Coalitions of Kruger National Park

[Wyld@Heart]

(12-01-2022, 10:42 AM)BA0701 Wrote: So, I take it from your experience and knowledge in the area, that even in the absence of HWC, lions living in this region will find it difficult to simply survive due to the lack of density in prey animals? Is that an accurate reading of your comment? If it is, any idea why they would  intentionally move predators such as these into such an inhospitable place?

There are lions, and indeed cheetah, hyena, leopard and wild dog, in the north as well as mostly all the prey animal species that are in the south so survivability is not just possible, but just about a 'given' insofar as predator populations can be spoken about as such given the harshness of the bush. But there are enough prey species and water sources for a self sustaining and viable lion population however in a much lower density per square kilometer with correspondingly larger territories than the south. It's certainly not as inhospitable as the truly arid areas where other lions survive and thrive, it's just dense mopani with lower density of the prey animals that they prefer. 

The idea of translocating these males so far north is probably because of such low densities. Competition in the south is fierce, as we know, and putting them pretty much anywhere south of Olifants would almost certainly see them come into conflict with males and prides already protecting litters so human intervention in that regard would have a direct effect on the population that could be negative to the current inhabitants and/or the males themselves which is not ideal. 

These sorts of things are always done with an idea to impact as little as possible on the existing lions in the area and the far north doesn't really have one to speak of except perhaps nomadic lions passing through and the relocation of these two kills two birds with one stone; they have a chance to establish themselves without risking other lions or themselves too much while also hopefully seeding and establishing a lion presence in an area that hasn't had a sedentary one for years. It's not the S25 with herds around every corner, but they can survive and do well there. Buffalo, in particular, are in plentiful supply if maybe not as compliant. Reply