The search for a young male lion thought to have wandered from the Kruger National Park (KNP) is ongoing, after a ox’s carcase was found in Makoko yesterday, October 28.

The MTPA’s carnivore specialist, Gerrie Camacho, said they are on the ground monitoring the situation, but the rainy conditions have had a negative impact on tracking fresh spoor from the lion.

He said that strong competition among predators such as the spotted hyenas, leopards and lions had caused a push/pull effect. “These lions we often see escaping from the Kruger area are a direct result from increased lion numbers that are pushed out by stronger rivals and drawn to areas where there seems to be fewer other rivals,” said Camacho.

“These lions have no idea that they are on or near human settlements, orchards and cattle, and therefore are more nervous and seem to move much longer distances to try and escape human pressure and foreign terrain in their exploration attempts.”
Camacho said monitoring of lions is being conducted in the Manyeleti Game Reserve, which is on the western boundary of KNP and is a buffer between it and the communities further to the west.

He said the area where the young lion was spotted is more south-west of Sabie Sand Game Reserve and directly adjacent to the Kruger, where there is no buffer between it and private or state reserves.

“On Manyeleti, we know exactly what the lion situation is. During the 2016 drought, there was ample prey available and lions were very tolerant towards their rivals, such as other prides, spotted hyenas and leopards.

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“This excessive prey availability and more leisure time caused an incline in pride sizes (cubs survival rates were higher due to easier conditions) and strengths, and a sharp incline in spotted hyena numbers and clan sizes.”
Camacho said, however, that once the drought was over and prey became more difficult to detect, the competition suddenly flared up and became much more intense.

“The lions’ and hyenas’ tolerance levels towards rivals lowered, and competition for prey started to increase. Therefore, weaker and younger males would be pushed around, find it difficult to stand up against stronger rivals, and start wandering to find safer environment.

“In June 2018, we had the Long Tom Pass Lion, which we captured up on top of the Long Tom Pass. This was also because of similar competition conditions.

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“Leopard numbers have declined dramatically in the Manyeleti. They are lower than lion and spotted hyena on the pecking order and therefore took the most of the brunt in the rivalry.”

He said lions are directly impacting on their own species and the leopards’, and that these responses are to environmental conditions such as rainfall, drought and disease, which forms part of the natural cycles that spans over a number of years.

He said the lion was likely in the Makoko area (near Numbi) north of White River, and updates will be provided as soon as more information on its whereabouts becomes available.