and that the rangers had to make ‘an instant life-or-death decision’.
When in musth (a season where testosterone levels can rise to 60 times higher than usual) young bulls can become aggressive and very dangerous.
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Klipspringer
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Re: Human Wildlife Conflict
And lions around in Gauteng 
https://www.timeslive.co.za/news/south- ... estonaria/
Police searching for two lions after reported sightings in Westonaria
19 February 2020 - 18:44
BY ERNEST MABUZA
No missing lions have been reported on Gauteng's West Rand, police said on Wednesday.
This is as they continue to search for a pair of lions that were reportedly spotted roaming in Westonaria, west of Johannesburg, on Tuesday afternoon
Police spokesperson Sgt Audrey Sefara said there were reports from two sources about two lions in the area. One said the lions were spotted behind the Westonaria sports complex.
Sefara said police officers began their search on Tuesday afternoon and continued on Wednesday.
No further sighting of the lions were reported, she said.
Sefara called on anyone who has seen the lions to contract the police.
https://www.timeslive.co.za/news/south- ... estonaria/
Police searching for two lions after reported sightings in Westonaria
19 February 2020 - 18:44
BY ERNEST MABUZA
No missing lions have been reported on Gauteng's West Rand, police said on Wednesday.
This is as they continue to search for a pair of lions that were reportedly spotted roaming in Westonaria, west of Johannesburg, on Tuesday afternoon
Police spokesperson Sgt Audrey Sefara said there were reports from two sources about two lions in the area. One said the lions were spotted behind the Westonaria sports complex.
Sefara said police officers began their search on Tuesday afternoon and continued on Wednesday.
No further sighting of the lions were reported, she said.
Sefara called on anyone who has seen the lions to contract the police.
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Lisbeth
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Re: Human Wildlife Conflict
Maybe pink elephants have been changed to lions 
"Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world." Nelson Mandela
The desire for equality must never exceed the demands of knowledge
The desire for equality must never exceed the demands of knowledge
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Lisbeth
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Re: Human Wildlife Conflict
Another kind of Human/Wildlife Conflict...............
There’s a cheetah on the roof – when wildlife viewing crosses the line
Posted on February 20, 2020 by Africa Geographic Editorial
© Kaido Haagen
With ever-growing competition within the safari industry, the pressure to provide up-close and personal cheetah and other big cat sightings have increased. Within most of the popular safari destinations, the wildlife has become so habituated to the presence of vehicles that they largely ignore them, allowing visitors to admire the beauty of these animals at close proximity. But how close is too close?
In East Africa, there are countless videos and photographs on the internet depicting safari vehicles with cheetahs clambering over them, sometimes even into the vehicle itself, in-between the guests. A once-in-a-lifetime experience for those guests and something that is on the wish list for many a novice safari-goer – with the added bonus of the footage or photographs going viral. The practice is unethical for several reasons and puts the cheetah’s life at risk. Also, this is against established rules and condemned by cheetah conservation programs,
These car-climbing cheetahs are almost all found in the open habitats of East Africa, and they probably do it for the same reason they might climb a tree or a termite mound – it provides a useful vantage point and a high point to scent-mark. With younger individuals that learn this behaviour from their mothers, there is almost certainly an element of curiosity as well. It comes with significant risk, and there are incidents of cheetah injuring themselves climbing onto or jumping off vehicles and, as with any wild animal, injury can have dire consequences.
© Mara Meru Cheetah Project
As the smallest of the big cats of Africa, the cheetah is generally a timid animal that is unlikely to pose a threat to humans, which has led to a certain amount of complacency around them. However, they are still big predators and can injure a human being if provoked (and have done so in the past). The cheetahs that climb vehicles have lost their natural caution around humans, and that inherently makes them potentially more dangerous. In a closed environment in such close proximity to people, any sudden movement or noise from a guest could provoke a defensive or aggressive response from the cheetah, which will inevitably result in injury. This is even likely when there are children in the vehicle (human children are prey-size, and they often squeal similarly to a distressed prey animal) or when the guests provoke the cheetahs for a better photo – not to mention the possible diseases and parasites tourists could be exposed to. In most cases, when a wild animal injures a human, the animal will pay the price in one way or another.
This increased comfort with humans could also spell disaster for cheetah for a different reason – one of the biggest threats facing cheetah populations is conflict with people, and these cheetahs are less likely to go out of their way to avoid encountering humans.
The exploitation of wildlife is a hot topic and “wildlife selfies” are pervasive, despite the token (and mostly meaningless) efforts of social media websites to curb the tide. Allowing cheetah to climb onto cars falls on the wrong side of this line, and with changing attitudes towards interaction with wild animals, tourists need to be aware of this. Cheetah make their intentions clear when they approach the vehicles, and all that is required to prevent them from jumping up is for the guide to move the vehicle slowly away, especially if that individual cheetah is known for that behaviour.
cheetah on the roof © Suhaib Alvi
Dr Femke Broekhuis, who is currently a senior research associate with the Wildlife Conservation Research Unit at the University of Oxford and has extensive experience in cheetah conservation throughout Africa, suggests that tourists too have a responsibility in their enjoyment of wildlife. Firstly, by not pressuring or encouraging their guide to allow the cheetah too close, and secondly, by not propagating the popularity of this practice by sharing or supporting the photos and videos of these sightings. She writes, “Cheetahs already face a kaleidoscope of threats that are causing significant declines. Let’s not add additional stress to these animals. We can all play a role in cheetah conservation by respecting these felids in peril”.
There’s a cheetah on the roof – when wildlife viewing crosses the line
Posted on February 20, 2020 by Africa Geographic Editorial
© Kaido Haagen
With ever-growing competition within the safari industry, the pressure to provide up-close and personal cheetah and other big cat sightings have increased. Within most of the popular safari destinations, the wildlife has become so habituated to the presence of vehicles that they largely ignore them, allowing visitors to admire the beauty of these animals at close proximity. But how close is too close?
In East Africa, there are countless videos and photographs on the internet depicting safari vehicles with cheetahs clambering over them, sometimes even into the vehicle itself, in-between the guests. A once-in-a-lifetime experience for those guests and something that is on the wish list for many a novice safari-goer – with the added bonus of the footage or photographs going viral. The practice is unethical for several reasons and puts the cheetah’s life at risk. Also, this is against established rules and condemned by cheetah conservation programs,
These car-climbing cheetahs are almost all found in the open habitats of East Africa, and they probably do it for the same reason they might climb a tree or a termite mound – it provides a useful vantage point and a high point to scent-mark. With younger individuals that learn this behaviour from their mothers, there is almost certainly an element of curiosity as well. It comes with significant risk, and there are incidents of cheetah injuring themselves climbing onto or jumping off vehicles and, as with any wild animal, injury can have dire consequences.
© Mara Meru Cheetah Project
As the smallest of the big cats of Africa, the cheetah is generally a timid animal that is unlikely to pose a threat to humans, which has led to a certain amount of complacency around them. However, they are still big predators and can injure a human being if provoked (and have done so in the past). The cheetahs that climb vehicles have lost their natural caution around humans, and that inherently makes them potentially more dangerous. In a closed environment in such close proximity to people, any sudden movement or noise from a guest could provoke a defensive or aggressive response from the cheetah, which will inevitably result in injury. This is even likely when there are children in the vehicle (human children are prey-size, and they often squeal similarly to a distressed prey animal) or when the guests provoke the cheetahs for a better photo – not to mention the possible diseases and parasites tourists could be exposed to. In most cases, when a wild animal injures a human, the animal will pay the price in one way or another.
This increased comfort with humans could also spell disaster for cheetah for a different reason – one of the biggest threats facing cheetah populations is conflict with people, and these cheetahs are less likely to go out of their way to avoid encountering humans.
The exploitation of wildlife is a hot topic and “wildlife selfies” are pervasive, despite the token (and mostly meaningless) efforts of social media websites to curb the tide. Allowing cheetah to climb onto cars falls on the wrong side of this line, and with changing attitudes towards interaction with wild animals, tourists need to be aware of this. Cheetah make their intentions clear when they approach the vehicles, and all that is required to prevent them from jumping up is for the guide to move the vehicle slowly away, especially if that individual cheetah is known for that behaviour.
cheetah on the roof © Suhaib Alvi
Dr Femke Broekhuis, who is currently a senior research associate with the Wildlife Conservation Research Unit at the University of Oxford and has extensive experience in cheetah conservation throughout Africa, suggests that tourists too have a responsibility in their enjoyment of wildlife. Firstly, by not pressuring or encouraging their guide to allow the cheetah too close, and secondly, by not propagating the popularity of this practice by sharing or supporting the photos and videos of these sightings. She writes, “Cheetahs already face a kaleidoscope of threats that are causing significant declines. Let’s not add additional stress to these animals. We can all play a role in cheetah conservation by respecting these felids in peril”.
"Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world." Nelson Mandela
The desire for equality must never exceed the demands of knowledge
The desire for equality must never exceed the demands of knowledge
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Richprins
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Re: Human/Wildlife Conflict
Really not the end of the world... 
Please check Needs Attention pre-booking: https://africawild-forum.com/viewtopic.php?f=322&t=596
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Peter Betts
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Peter Betts
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Re: Human Wildlife Conflict
Never used to happen ..target Practice with live animals at its bestKlipspringer wrote: ↑Thu Feb 20, 2020 3:15 pm https://www.getaway.co.za/travel-news/e ... f-village/
Elephant shot dead in Kruger staff village
SANParks released a statement on its Kruger community page on social media confirming that a field ranger had to shoot a male elephant which was endangering the lives of Kruger National Park staff members.
The statement read: ‘Dear all, staff members were charged by a young adult male (bull) inside the Pretoriuskop staff living quarters.’
‘Field rangers had to shoot the elephant. The elephant ran out of the living quarters and died. It was threatening the lives of staff, and there was no alternative. Fortunately, no one was injured.’
According to the Letaba Herald, the ‘elephant ran out of the living quarters and died’.
The news outlet also said that there were ‘several outraged comments’ but that ‘an admin of the SANParks group reassured members that there was no alternative’ and that the rangers had to make ‘an instant life-or-death decision’.
When in musth (a season where testosterone levels can rise to 60 times higher than usual) young bulls can become aggressive and very dangerous.