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(11-08-2023, 06:02 PM)Tonpa Wrote: S8 Male has died
*This image is copyright of its original author
*This image is copyright of its original author
RIP, he died as reigning king.
This death remainds me of Mhangeni Big Boys death, in both cases they where gone in a week or so.
They said they will take S8's body for abduction.
They did it with Mhangenis Big Boys body aswell, but we never got an answer what caused his demise.
I believe he was poisoned. I always will think that. Perhaps with arsenic which has no smell or taste. The symptoms are the same, too.
Such a shame, and they probably thought they'd get him with all the lionesses the first time, but they just kept at it.
I hope the last lioness and the cubs will be left alone. Somehow I don't think so.
No corpse lying around, so no addltional deaths to prove poisoning.
I think it's highly unlikely that someone would poison him, simply because he and the pride were within the Sabi Sands the whole time. Now if they had ventured into a neighbouring residential area/village and were taking down livestock and posing an immediate threat to the local community then that would make sense. However, because there haven't been any human-wildlife conflicts between S8, his pride and the neighboring communities (unless I've missed something), I doubt poisoning would be a factor because no one would gain anything from their deaths.
(11-08-2023, 05:57 AM)sik94 Wrote: That's not TB unless I see some verification, TB never just kills a well fed lion so suddenly. We didn't see a gradual decline like Blondie avoca or Lambille, S8 was completely healthy until a week ago. The drooling, him looking disoriented and unable to move much, that's not TB. Guides just love to say it's TB whenever lions have health issues, every sick lion isn't a case of TB.
I figured, that TB is a suitable cover up. If it something they don't want to publish for any reason they can always say it's TB and stick to it. So if it is say from meat poisoning we might never know.
Still seems odd how if it is something that can be spread beyond lions, they don't act. With Orpen Male (anthrax) they closed off the area.
Whether it was TB or not does not even matter, S8 died anyways and in an unexpected way and quick, about 3 days.
(11-08-2023, 06:02 PM)Tonpa Wrote: S8 Male has died
*This image is copyright of its original author
*This image is copyright of its original author
RIP, he died as reigning king.
This death remainds me of Mhangeni Big Boys death, in both cases they where gone in a week or so.
They said they will take S8's body for abduction.
They did it with Mhangenis Big Boys body aswell, but we never got an answer what caused his demise.
I believe he was poisoned. I always will think that. Perhaps with arsenic which has no smell or taste. The symptoms are the same, too.
Such a shame, and they probably thought they'd get him with all the lionesses the first time, but they just kept at it.
I hope the last lioness and the cubs will be left alone. Somehow I don't think so.
No corpse lying around, so no addltional deaths to prove poisoning.
I think it's highly unlikely that someone would poison him, simply because he and the pride were within the Sabi Sands the whole time. Now if they had ventured into a neighbouring residential area/village and were taking down livestock and posing an immediate threat to the local community then that would make sense. However, because there haven't been any human-wildlife conflicts between S8, his pride and the neighboring communities (unless I've missed something), I doubt poisoning would be a factor because no one would gain anything from their deaths.
The neighboring communities close to that Manyleti corner (Pungwe) adjacent to Sabi Sands seems to always be a problem (or if not the communities themselves, trouble comes from that direction and their close poximity to reserves enables it). With so many lions and other animals snared (just that we know off), there is certainly an opening for malevolent activity and it is just upon what those people are up to, meat poisoning is certainly feasible, no matter whether we understand the motivation for it. It is just that unlike Sabi Sands Manyeleti is not a private reserve and with South Africa reality anything non-private is gonna be mismanaged one way or another, in this case failing in 100% protection of its perimeter and animals moving through or nearby enough. It's entirely possible and if it is the case we will most likely never hear about it. Just the thing they checked Blondie Avoca for potential gunshot wound paint a good picture what is possible out there.
Sad about yet another loss, he always seems very healthy, unfortunately this is another example of how difficult the lives of these animals are. Rest in peace.
RIP S8. It was so heartbreaking to watch him slowly deteriorate on Djuma Dam cam, a least he is suffering no longer. I now worry for the Selati daughter and the five sub cubs being alone now without a dominant male to protect them anymore after everything that has happened to that pride already, so unfortunate.
@BA0701 I do not know why they named the other pride Sand River, but it's probably just because thr name was free to be used, just like with the old and new Gijima males.
(11-08-2023, 08:40 PM)Rabubi Wrote: I think it's highly unlikely that someone would poison him, simply because he and the pride were within the Sabi Sands the whole time. Now if they had ventured into a neighbouring residential area/village and were taking down livestock and posing an immediate threat to the local community then that would make sense. However, because there haven't been any human-wildlife conflicts between S8, his pride and the neighboring communities (unless I've missed something), I doubt poisoning would be a factor because no one would gain anything from their deaths.
Yep, its also highly unlikely that only he would consume that poison.
Its prob some nasty bacteria/virus which kills quickly, similar to how 2 Talamatis, 1/2 Ximhungwe and Mhangeni Big Boy died, basically in the same area.
I mean Junior NK contracted Anthrax in southern Manyeleti, so if it happened once, it definetly can again.
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