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The attached article/link is a great example of the dilemmas facing our African tourism and wildlife. Our big cats breed and grow quickly, needing ample wild food at their disposal, thus large areas of valuable habitat to survive. Human, wild animal conflict is inevitable as land is occupied by our ever growing population. In Africa a content of poverty, it's the tourism industry in its various forms that puts value on these big cats. Without value the wild habitat can not be sustained. The pride mentioned in this article are caught between a rock and hard place, and as such have no value. In fact, their value is in the negative, way below -$37 a barrel so to speak, nobody wants them, they are a risk and threat to human life, their fate therefore uncertain. Contrary to popular belief lion numbers are high in many reserves, where habitat and their value therefore ensures their future.
Moving lions costs money and is complicated. One has to respect their social family structure, it's dangerous work, plus they can only be moved to an area which can sustain their reintroduction and they are wanted. It's never quite as easy as some might make it sound.
The photo is of Darren, 2am in the cool of the morning, administering a medical cocktail of antibiotics and long acting tranquillisers, under the watchful eye of highly experienced vets, to a sub-adult lion. This pride, about to be relocated...another day in the life of much needed African wildlife management. Toro River Lodges
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