The pride of Africa dying
JOHANNESBURG – Wild lions are being killed by people, for killing cattle.
Africa’s lions are dying by the thousands each year, primarily being shot by people in reaction to killing their cattle.
Marnus Roodbol, founder of Walking For Lions (WFL), is actively involved in finding ways of saving wild lions in Africa and has asked residents of Johannesburg to help him.
He claimed that the continent has about 15 000 wild lions, but 70 to 80 percent are killed each year.
The organisation is involved in three projects in Africa – all with the same aim – to keep lions out of cattle kraals and thus safe from communities.
The first involves placing an LED light at a 45 degree angle on the outside of each corner of a kraal fence.
These lights shine during the night at different intervals, apparently leading lions to believe people with torches are walking there, which prevents lions from approaching.
The second project involves leaving an LED light on a sheep’s head, leading lions to believe the sheep is a person with a torch.
The third project, of Roodbol’s own design, involves placing motion-sensor lights 20m away from each corner of a kraal, as lions often encircle kraals at this distance, so that cattle will smell them, become frightened, and break out of the kraal.
The lights would theoretically scare off lions which come too close.
This project will require one year of testing before being implemented.
Roodbol appealed to residents of Johannesburg to help save wild lions by contacting the organisation to find out how to help in its projects, donate second-hand equipment, such as computers, and ask companies and the government to assist.
Roodbol and others in the organisation often walk or cycle through countries in Africa, and speak at schools, to raise awareness.
This year Roodbol cycled 3 142km through Botswana, Zambia and Malawi before finishing in Tanzania.
