The reintroduction into the wild of the male lion, captured in Mbombela seven weeks ago, suffered an unwarranted blow on Tuesday, December 17 at Mjejane Game Reserve (MGR).
This as the big cat inadvertently got caught in the protracted crossfire between the two opposing authorities linked to the contentious game reserve.
The matter is further complicated by the fact that there are no fences between MGR and the Kruger National Park (KNP). Therefore, MGR forms part of KNP and by extension the Great Limpopo Transfrontier Park and Conservation Area (GLTFCA). SANParks manages the KNP and according to the agreement, SANParks also oversees the management of the Greater Limpopo Transfrontier Park in South Africa.
Further to this, on December 5, 2018, the Mjejane Homeowners Association NPC (MHOA) joined 13 other reserves and community property organisations in a co-operative agreement with the GLFTCA which, according to various well-placed conservation insiders, binds the MGR to certain consultative procedures when it comes to introducing species into this open system.
Back to the two opposing MGR authorities. The Mjejane Trust and Lugedlane Developments, and the MHOA have been embroiled in bitter back-and-forth litigation since 2007, mostly over land use.
On Tuesday, December 17, tensions boiled over to directly affect a protected wild animal (as defined by the Mpumalanga Nature Conservation Act 10 of 1998), when the trust and MHOA butted heads over the release of a rogue lion into the game reserve.
The lion had been in captivity since it was caught by the Mpumalanga Tourism and Parks Agency (MTPA) at Sekelbos Estate in Mbombela in the early hours of November 2. This after it had been tracked from October 27, after first being spotted in the Hermansburg area along the R40 between Barberton and Mbombela.
The MTPA, accompanied by a private veterinary service, reportedly arrived at the Mjejane main gate at 08:40 in a bakkie with a trailer transporting the lion. The plan was to release the lion on Portion 50 Tenbosch (a portion of MGR). However, this did not happen. Details surrounding the exact events that lead to the lion being turned away are sketchy as the trust and MHOA have presented Lowvelder with conflicting versions. In addition, at the time of publication, the MTPA had not responded to detailed questions.
ALSO READ: Lion captured in Mbombela still in MTPA’s holding facility
The Mjejane Trust’s version
According to trust administrator, Pieter Zeelie, Portion 50 Tenbosch is owned and controlled by the trust, and the MHOA is prohibited by a 2023 court interdict from setting foot on it. The farm directly borders the KNP and Zeelie said it was identified as suitable for the male lion to be released as it was inhabited by a female lion and no other males. He added that the release was sanctioned and arranged by the MTPA together with other veterinarians who operated in conjunction with the trust.
However, they were allegedly denied access to MGR by the MHOA who insisted on seeing the required permit for the release of the lion. This on a blistering 40°C day.
Infuriated by the MHOA’s ‘arrogance’ in asking to see the permit, the MGR had this to say: “The MTPA is the only and principal managing authority authorised to deal with all conservation matters in terms of the Nature Conservation Act 10 of 1998 in Mpumalanga. It is common knowledge that they hold an exemption permit and control all such things, including what takes place within the KNP and MGR. There can be no doubt about it. To request the MTPA to show their exemption permit was truly unacceptable and displays the arrogance of the [M]HOA.”
Zeelie presented Lowvelder with a management permit issued by the MTPA which he said granted the trust and Lugedlane Developments authority to accept animals, such as the lion in question.
However, a well-placed conservation insider said while the permit allowed the trust to manage wild animals that are not game, it did not authorise the trust to receive a protected wild animal such as the lion.
“Introduction is a specialist action that requires time and consultation with various experts before a recommendation is made and the additional permit is issued,” the source said.
In addition, KNP spokesperson, Ike Phaahla confirmed the GLTFCA management committee was not consulted about the release of the lion into the open system. He reiterated every nook and cranny of the southern KNP was saturated with dominant prides which would see a rogue lion either be pushed out or killed. Hence, the KNP has since the lion was first captured refused to accept it into the park.
ALSO READ: Homeowners interdicted from portions of Mjejane Game Reserve
MHOA’s version
According to a member notice issued by the MHOA board of directors on Wednesday, December 18, the MTPA and veterinarians were not denied access to MGR, but chose to leave by their own choice.
“The truth is that the MGR management engaged with the accompanying vet, pointing out that the required permissions and requisite permits were lacking and invited the vet to contact SANParks. Rather than engaging with SANParks, the vet chose to leave on his own volition,” read the notice.
The notice also stated that both the MTPA and SANParks confirmed “no consent had been granted for the release of the lion on the MGR”.
Speaking to Lowvelder, the MHOA general manager, Delia Forté, also referenced the GCTFCA agreement, as well as the lack of information about the lion’s background as reasons for opposing the release.
She said the MHOA was not against introducing animals, but insisted the correct procedure had to be followed. She explained introducing a rogue lion with an unknown history could not only spread diseases, but also unsettle existing lion coalitions as well as endanger the safety of the MHOA members in the development node.
ALSO READ: Roaming lion captured near Mbombela’s Sekelbos Estate
MTPA’s deafening silence
Lowvelder has been engaging with the MTPA since early November to establish where the lion came from and to track its journey. However, the agency has been remarkably measured in divulging information about the lion.
The origin of the lion is still unknown as the MTPA has either not done DNA tests or have kept the results to themselves. Various conservation insiders said the lion could have escaped from any of a number of farms or the local zoo in Mbombela.
The lion’s current location since the Mjejane incident also remains a mystery. Unconfirmed reports have suggested the lion was subsequently released into the KNP, but Phaahla said he had no knowledge of such.
ALSO READ: Lions moved to Kruger not necessarily Mjejane’s, says SANParks
