Size of Okavango Delta Lions and Lionesses

[Dr Panthera]

(01-07-2016, 08:28 PM)LionKiss Wrote: getting permission to dart a lion is probably the most serious problem
but it is not difficult as soon as it is anesthetized, there are portable scales 

it is not difficult for a team of 4-5 persons to use something like this, 
https://www.google.gr/search?q=portable+...3WV9SUY%3D

Darting an animal can endanger it, the therapeutic index of Zoletil ( and several other sedatives) is narrow and could lead to accidental overdosage and death, this happened to three tigers that Dr Karanth was attempting to radio-collar and led to the government practically banning darting tigers for a while, a Russian tiger escaped the collaring team and fell in a frozen pond and drowned, Smuts darted a Kruger lioness and while she was under the influence of the drug a hyena bit her on the rear end requiring 26 stitches, another lioness he captured was violently attacked by her pride mates and died. And so on.
Measuring or estimating size is needed for biologist to determine the feeding requirements of the individuals in an area and therefore calculating home range and carrying capacity for a given habitat, and when this is done, the female weight is used, 120-135 kg for a lioness or a tigress, 65 kg for a female jaguar, and 40 kg for a leopardess. Reply