HOEDSPRUIT: Local lions are off to Mozambique
Hoedspruit saw a true conservation success story recently, when two lionesses were relocated from a private reserve locally to Moamba in Mozambique.
The two females will help in establishing a new population in the area. The Bateleurs – Flying for the Environment, founded in 1998, is a Non Profit Company with over 250 volunteer pilots and aircraft.
It provides its beneficiaries and the public with an aerial perspective of the environment and has coordinated more than 600 diverse missions throughout South Africa and Africa. In addition to flying in support of environmental issues, aerial assistance is often requested to transport endangered wildlife.
The Bateleurs received an urgent request from Dr Joel Alves from WildlifeVets to assist with the translocation of two sub-adult lionesses from a reserve in Limpopo.
Read: Both wild lions recaptured, after escaping in Georges Valley area
The reserve’s carrying capacity for lions has been exceeded as a result of the drought and population increase.
Euthanasia was unfortunately the only alternative to translocation. An urgent call for a pilot was sent out and Jaco Scheepers volunteered to fly the lionesses from Hoedspruit Civil airfield to a temporary, specialised isolation boma in KwaZulu-Natal before being transported to Mozambique to form part of a greater re-introduction of lions to Moamba Game Reserve.
On the morning of 8 June, Dr Joel Alves and Dr Ben Muller from WildlifeVets, made their way to a reserve in Limpopo, in the greater Hoedspruit area, where they were met by Zelda de Keijzer, General Manager of the Bateleurs, and the reserve warden.
Read: Hoedspruit Wildlife Corner: Lions tested for Tuberculosis
The two young lionesses in the boma appeared to be more interested in playing with the bait and chasing each other around than they were in eating it, which made darting some fun and games. After about an hour the two young ladies were fast asleep and were processed rapidly, with all their injections given and dart sites treated.
Read: EXCLUSIVE UPDATE: Rare white lions poached at lodge
They were transported by road with Joel in the back with them to ensure they remained sleeping for the start of their journey. Hoedspruit Civil was teeming with photographers and excited members of the community upon arrival. The lionesses, weighing approximately 110kg each, were loaded into the aircraft rapidly and efficiently thanks to all the willing hands. The aircraft, a C206, was off and away after a short radio-check from Jaco and instructions to hang onto the lions so that they didn’t slide back during take-off.
The flight went smoothly and the aircraft landed on Mkuze airstrip within two hours of departure.
The lionesses needed a few top-ups and they happily slept throughout the flight. They arrived to the smiling faces of the receiving team and the lionesses were offloaded into capable hands to complete the first section of their journey to Moamba. That evening it was reported that the lionesses had woken up smoothly from their immobilisations and were safely in their temporary new home.
The next section of their journey will see their safe release in Moamba followed by them flourishing there and establishing a new lion population. Thank you to all parties involved for your exceptional professionalism.
Thanks to Jaco Scheepers especially for not only flying this mission but also for sponsoring the fuel and to Martin den Dunnen who provided his aircraft.
