A fantastic end to an amazing story. Congratulations to the SANParks staff who successfully tracked and returned the 3 year old male lion back to the Karoo National Park. A thank you must go out to community members who helped by reporting sightings of the lion to authorities and especially to those farmers who lost sheep to the predator, yet never took matters into their own hands. Group efforts such as these will ultimately change the course and outcome of conservation in South Africa!
The 3 year old lion escaped from the Park on the 5th of June 2015, through a hole in the fence caused by heavy rain. It is suspected that the older males attacked and chased him, and why he ultimately decided to leave the borders of the reserve. He evaded capture for over 3 weeks until park authorities caught up with him on Monday 29 June. They managed to dart him in heavy terrain, and airlift him by helicopter back to his home.
What makes this such a fabulous story as that in his 3 weeks of exploring he was said to cover over 300km. He is believed to have killed a number of sheep and kudu in his exploits and eventually darted only 20 km from the reserve boundary, as if he was happy with his adventure and on his way home!
He has been released into a holding boma and fitted with a radio collar to track his progress in the future. The young lion is healthy and in good condition and will be released back into the Reserve in the near future.
