The well-known male lion, Fluffy, was the pride of the Lionspruit bushveld for 17 years.
As old age and long-term injuries were wreaking havoc with his survival, he had to be euthanised at the age of 19.
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Many people who knew him or knew of him understood how he had lived as a legend in Marloth Park. “It was a shame seeing the majestic animal limp around on his last few days. We had to feed him to help him prevent any further injuries, as the years of the wildlife finally asked for his youth as payment,” said MTPA’s carnivore specialist, Gerrie Camacho.
Fluffy was 18 months old when he was released in Lionspruit with two female lions in 2005, where he reigned over the park since. The goal was to keep wandering lions from the Kruger National Park away by giving these lions their own territory in the park.
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The veterinarian Dr Peet Venter has been watching over Fluffy for many years, and as such, could have been titled Fluffy’s caretaker. He had to be the one to have the last goodbye.
Fluffy was adored from a distance as only a handful of people have kept watch over him in the park. Many residents and visitors did not just hear of him, but actually got to know his incredible roar that echoed through Marloth Park as the sun set every day. “It was the sound of our bushveld nights, making our hearts not only race, but soar,” said Camacho.
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