[ICYMI] Animal welfare groups are outraged by the killing of seven lions which escaped from the Karoo National Park.
The lions are said to have escaped twice in 24 hours and helped themselves to livestock on a farm.
SANParks says the decision to put down the animals was because they posed a
danger to livestock and people.
Re: Lions On The Loose
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Re: Lions on the loose
Exactly 
Fix your fences and stop making excuses
Fix your fences and stop making excuses
Next trip to the bush??
Let me think......................
Let me think......................
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Re: Lions on the loose
SANParks puts down seven Karoo NP lions that posed threat to humans and livestock
By Ed Stoddard• 4 October 2020
A lion from the Karoo National Park at the Kazuko Lodge in Addo on May 27, 2016. (Photo: Gallo Images/ Foto24 / Werner Hills)
South African National Parks (SANParks) has put down seven lions from the Karoo National Park on the grounds that they posed a threat to livestock and humans. A public outcry may be in the offing, but the incident underscores the challenges of managing populations of dangerous megafauna.
SANParks said in a statement on Friday 2 October that the decision was “not taken in haste.” The park has 14 lions remaining.
The all-female group had escaped the park and killed sheep on a neighbouring farm and was “a threat to human beings,” SANParks said. “The pride had familiarised themselves with a specific area from which they escaped and one of the members of the pride had developed a habit of digging underneath fences.”
“… lions that pose threats to livestock and people have a high level of urgency and are executed after a thorough assessment and observation of the circumstances over time,” the statement said.
The incident has echoes of Sylvester the lion’s escapades.
Sylvester had two breakouts from the park, the first in 2015 that triggered a madcap 24-day chase and left a trail of dead sheep in its wake. After the big cat’s second escape, he was slated to be euthanised but a public hue and cry in the wake of the media frenzy around Cecil the lion’s killing in Zimbabwe led SANParks to find a new home for Sylvester in Addo National Park, where he resides to this day.
A handful of people on Twitter have already expressed their outrage at the decision to put the seven cats down. “Relocate lions. Do not kill them!,” said one Twitter user responding to the SANParks media release.
But finding a new home for the pride of seven was not so easy. Times, it seems, have changed since Sylvester was spared.
“The option of moving the lions to other state or privately owned reserves that form part of South Africa’s lion meta-population was not viable due to their own space constraints and the pride’s history of catching livestock,” the SANParks statement said.
“SANParks annually offers lions for donations to South African reserves, however, there has been a demonstrable decline in reserves that can comfortably accommodate further numbers; the donation drive in the past year resulted in nought takers.”
So SANParks currently cannot even give lions away to the private game reserves or provincial parks that typically absorb this off-take. There are probably various issues at play here. The statement pointedly noted “space constraints” which suggests that they simply no longer have room for more big cats – as fenced-off territories, there is a limit to how many animals such places can sustainably accommodate. SANParks estimates that lion populations in smaller reserves can grow by 22% annually, reducing the number of available prey and raising the prospects of an attempt to break through the boundary.
Private reserves may also be shying away from the risks and costs of maintaining lions. The private game and ecotourism industry was hard hit by the hard lockdown imposed from late March to contain the Covid-19 pandemic, which may have limited its ability to take on additional lions given the costs involved.
On another megafauna front, at least half of South Africa’s white rhino population is now in private hands. But security costs and poaching concerns have pushed smaller players out of the game, concentrating the population in the hands of larger ranchers who can absorb the costs.
Another issue was the behaviour of the lions. They had become dangerous with a penchant for getting through fences where easier game was to be had.
“Lions as a species are generally opportunistic, they prefer easy prey, are extremely fast learners and could easily become habitual livestock raiders when circumstances allow. In most instances when lions start catching livestock, they also tend to lose their fear of humans; such lions present a danger to human life,” SANParks said.
This is the key point. Fences are there not just to conserve wildlife, but to minimise human/wildlife conflict and protect human life. What virtually none, if any, of Sylvester’s backers knew at the time they campaigned against his death sentence after his second escape was that he had twice come within 200 metres of a farm school when children were present. Imagine the outcry if Sylvester, or one of the seven lions that were just put down, had killed a child?
Or let’s frame the issue this way: what parent would want to expose their child to the risk of lion attack?
There are conservationists and animal welfare organisations who will no doubt take issue with the action SANParks has taken here. But who was willing to take these lions and provide guarantees that they would remain contained?
Critics may say SANParks should do more to maintain its fences, but that is costly and South Africa’s government in the wake of the Covid-19 lockdown economic collapse is hardly flush. And fencing in the Karoo, with its many small gullies and treacherous terrain, is arduous, and provides opportunities for escape.
The fact that lions were reintroduced into the Karoo in 2010 after an absence from the region of almost 170 years is a cause for conservation celebration, a “rewilding” of the landscape with deep roots in South Africa, where megafauna have been repopulated in many areas where big critters were wiped out. But maintaining them requires a delicate balance that must also consider the potential human cost. One child would be one too many.
By Ed Stoddard• 4 October 2020
A lion from the Karoo National Park at the Kazuko Lodge in Addo on May 27, 2016. (Photo: Gallo Images/ Foto24 / Werner Hills)
South African National Parks (SANParks) has put down seven lions from the Karoo National Park on the grounds that they posed a threat to livestock and humans. A public outcry may be in the offing, but the incident underscores the challenges of managing populations of dangerous megafauna.
SANParks said in a statement on Friday 2 October that the decision was “not taken in haste.” The park has 14 lions remaining.
The all-female group had escaped the park and killed sheep on a neighbouring farm and was “a threat to human beings,” SANParks said. “The pride had familiarised themselves with a specific area from which they escaped and one of the members of the pride had developed a habit of digging underneath fences.”
“… lions that pose threats to livestock and people have a high level of urgency and are executed after a thorough assessment and observation of the circumstances over time,” the statement said.
The incident has echoes of Sylvester the lion’s escapades.
Sylvester had two breakouts from the park, the first in 2015 that triggered a madcap 24-day chase and left a trail of dead sheep in its wake. After the big cat’s second escape, he was slated to be euthanised but a public hue and cry in the wake of the media frenzy around Cecil the lion’s killing in Zimbabwe led SANParks to find a new home for Sylvester in Addo National Park, where he resides to this day.
A handful of people on Twitter have already expressed their outrage at the decision to put the seven cats down. “Relocate lions. Do not kill them!,” said one Twitter user responding to the SANParks media release.
But finding a new home for the pride of seven was not so easy. Times, it seems, have changed since Sylvester was spared.
“The option of moving the lions to other state or privately owned reserves that form part of South Africa’s lion meta-population was not viable due to their own space constraints and the pride’s history of catching livestock,” the SANParks statement said.
“SANParks annually offers lions for donations to South African reserves, however, there has been a demonstrable decline in reserves that can comfortably accommodate further numbers; the donation drive in the past year resulted in nought takers.”
So SANParks currently cannot even give lions away to the private game reserves or provincial parks that typically absorb this off-take. There are probably various issues at play here. The statement pointedly noted “space constraints” which suggests that they simply no longer have room for more big cats – as fenced-off territories, there is a limit to how many animals such places can sustainably accommodate. SANParks estimates that lion populations in smaller reserves can grow by 22% annually, reducing the number of available prey and raising the prospects of an attempt to break through the boundary.
Private reserves may also be shying away from the risks and costs of maintaining lions. The private game and ecotourism industry was hard hit by the hard lockdown imposed from late March to contain the Covid-19 pandemic, which may have limited its ability to take on additional lions given the costs involved.
On another megafauna front, at least half of South Africa’s white rhino population is now in private hands. But security costs and poaching concerns have pushed smaller players out of the game, concentrating the population in the hands of larger ranchers who can absorb the costs.
Another issue was the behaviour of the lions. They had become dangerous with a penchant for getting through fences where easier game was to be had.
“Lions as a species are generally opportunistic, they prefer easy prey, are extremely fast learners and could easily become habitual livestock raiders when circumstances allow. In most instances when lions start catching livestock, they also tend to lose their fear of humans; such lions present a danger to human life,” SANParks said.
This is the key point. Fences are there not just to conserve wildlife, but to minimise human/wildlife conflict and protect human life. What virtually none, if any, of Sylvester’s backers knew at the time they campaigned against his death sentence after his second escape was that he had twice come within 200 metres of a farm school when children were present. Imagine the outcry if Sylvester, or one of the seven lions that were just put down, had killed a child?
Or let’s frame the issue this way: what parent would want to expose their child to the risk of lion attack?
There are conservationists and animal welfare organisations who will no doubt take issue with the action SANParks has taken here. But who was willing to take these lions and provide guarantees that they would remain contained?
Critics may say SANParks should do more to maintain its fences, but that is costly and South Africa’s government in the wake of the Covid-19 lockdown economic collapse is hardly flush. And fencing in the Karoo, with its many small gullies and treacherous terrain, is arduous, and provides opportunities for escape.
The fact that lions were reintroduced into the Karoo in 2010 after an absence from the region of almost 170 years is a cause for conservation celebration, a “rewilding” of the landscape with deep roots in South Africa, where megafauna have been repopulated in many areas where big critters were wiped out. But maintaining them requires a delicate balance that must also consider the potential human cost. One child would be one too many.
"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
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Re: Lions On The Loose
Lion shot after escaping from private game farm in Limpopo
'The lion was a danger to the villagers and farmers' – National African Farmers Union president Motsepe Matlala
04 October 2021 - 17:29
Iavan Pijoos Journalist
One of the two lions that escaped from a private game farm in the Baltimore area outside Lephalale in Limpopo has been killed.
National African Farmers Union (Nafu) president Motsepe Matlala confirmed that farmers in the area shot the lion dead.
“The lion was a danger to the villagers and farmers,” Matlala said.
He said farmers are still searching the area for the second lion.
“It was apparently roaring nearby.”
Matlala said farmers first sighted the lions on a farm in the area on Saturday. He added they had escaped from a nearby private game farm.
He said farmers had to use tractors on Sunday evening to prevent the lions invading cattle farms.
TimesLIVE
https://www.sowetanlive.co.za/news/sout ... n-limpopo/
'The lion was a danger to the villagers and farmers' – National African Farmers Union president Motsepe Matlala
04 October 2021 - 17:29
Iavan Pijoos Journalist
One of the two lions that escaped from a private game farm in the Baltimore area outside Lephalale in Limpopo has been killed.
National African Farmers Union (Nafu) president Motsepe Matlala confirmed that farmers in the area shot the lion dead.
“The lion was a danger to the villagers and farmers,” Matlala said.
He said farmers are still searching the area for the second lion.
“It was apparently roaring nearby.”
Matlala said farmers first sighted the lions on a farm in the area on Saturday. He added they had escaped from a nearby private game farm.
He said farmers had to use tractors on Sunday evening to prevent the lions invading cattle farms.
TimesLIVE
https://www.sowetanlive.co.za/news/sout ... n-limpopo/
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Lisbeth
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Re: Lions On The Loose
I hope that not only farmers, but also the people from the game farm were looking for the second lion. After all, it is their fault if the lions escaped. I wonder how a farmed lion reacts to being without fences 
"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
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Re: Lions On The Loose
Big cat uproar: Lephalale farmers on paw patrol after lions escape
Predators on the prowl: Authorities are still looking for two lions who escaped from a private game farm near Lephalale in Limpopo.
by Erene Roux 04-10-2021
A lion and lioness from Baltimore outside Lephalale in Limpopo are still at large after they made their escape from a private game farm nearby on Friday 1 October.
ESCAPED LEPHALALE LIONS STILL AT LARGE
According to the SABC, farmers and workers are living in fear in Baltimore after the two lions were seen roaming on farms in the area on .
National African Farmers’ Union chairperson Motsepe Matlala told the public broadcaster that their members had to use tractors to stop the lions from straying into cattle farms on Sunday evening.
Matlala says the owner of a private game farm where the lions are believed to have escaped from, as well as the authorities have been informed.
‘HUMANS AND LIVESTOCK IN DANGER’
“The farmers found the lions on one of the farmers’ farms, they could indeed confirm that the lions have escaped from the nearby farm. The owner of the lions was informed and requested to come to the scene. He didn’t however come. We would like to appeal as the National African Farmers’ Union of South Africa to the authorities to come to the rescue of our people,” says Matlala.
Matlala later told Jacaranda that they are waiting for confirmation that the professionals are in the area to catch the lions because “lions aren’t just animals you can catch”.
“Lions are dangerous and we hope the process will begin as soon as possible as the lives of livestock and humans are exposed to danger. We are mindful of the fact that all of us as farmers are running businesses and don’t want to lose our livestock,” Matlala said further.
WATCH: FOOTAGE OF ROAMING LEPHALALE LIONS
SABC journalist Jabulani Baloi later shared a video of the lions on Twitter. The footage shows the lions roaming about on a farm nearby:
OTHER LION ‘ESCAPEES’
Earlier this year, a lion named Kwandwe escaped from the Dinokeng Game Reserve. After he was darted, the lion was returned to safety.
In July 2021, Kenyan wildlife officials also captured a lion that escaped from a game reserve in Nairobi. The lion made it all the way into residential areas, frightening commuters in a town south of the city.
*This is a developing story.
Predators on the prowl: Authorities are still looking for two lions who escaped from a private game farm near Lephalale in Limpopo.
by Erene Roux 04-10-2021
A lion and lioness from Baltimore outside Lephalale in Limpopo are still at large after they made their escape from a private game farm nearby on Friday 1 October.
ESCAPED LEPHALALE LIONS STILL AT LARGE
According to the SABC, farmers and workers are living in fear in Baltimore after the two lions were seen roaming on farms in the area on .
National African Farmers’ Union chairperson Motsepe Matlala told the public broadcaster that their members had to use tractors to stop the lions from straying into cattle farms on Sunday evening.
Matlala says the owner of a private game farm where the lions are believed to have escaped from, as well as the authorities have been informed.
‘HUMANS AND LIVESTOCK IN DANGER’
“The farmers found the lions on one of the farmers’ farms, they could indeed confirm that the lions have escaped from the nearby farm. The owner of the lions was informed and requested to come to the scene. He didn’t however come. We would like to appeal as the National African Farmers’ Union of South Africa to the authorities to come to the rescue of our people,” says Matlala.
Matlala later told Jacaranda that they are waiting for confirmation that the professionals are in the area to catch the lions because “lions aren’t just animals you can catch”.
“Lions are dangerous and we hope the process will begin as soon as possible as the lives of livestock and humans are exposed to danger. We are mindful of the fact that all of us as farmers are running businesses and don’t want to lose our livestock,” Matlala said further.
WATCH: FOOTAGE OF ROAMING LEPHALALE LIONS
SABC journalist Jabulani Baloi later shared a video of the lions on Twitter. The footage shows the lions roaming about on a farm nearby:
OTHER LION ‘ESCAPEES’
Earlier this year, a lion named Kwandwe escaped from the Dinokeng Game Reserve. After he was darted, the lion was returned to safety.
In July 2021, Kenyan wildlife officials also captured a lion that escaped from a game reserve in Nairobi. The lion made it all the way into residential areas, frightening commuters in a town south of the city.
*This is a developing story.
"Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world." Nelson Mandela
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Richprins
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Re: Lions On The Loose
Ten lions safely returned to KNP
The pride of lions was spotted on a farm adjacent to the Crocodile River.
26 mins ago
Andrea van Wyk
The lions were spotted on Riverside Farm, which is adjacent to the Kruger National Park along the Crocodile River. Photo: Facebook / SANParks
After swift action by rangers and veterinary services, a pride of 10 lions was returned to the Kruger National Park (KNP) on Saturday.
According to a statement by SANParks posted on Facebook, the Malelane Section Ranger had received a report from Riverside Farm that a pride of lions had been seen on the property by the staff. The property is adjacent to the KNP along the Crocodile River.
The ranger immediately investigated the matter by flying over the area in a light aircraft in an attempt to locate the animals.
“A helicopter was also dispatched in the afternoon and at least eight to nine animals were located. In a joint effort by rangers, Veterinary Wildlife Services, the State Veterinary Department and Riverside Farm, the animals were lured onto a bait shortly after sunset, in order to be safely immobilised and returned to the park.”
Ten lions were safely returned to the Kruger National Park on Saturday. Photo: Facebook/SANParks
On the same evening, 10 animals were darted, loaded on a vehicle and safely transported back to the park.
“A word of appreciation to everyone involved and to Riverside for assisting with the operation from start to finish. The fast reaction from all involved led to a very successful operation,” concluded the statement by SANParks.
https://lowvelder.co.za/752181/ten-lion ... lu4lHrAcIw
The pride of lions was spotted on a farm adjacent to the Crocodile River.
26 mins ago
Andrea van Wyk
The lions were spotted on Riverside Farm, which is adjacent to the Kruger National Park along the Crocodile River. Photo: Facebook / SANParks
After swift action by rangers and veterinary services, a pride of 10 lions was returned to the Kruger National Park (KNP) on Saturday.
According to a statement by SANParks posted on Facebook, the Malelane Section Ranger had received a report from Riverside Farm that a pride of lions had been seen on the property by the staff. The property is adjacent to the KNP along the Crocodile River.
The ranger immediately investigated the matter by flying over the area in a light aircraft in an attempt to locate the animals.
“A helicopter was also dispatched in the afternoon and at least eight to nine animals were located. In a joint effort by rangers, Veterinary Wildlife Services, the State Veterinary Department and Riverside Farm, the animals were lured onto a bait shortly after sunset, in order to be safely immobilised and returned to the park.”
Ten lions were safely returned to the Kruger National Park on Saturday. Photo: Facebook/SANParks
On the same evening, 10 animals were darted, loaded on a vehicle and safely transported back to the park.
“A word of appreciation to everyone involved and to Riverside for assisting with the operation from start to finish. The fast reaction from all involved led to a very successful operation,” concluded the statement by SANParks.
https://lowvelder.co.za/752181/ten-lion ... lu4lHrAcIw
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Lisbeth
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Re: Lions On The Loose
Ten are a lot to have around. Luckily they did not get further away.
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Re: Lions On The Loose
Well Done Don English and team. Riverside Farm = one of my Customers . Thanks to the Zebra who took one for the team by becoming Bait
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Re: Lions On The Loose
Search for escaped lion continues in Makoko area
As of yesterday, October 28, no fresh spoor has been found, however, it is thought the lion is around the Makoko area.
Chelsea Pieterse | 29.10.2021
The lion was spotted on the R40 from White River to Hazyview, close to the Swartfontein turn-off.
The search for a young male lion thought to have wandered from the Kruger National Park (KNP) is ongoing, after a ox’s carcase was found in Makoko yesterday, October 28.
The MTPA’s carnivore specialist, Gerrie Camacho, said they are on the ground monitoring the situation, but the rainy conditions have had a negative impact on tracking fresh spoor from the lion.
He said that strong competition among predators such as the spotted hyenas, leopards and lions had caused a push/pull effect. “These lions we often see escaping from the Kruger area are a direct result from increased lion numbers that are pushed out by stronger rivals and drawn to areas where there seems to be fewer other rivals,” said Camacho.
These tracks were spotted near Klipkopie Dam on Thursday morning, October 28. > Photo: Supplied
“These lions have no idea that they are on or near human settlements, orchards and cattle, and therefore are more nervous and seem to move much longer distances to try and escape human pressure and foreign terrain in their exploration attempts.”
Camacho said monitoring of lions is being conducted in the Manyeleti Game Reserve, which is on the western boundary of KNP and is a buffer between it and the communities further to the west.
He said the area where the young lion was spotted is more south-west of Sabie Sand Game Reserve and directly adjacent to the Kruger, where there is no buffer between it and private or state reserves.
These tracks were spotted near Klipkopie Dam on Thursday morning, October 28. > Photo: Supplied
“On Manyeleti, we know exactly what the lion situation is. During the 2016 drought, there was ample prey available and lions were very tolerant towards their rivals, such as other prides, spotted hyenas and leopards.
“This excessive prey availability and more leisure time caused an incline in pride sizes (cubs survival rates were higher due to easier conditions) and strengths, and a sharp incline in spotted hyena numbers and clan sizes.”
Camacho said, however, that once the drought was over and prey became more difficult to detect, the competition suddenly flared up and became much more intense.
“The lions’ and hyenas’ tolerance levels towards rivals lowered, and competition for prey started to increase. Therefore, weaker and younger males would be pushed around, find it difficult to stand up against stronger rivals, and start wandering to find safer environment.
“In June 2018, we had the Long Tom Pass Lion, which we captured up on top of the Long Tom Pass. This was also because of similar competition conditions.
“Leopard numbers have declined dramatically in the Manyeleti. They are lower than lion and spotted hyena on the pecking order and therefore took the most of the brunt in the rivalry.”
He said lions are directly impacting on their own species and the leopards’, and that these responses are to environmental conditions such as rainfall, drought and disease, which forms part of the natural cycles that spans over a number of years.
He said the lion was likely in the Makoko area (near Numbi) north of White River, and updates will be provided as soon as more information on its whereabouts becomes available.
https://lowvelder.co.za/755347/search-f ... iig5FOt4PA
As of yesterday, October 28, no fresh spoor has been found, however, it is thought the lion is around the Makoko area.
Chelsea Pieterse | 29.10.2021
The lion was spotted on the R40 from White River to Hazyview, close to the Swartfontein turn-off.
The search for a young male lion thought to have wandered from the Kruger National Park (KNP) is ongoing, after a ox’s carcase was found in Makoko yesterday, October 28.
The MTPA’s carnivore specialist, Gerrie Camacho, said they are on the ground monitoring the situation, but the rainy conditions have had a negative impact on tracking fresh spoor from the lion.
He said that strong competition among predators such as the spotted hyenas, leopards and lions had caused a push/pull effect. “These lions we often see escaping from the Kruger area are a direct result from increased lion numbers that are pushed out by stronger rivals and drawn to areas where there seems to be fewer other rivals,” said Camacho.
These tracks were spotted near Klipkopie Dam on Thursday morning, October 28. > Photo: Supplied
“These lions have no idea that they are on or near human settlements, orchards and cattle, and therefore are more nervous and seem to move much longer distances to try and escape human pressure and foreign terrain in their exploration attempts.”
Camacho said monitoring of lions is being conducted in the Manyeleti Game Reserve, which is on the western boundary of KNP and is a buffer between it and the communities further to the west.
He said the area where the young lion was spotted is more south-west of Sabie Sand Game Reserve and directly adjacent to the Kruger, where there is no buffer between it and private or state reserves.
These tracks were spotted near Klipkopie Dam on Thursday morning, October 28. > Photo: Supplied
“On Manyeleti, we know exactly what the lion situation is. During the 2016 drought, there was ample prey available and lions were very tolerant towards their rivals, such as other prides, spotted hyenas and leopards.
“This excessive prey availability and more leisure time caused an incline in pride sizes (cubs survival rates were higher due to easier conditions) and strengths, and a sharp incline in spotted hyena numbers and clan sizes.”
Camacho said, however, that once the drought was over and prey became more difficult to detect, the competition suddenly flared up and became much more intense.
“The lions’ and hyenas’ tolerance levels towards rivals lowered, and competition for prey started to increase. Therefore, weaker and younger males would be pushed around, find it difficult to stand up against stronger rivals, and start wandering to find safer environment.
“In June 2018, we had the Long Tom Pass Lion, which we captured up on top of the Long Tom Pass. This was also because of similar competition conditions.
“Leopard numbers have declined dramatically in the Manyeleti. They are lower than lion and spotted hyena on the pecking order and therefore took the most of the brunt in the rivalry.”
He said lions are directly impacting on their own species and the leopards’, and that these responses are to environmental conditions such as rainfall, drought and disease, which forms part of the natural cycles that spans over a number of years.
He said the lion was likely in the Makoko area (near Numbi) north of White River, and updates will be provided as soon as more information on its whereabouts becomes available.
https://lowvelder.co.za/755347/search-f ... iig5FOt4PA
Please check Needs Attention pre-booking: https://africawild-forum.com/viewtopic.php?f=322&t=596