Lions of Manyeleti

[BA0701]

(10-18-2021, 01:56 PM)Duco Ndona Wrote: I have to agree against intervention policies unless the entire population is at threat or suffering as a result of human activities. 

Lions in Sabi Sands typically are neither. 
Infact their numbers in the reserve are of such health that birth control is issued to tamper their growth. (As the borders at the reserve prevent the natural dispersal of lions. Not doing so would result in a man made overpopulation).


When you help one animal. This always is at the cost of another. Afteral, that animal has to eat and take up a territory to prosper. 
Especially in the case of male lions which are pretty expendable. They pretty much live in a perpetual state of hunger games its not fair to save their lives. As the natural decline of one male gives another one the chance to take over and father their cubs which naturally prevents inbreeding. 

An abundance of male lions also would put far more stress on the prides and increase predation on Cheetahs, leopards and other animals. 
If they keep nursing them back to health after each mishap that they naturally shouldn't survive. At one point, the culling of excess lions will be necessary to restore balance to the reserve. 

There is also the question of public pressure. The reserves receive quite a degree of harassment from social media to intervene to save their favorite lions. But naturally this decision should not be based on that.
Plenty of animals don't have the popularity lions have. It cant be the case that who lives and who dies is determined by which animal got exposure in a positive light by Disney or crappy documentaries. 

Ultimately, its also a waste of time. The money is far better spend in buying land to increase the size of the reserves or anti poaching measures etc. Which all animals benefit from instead of just a few. 

Anyway. That was my little rant on the issue.

While I have, for unknown reasons, become a bleeding heart on the issue, and personally agree with intervention, I entirely get your points, which are entirely valid.

I don't know what the right choice is, I just know how I feel. I would never judge or attempt to disparage someone for believing as you do, because, quite frankly, of their validity, and it very well might be the correct choice, when considering the species above the individual. The only point I would argue is that the Mara lion populations appear to be fairing very well, and they infact practice veterinary intervention. Reply