Sylvester the lion to be relocated

Staff writer

SYLVESTER, the lion that escaped from the Karoo National Park at the end of March, will soon be relocated to Addo Elephant National Park (AENP), the South African National Parks (SANParks) said yesterday.

The lion will be moved into a boma within an existing 200ha enclosure in the Kuzuko contractual section of Addo for him to bond with two young females in the enclosure. The lions will then be released into the Addo Park in Port Elizabeth.

The fence between Kuzuko and the neighbouring Darlington section of Addo is due to be dropped soon, which will then provide the three lions with 60 000ha over which to roam.

The combined area of Darlington and Kuzuko is large, with a substantial prey base and only one other coalition of ageing male lions – and hence the pressure on Sylvester will be minimal.

In addition, there is an area to the west of the dam to which these males can be retired if necessary.

Fundisile Mketeni, SANParks CEO, said: “This lion, at three years of age, is still young enough to bond with the two females and ultimately establish himself as the resident pride male. We will ensure that the lion is fully integrated in line with our Frontier Region Carnivore Management Plan.

“There is always a risk that this lion may break out again, but this will be mitigated to a large extent by reducing any potential conflict with other males, by placing him in a boma within the existing 200ha boma, and ultimately by establishing him as the dominant male,” said Mketeni.

Mketeni said this option was one of several considered.