Lions in South-Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia

[BA0701]

(08-19-2024, 06:03 AM)Cath2020 Wrote: I'm not sure who would be in charge of fixing those fences.  These questions need to be addressed to those responsible for doing that then.  Instead, we are blaming Jock Safari, when they might not be in charge of that.  They could be trying to give these lions a second chance, otherwise, the next time they go out, they will most likely not survive, we all know that.  I've seen the posts which were immediately putting the lodge on the defensive.  

Two year old males can survive on their own.  Some will do so better than others, but to state that it's a death sentence for him, is a big exaggeration.  Some males are kicked out of their natal prides before that age or around two, and they sink or swim.  Would it have been better for him to go with a brother or two?  Absolutely, but we don't know why this happened.  He might not have been around the other pride members that were already past the fenced area.  What would you have them do?  Track him down and send him up north with his family?  And if the family all gets poached, at least he won't have to suffer that fate.   God forbid that happens, but maybe some, if not all, will be luckier than the other lions relocated there in the past.  Hopefully, things have improved since then.

I am not sure anyone is specifically "blaming" Jock Safari, but there is no question this was handled poorly, whomever was in charge. There is a history with moving lions up north, and there is a reason it currently has so few lions to begin with. To then delete all posts, and not even respond to the valid, and politely asked, questions of the many who are concerned is only going to cause people to believe that something terrible is happening. I do not believe that is the first response of any of the concerned, but what are they left to feel, when those involved will not even respond, and deleted their own posts on the matter? Then to leave the young male, on top of it.

It is no secret that many of these adjacent properties are death pits for countless animals, like Sandrigham for instance just look at what happened to Giraffe Male when he crossed onto it (I do not know for a fact that he was poached, but there was clear concern by many as soon as he crossed over to that property, due to it's reputation, and then a few weeks later he is declared deceased), the property owners cut the fences themselves, attract the animals to cross the openings, even dragging carcasses at times (ala Cecil) and then sell tags to rich dentists and the like. Those people love having a famous animal on their wall, it is a source of pride for them. The more of an online presence an animal has, the more they can charge to get someone a shot at them. Reply