Re: Lions On The Loose

[nan]

running away will trigger a chase response and the animal will win every time.

run or not.... they will win

[nan]

some news about these Lions

[Richprins]

[Richprins]

Future of rogue Mbombela lion hangs in the balance

The origin of this lion remains a mystery. It has temporarily been released into the Kruger Park.
2 hours ago
Jacqueline Herbst



The rogue Mbombela lion when it was first captured at Sekelbos Estate, Mbombela, on November 2. > Photo: Sourced/Facebook

The origin and fate of the rogue lion captured at Sekelbos Estate in Mbombela on November 2 remains unresolved.
While the lion temporarily finds itself in the Kruger National Park, the Mpumalanga Tourism and Parks Agency’s acting CEO, Bheki Malaza, said, as per their discussion with the Kruger, that the lion would need to be recaptured this month and the necessary DNA testing be done to determine whether it is related to the Kruger population.
Since its initial capture, the Kruger has been dead set against accepting the lion into the park without confirmation of its origin. Every nook and cranny of the Kruger is filled with dominant prides, and an outsider would simply be pushed out or killed, explained the park’s spokesperson, Isaac Phaahla. He said introducing unknown lions into the park also carried the risk of introducing diseases into the ecosystem.


How we got here

The lion was released into the Kruger’s Crocodile Bridge on December 17 as an apparent emergency measure after it was turned away from the Mjejane Game Reserve (MGR) following alleged procedural irregularities. This as protracted tensions between the Mjejane Trust and Mjejane Homeowners Association NPC (MHOA) boiled over to directly affect a protected wild animal (as defined by the Mpumalanga Nature Conservation Act 10 of 1998), when the trust and the MHOA butted heads over the release of the rogue lion into the game reserve.
The MTPA, accompanied by a private veterinary service, reportedly arrived at Mjejane’s main gate at 08:40 in a bakkie with a trailer transporting the lion. The plan was to release the lion onto Portion 50, Tenbosch (a portion of the MGR). However, this did not happen. Details surrounding the exact events that led to the lion being turned away are sketchy, as the trust and MHOA have presented conflicting versions to Lowvelder.
Nevertheless, with the temperature soaring to 40°C and the lion on the back of the MTPA’s trailer, there was no time for dallying about. Malaza said subsequent to a discussion with a Kruger section ranger, the lion, fitted with a tracking collar, was temporarily released into the park where it remains for the time being.
Lowvelder understands that once recaptured, microsatellite DNA testing will most likely be done, the results of which usually take at least a month to come back. While the MTPA could not be reached for comment on this, a conservation insider said the lion would likely face two options while DNA test results are pending, neither ideal for a lion of unknown origin. It could either remain in captivity or be left to roam freely in the Kruger where it might need to defend itself against dominant males.


Lion on the loose in Malalane

Meanwhile, last Friday, a lone male lion was spotted wandering between the Crocodile River and the veterinary fence near River Cottage in Malalane. Apparently trapped by the swollen river following recent rain showers, the big cat was first spotted by employees of a local cable repair company. The local community, especially cyclists and joggers, were subsequently urged to remain vigilant as the lion appeared to be trapped between the fence and the river.
“Joggers and cyclists should choose companions carefully. This relates to self-control rather than speed. If you encounter a lion, running away will trigger a chase response, and the animal will win every time. Those who jog along the river, be mindful of the risk and do a search on how to deal with such situations,” Phaahla said.
In addition, the Malalane CPF said the Kruger’s fence was down in various locations due to elephant damage, which meant the lion had free access to residential areas and farms where domestic animals could attract its attention.
Fortunately, the situation has since been resolved. The MTPA’s Simphiwe Shungube confirmed to Lowvelder on Tuesday that the lion had returned to the park.
Asked whether the lion seen outside Malalane could be the rogue Mbombela one, Shungube said no.

https://www.citizen.co.za/lowvelder/new ... Tmj5WQeYsg

[Lisbeth]

[Richprins]

Lion hunt under way after reports of predators on the loose in KZN

Gluckstadt community warned to be vigilant and secure livestock at night as lions roam the area
19 January 2025 - 13:15
Gill Gifford Senior journalist



KILLED BY LIONS A cow believed to have been killed by lions on the loose in KZN's Gluckstadt area. A lion call-up headed by a professional hunter is trying to track the lions down.


Image: Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife

A lion call-up headed by a private professional hunter is under way in the Gluckstadt area, south east of Vryheid in KwaZulu-Natal after lion sightings and livestock killings reported in the area on Friday.

Musa Mntambo, communications manager for Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife, said two organised teams were dispatched to Gluckstadt to search for lions after recent reports of livestock being killed by wild animals. He said a team from Ezemvelo was working alongside a second team led by a professional hunter.

An animal call-up is a method to attract wild animals to a specific area so they can be captured, treated or relocated.


Mntambo said the lion call-up started at 7pm on Friday and went on well into the early hours of Saturday, without success. Teams later returned to the area with the backup of a helicopter to assist in tracking the lions, believed to be hiding in the nearby dense bush.

“There have been three recently confirmed sightings of lions in the Gluckstadt area which is under the AbaQulusi Municipality. The sightings were reported in areas falling under Inkosi Zondo and Inkosi Zulu,” Mntambo said.

There had also been three reports of cattle killed by lions, which had raised concerns about the safety of residents and livestock in the area.

Ezemvelo has warned communities in the Gluckstadt area to be vigilant and report any sightings immediately to the local traditional leadership or police station.

“It is important to highlight a recurring challenge in the area as many livestock owners leave their animals in grazing areas day and night, only collecting them during dipping days or when needed.

“This practice leaves livestock vulnerable to predators. As a precautionary measure, Ezemvelo strongly urges all livestock owners in areas around Gluckstadt to ensure their animals are collected and kept in secure enclosures overnight to minimise the risk of attacks as lions become active at night,” warned Mntambo.

He said it was not known where the lions could have escaped from but this would be determined once they are captured and destroyed.

TimesLIVE

https://www.sowetanlive.co.za/news/2025 ... se-in-kzn/

[Lisbeth]

Weren't all the fences repaired months ago? That's at least what was published

[Richprins]

Mbombela’s notorious rogue lion has finally found his happily ever after.

This as he not only to conservationists’ surprise formed a coalition with three other lions in the Kruger National Park, but DNA tests also confirmed he shared genetics with some lions from the Kruger.
While nobody knows for sure how he ended up in Mbombela, the DNA results prove he is not a captive-bred lion that escaped, as many had speculated.

A Kruger spokesperson, Isaac Phaahla, explained that many lions in smaller reserves or captive lion populations also have Kruger genes, so the fact that he has them does not mean he necessarily escaped from the Kruger itself. It does, however, allay concerns the Kruger’s conservation teams had about releasing him there.
After being captured at Sekelbos Estate in Mbombela on November 2 and spending seven weeks in captivity, a botched attempt at releasing the mystery predator in Mjejane Game Reserve on December 17 led to him being temporarily released in the Crocodile Bridge section.
Fitted with a satellite tracking collar, SANParks rangers closely monitored his movements. Not knowing whether he was a Kruger lion, they were concerned he might be pushed out or killed by dominant prides, or worse, introduce diseases into the ecosystem.

Fortunately none of this happened. Phaahla said, after being released near Crocodile Bridge, the lion remained in the area for a while and fed on the carcase of an elephant that had died naturally. He then moved a little further north to Lower Sabie, where he lingered for a while. Then, out of the blue, his collar suddenly pinged near Tshokwane – an estimated 45km further north.
Intrigued by the lion’s ramble, SANParks immediately sent the Tshokwane section ranger to investigate. That was when they made the astonishing discovery that the wayward lion had formed a coalition with two lions and a lioness, which puts them in a position to establish their own territory.
Since his release into the Kruger, the lion has migrated nearly 80km north, a statistic that leads Phaahla to believe he could quite possibly have made the journey from the park all the way to Mbombela.

He explained the Kruger had a strong lion population of about 1 800. In the park, he said, young male lions often encounter dominant males when they leave their mothers and the safety of the pride. “This is normal in lion society, but can lead to some males leaving the Kruger to explore new areas. Whether this lion did that is unknown,” said Phaahla.

Lowvelder

[Lisbeth]