Marloth Park is carnivore country, be on your guard
The lioness is considered extremely dangerous as she has cubs and has been seen moving around Marloth park.
MARLOTH PARK – The lioness that crossed over from the Kruger National Park into the holiday village in late December has been captured and successfully relocated to Lionspruit Game Reserve.
She was collared to enable the carnivore team and Nkomazi Municipality Rangers of Marloth Park to monitor her movements.
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Mpumalanga Tourism and Parks Agency’s carnivore scientist, Gerrie Camacho, said, “We were looking to relocate her to the north, but there have been mixed successes with such operations in the past, and we were not yet sure if the Kruger would accept her in the north.
“The problem there is a lot of territorial pressure on the Kruger’s lions. There were very few vacant territories for this collared lioness, except perhaps in the north. She could also have broken out of the park in the north and caused havoc in communities there.”
Camacho said relocation options are also restricted by the TB zone.
“The other option would have been to euthanise her, so we are very relieved she seems to have settled down in Lionspruit. She has been seen associating with a large male in the reserve.”
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Camacho confirmed that another lioness with cubs has also been moving in and out of the area over the past few weeks. She is not collared and could be anywhere.
“We found her tracks after the big rain last Thursday. Then she was spotted on a kudu kill, but she has evaded us so far,” said Camacho.
“This female and her cubs are moving through a lot of properties in the area, including Marloth Park. We can’t use calls or cage traps in this case, and have to wait for her to make a kill before we attempt to capture them.”
This lioness is considered to be extremely dangerous as she has cubs and will therefore naturally be very protective.
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In addition, a leopard was also seen roaming the town over the New Year’s period. Residents and visitors should not walk around at night and should be constantly on the alert for these dangerous predators. Dogs and other pets should be kept indoors.
If anyone sees lions or leopards in Marloth Park, contact Camacho on 082 353 9097 or Ernest Röhm on 083 626 6309.
