KNP lions yet to be captured in Marloth
A group of four to five lions have been spotted in this holiday town for the past week or so, requiring around-the-clock work from various teams to get them back into the Kruger National Park (KNP).
The MTPA’s carnivore specialist, Gerrie Camacho, explained what the current situation surrounding the lions’ capture was.
The search and capture have been ongoing for about a week now, with no success as yet. Camacho said the lions have split into three groups and the younger ones are especially timid.
The latest is that there is no definitive change in the situation. This is especially true as there have not been any concrete and reliable sightings recently. This makes it difficult to determine exactly where the lions are.
Camacho said he suspected it might be the same female that had also been spotted in Marloth with three cubs in 2020. This time, it is an adult female with two subadult females and a subadult male, with possibly another male. The lions have not been seen together as a group, so it is difficult to determine the exact number.
Last year, she had caught some ostriches, also the case this year.
Camacho explained that there are also lions in Lionspruit, bordering Marloth, which helps somewhat to keep Kruger lions out of the park. During winter, however, game is drawn to the river, which in turn draws the lions there, too. He suspects they crossed over before the flooding on December 7, and that the water prevented them from going back to the Kruger again.
Marloth borders the KNP for about 18 kilometres along the riverbank. Another reason for lions crossing over is that there are none in Marloth. This means they will not feel threatened. Food is also freely available.
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Camacho said security, the CPF and rangers are all working together to monitor the situation. He said they have tried many methods thus far, and were nearly successful over the weekend, but thus far, the lions remain. The standard method of using calls to lure them out has not worked, and Camacho believes this is because of the timidness of the young lions.
It is unknown territory for them, and when hearing a call of an animal that sounds like it is being killed, they would rather avoid it due to a fear of other lions.
Because of how dense the bush is in the area, this also rules out the use of a helicopter, he said. The possibility of a lion ending up with a dart or even just running scared, could have them end up near humans they might attack due to feeling bewildered.
Residents receive regular warnings as and when the lions are spotted in certain areas, and have been asked to immediately report any sighting to the relevant authorities. Camacho said people must see the lions’ presence as a realistic danger. It is in both the residents and the lions’ best interest for them to be captured and moved back to the Kruger.
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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 three groups – this makes the recapturing a bit more complicated. Once they are captured, personnel from the Kruger will fetch them and release (and collar) them further north in the park.
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.
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