THE CHALLENGE
THE CONUNDRUM
The South African Predator Breeders Association (SAPA) was established by South African lion breeders to promote the correct practices to be exercised when breeding lions. A large portion of captive lions in South Africa were bred for commercial purposes and are referred to as ranched or farmed lions.
Prior to 2 May 2021 when the South African government announced the ban on captive breeding and commercialized trading of lions, these ranched lions were traded to landowners in areas in need of lions for genetic diversity as well as biological control of other species.
This recent ban has resulted in an estimated 10000 ranched lions in South Africa whose futures are in question. Commercial lion farmers have been left with a number of options: the lions can be sterilized and destined to live the remainder of their lives in captivity or they can be euthanized. The Lion Rescue Project provides another option: as the majority of these lions are free from disease and have traceable genetic records, they can be donated and introduced into protected areas throughout Africa, where they can be rewilded and can breed naturally. This will increase the genetic diversity of free roaming lions in Africa and will result in a stronger species.
Ultimately this ban has provided an opportunity to boost the declining wild populations of lions throughout Africa and the Lion Rescue Project is totally committed to the rewilding of ranched lions back into vetted and secure conservation areas within Southern Africa.
RESCUED LIONS:
A PROACTIVE APPROACH
Rewilding is the science of conservation which promotes healthy ecosystems and the protection of all natural resources including endangered species.
Can “ranched lions” be rescued? Of course they can. Man has been rewilding all forms of wildlife including predators for decades. The rewilding of ranched lions wasn’t necessary until now.
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Undoubted proof that this can be done successfully exist. Dr. Paul Booyens, as explained in his Doctorate thesis, carried out the successful release of ranched lions in a private game reserve in Limpopo Province, South Africa over a span of five years.
Ranched lions sourced from a one hectare holding areas, and then released onto a 20 00 hectare game farm, hunted and killed a kudu within 10-12 days after release. (Ref. Department of Animal, Wildlife and Grassland Science University of the Free State Bloemfontein South Africa)
Peter Kriel, who heads up the Lion Rescue Project raised three cubs and successfully released them back into the wild in the Vhembe area of Limpopo, South Africa during 2002. (Ref. MS Maryn Goldblatt South African Predator Association of South Africa (SAPA)
A number of ranched lions have been successfully rewilded in the Antelope Park Project in Zimbabwe as well as some in Zambia.
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Reintroduction of ranched lions would only be deemed successful in a free roaming environment once certain criteria are met ie. The ability to form social groups (prides), become self-sustaining with no interference or supplementation needed, to reproduce and successfully raise cubs to sexual maturity and to effectively teach their offspring to hunt, interact socially and reproduce and for pride males to form a coalition an protect their territory thereby, securing the next generation of wild lions.
