Re: Lions On The Loose
Posted: Wed Dec 08, 2021 8:27 pm
Kruger lions venture into Marloth Park
https://southcoastherald.co.za/lnn/1161 ... loth-park/
Five lions have gone into Marloth Park from the Kruger National Park, and efforts are underway to capture and move them back.
A group of five lions has been spotted in Marloth Park for the past few days, requiring around-the-clock work from various teams to get them back in the Kruger National Park.
The Mpumalanga Tourism and Parks Agency’s (MTPA) carnivore specialist, Gerrie Camacho, explained to Lowvelder what the current situation surrounding the capture of the lions was.
Camacho said he suspects it might be the same female that had also been spotted in Marloth with three cubs last year. This time, it is an adult female with three subadult females, as well as a young male.
Last year, she caught some ostriches, which is also the case this year.
He explained that there are also lions in Lionspruit, bordering Marloth, which helps somewhat to keep Kruger lions out of the park.
During winter, game is drawn to the river, which in turn draws the lions there, too. He suspects they crossed over before yesterday’s flooding and that the water prevented them from going back to the Kruger again.
Marloth Park borders the Kruger for about 18 kilometres along the riverbank.
Another reason for lions crossing over is the fact that there are no lions in Marloth. This means they will not feel threatened. Food is also freely available.
Camacho said security, the CPF and rangers are all working together to monitor the situation.
Residents receive regular warnings as and when the lions are spotted in certain areas.
He further explained that a single ostrich is now too little food for all the lions, and suspects this has caused them to split into two groups – this makes the capture a bit more complicated. The idea right now is to get them together in one spot with bait to capture.
Once they are captured, personnel from the Kruger will fetch them and release (and collar) them further north in the park.
He appealed to residents to be vigilant and also convey any information on the lions’ whereabouts as they are spotted.
Should you spot the lions, phone the rangers on 082 802 5894, the CPF chair, Nadine Edgecomb, on 082 672 4545, Camacho on 082 353 9097, Ernst Röhm of the MTPA on 083 626 6309 or April Lukhele on 082 807 1057.
https://southcoastherald.co.za/lnn/1161 ... loth-park/
Five lions have gone into Marloth Park from the Kruger National Park, and efforts are underway to capture and move them back.
A group of five lions has been spotted in Marloth Park for the past few days, requiring around-the-clock work from various teams to get them back in the Kruger National Park.
The Mpumalanga Tourism and Parks Agency’s (MTPA) carnivore specialist, Gerrie Camacho, explained to Lowvelder what the current situation surrounding the capture of the lions was.
Camacho said he suspects it might be the same female that had also been spotted in Marloth with three cubs last year. This time, it is an adult female with three subadult females, as well as a young male.
Last year, she caught some ostriches, which is also the case this year.
He explained that there are also lions in Lionspruit, bordering Marloth, which helps somewhat to keep Kruger lions out of the park.
During winter, game is drawn to the river, which in turn draws the lions there, too. He suspects they crossed over before yesterday’s flooding and that the water prevented them from going back to the Kruger again.
Marloth Park borders the Kruger for about 18 kilometres along the riverbank.
Another reason for lions crossing over is the fact that there are no lions in Marloth. This means they will not feel threatened. Food is also freely available.
Camacho said security, the CPF and rangers are all working together to monitor the situation.
Residents receive regular warnings as and when the lions are spotted in certain areas.
He further explained that a single ostrich is now too little food for all the lions, and suspects this has caused them to split into two groups – this makes the capture a bit more complicated. The idea right now is to get them together in one spot with bait to capture.
Once they are captured, personnel from the Kruger will fetch them and release (and collar) them further north in the park.
He appealed to residents to be vigilant and also convey any information on the lions’ whereabouts as they are spotted.
Should you spot the lions, phone the rangers on 082 802 5894, the CPF chair, Nadine Edgecomb, on 082 672 4545, Camacho on 082 353 9097, Ernst Röhm of the MTPA on 083 626 6309 or April Lukhele on 082 807 1057.