Lions and Wild Dogs make a comeback to the 5,500ha Rietspruit Game Reserve

[Lisbeth]

Posted on 28 June, 2018 by Simon Espley in Conservation, Destinations, Kruger, Multimedia, News, South Africa, Videos, Wildlife and the News Desk post series


The released lions, with the Drakensberg Mountain Range as backdrop © Simon Espley

With wild lions under pressure from so many threats, here is a wonderful comeback story.

The 5,500ha Rietspruit Game Reserve outside the bushveld town of Hoedspruit and close to the Greater Kruger National Park, is made up of smaller reserves Leadwood Big Game Estate, Bloubank, Khaya Ndlovu Shareblock and Khaya Ndlovu Manor House properties.

Last week I attended the release from a holding boma of five strapping young lions into the reserve. This was an exciting moment for owners of the various properties making up Rietspruit, and especially so for Kevin Leo-Smith – Leadwood resident and wildlife guru. Kevin and I go years back, and it was good to catch up as we waited patiently for the five lions to leave the boma area and venture into the reserve. Kevin has played extremely instrumental roles in the establishment and commercialisation of two of southern Africa’s major conservation and tourism success stories – Phinda Private Game Reserve (South Africa) and Kwando (Botswana).


The boma door about to be opened © Simon Espley

As we waited in the shade of a tree, Kevin explained the lengths one must go to, to ensure that only healthy and genetically robust lions are placed back into wild areas. The introduced pride consists of three young male lion siblings from the nearby Karongwe Reserve and two young females sourced from Marakele National Park.

The two groups were relocated to the boma in Rietspruit, where they got to know each other. Only once they showed signs of bonding did Kevin arrange for the release from the boma.


The released lions immediately settled down to their first meal as free lions in Rietspruit Game Reserve © Simon Price

The securing of lions with no signs of bovine tuberculosis proved to be a challenge. TB has reached alarming proportions in lion populations, even in the Kruger National Park. The entire release process was under the supervision of Dr. Peter Rogers of ProVet in Hoedspruit, who is one of the most experienced wildlife vets in Africa. The standard TB test protocols were followed, working with Prof. Michelle Miller from the University of Stellenbosch’s Centre of Excellence for Biomedical Tuberculosis Research.

Three lions originally selected for release at Rietspruit all tested positive for TB, and were euthanised, in line with protocol designed to protect the greater lion population. This was of course a massive disappointment for Kevin and his fellow Rietspruit owners, but everyone of course agrees that protocol has to be adhered to.


The collared lion and lioness © Simon Price

Once the five healthy lions were together in the boma, the emphasis shifted to ensuring that they bonded as a pride. There was some expected tension between the males and females and although one female at 2.7 years old was heavier than the 22-month old males, the males dominated the feeding opportunities. This led to initial challenges of getting enough food to the females.

However, after two weeks things had settled and the lions were making voluntary contact outside of feeding times.

Other boma challenges included the provision of meat without the lions associating food with vehicles or humans – essential to avoid problems between lions and humans once the lions were released into the reserve.


A young male lion looks back at his pride members, shortly after release © Phil Overn

I have to admit to a sense of elation as these young lions plucked up the courage and darted out of the boma, with much cautious scanning of the surrounding bushveld. They immediately settled to feed on a kudu carcass left outside of the boma for this purpose. There was a bit of hand-bag swinging initially, but after a few hours of feeding we had 5 flat cats with round bellies – with the magnificent Drakensberg mountains looming as backdrop.

The lion reintroduction was done with prior approval from LEDET (The Limpopo Department of Economic Development, Environment and Tourism).

UPDATE FROM THE FIELD: Kevin advised me that the lions are exploring the reserve and showing no signs of walking the boundary fences, suggested that they already feel at home. The collared lioness has been on heat and the males have been showing interest. It’s too early to know if there was a successful mating, and further information should be available later this year.

Watch the five reintroduced lions bond as a pride over a meal, filmed by Simon Price

https://youtu.be/RScZgfVYSA8

[Flutterby]

[Richprins]

[Lisbeth]

Painted wolves (African wild dogs) released after rescue

Posted on February 18, 2020 by Africa Geographic Editorial in the NEWS DESK post series.


Wildlife vet Joel Alves and carnivore conservation specialist Grant Beverley, shortly after replacing the collar on this female painted wolf ©Simon Espley

Ten painted wolves (African wild dogs) were successfully released a few days ago onto the 5,500 ha Rietspruit Game Reserve on the outskirts of the bushveld town of Hoedspruit near the Kruger National Park. This follows the recent release of 5 lions into the same reserve. Those lions were to play a significant role during the painted wolf Lycaon pictus release – more about that later.

The pack (two adult females and eight yearlings born in April 2019) are thought to be from the Thornybush area in the Greater Kruger but roam over a large area that includes private land outside of the protected area. They were captured in late 2019 and placed into a boma on Rietspruit for safekeeping, after landowners in the Guernsey area (outside of the Greater Kruger) complained that the canids were killing wildlife. The original plan was to relocate the pack to Gorongosa in Mozambique, to join a pack of 15 relocated there in 2018, but paperwork delays led to the decision to release the pack into Rietspruit Game Reserve.


Members of the painted wolf pack in the boma before release © Simon Price

It is almost impossible to restrict painted wolves to fenced reserves (they crawl under the fences through holes made by aardvarks and warthogs, as do leopards, hyenas and other species), and so it is likely that this group will reunite at some stage with remaining members of the pack (6 males and a female) that were last seen in a private game reserve bordering Rietspruit.

The monitoring of resident painted wolf packs (there are five in the Hoedspruit area alone), and stepping in to ensure safety from negative human influence when required, is a 24/7 operation that demands significant financial and other resources. In charge of the collaring and release operation was Grant Beverley, the Lowveld regional coordinator for the carnivore conservation program at the Endangered Wildlife Trust – a busy man. Packs roam over vast distances and encounter many man-made dangers such as bushmeat snares, intolerant landowners, livestock farmers, speeding vehicles and exposure to disease from domestic dogs. Helping Grant during the collaring of the female and subsequent release of the pack was Joel Alves of Wildlife Vets.


Typically furry painted wolf feet © Simon Espley


Collars weigh about 450 grams © Simon Espley


Free at last! Members of the pack feed on an impala carcass outside of the boma © Simon Espley

Speaking of lions

At a crucial stage of the release, when nine of the ten painted wolves had exited the boma to feed on an impala carcass, three large male lions appeared on the scene. Attracted by the excited chatter of the painted wolves and the smell of meat, these pride males were here to spoil the party. They barged in, scattered the pack and claimed the carcass. The lions eventually left the scene, and the tenth painted wolf left the boma safely. All ten pack members were seen the following day. All of the excitement, and the entire release process, was captured during a Facebook Live broadcast by Brent Leo-Smith and his PaintedDog TV crew. During the broadcast, Brent called on his audience for sponsorship of the pack, in return for getting to name the pack. Viewer Stephanie Marx was the highest bidder at US$2,500; she named the pack Melita.


This large male lion steals the impala carcass after scattering the painted wolves © Simon Espley

Who paid for this collaring operation?

Meet Michelle Campbell, a Hoedspruit resident and owner of Wild Wonderful World, who stumped up the R30,000 required to collar the painted wolf. Heroes like Michelle and Stephanie make an enormous contribution to painted wolf conservation. Be like them, donate here or email Grant Beverley.


Michelle Campbell, sponsor of this painted dog collar © Simon Espley

[Richprins]

[Alf]

[RogerFraser]

[Peter Betts]

Far too small an area for both species ...Will the lions be fed by humans

[Lisbeth]

Try to look at the bright side sometimes, Peter