Some fortunately still-horned rhinos…

 

But anyway, back to things I actually can write about - one theme that I kept thinking of was conflict. Human animal conflict is at a tipping point. Rhinos are being poached at exceedingly unsustainable rates to feed the rhino horn demand from south-east Asia. There is conflict between government, the public and conservationists over who should cop the blame for the rhino poaching going unstopped. Lions continue to be killed as they wander onto farms and pillage unsuspecting cattle. And a little closer to home, the leopard that has called our camp home is unfortunately pushing the limits of the staff and is facing the consequences of his continued presence.

 

But first the lions (because I am wise enough to steer clear of rhino poaching commentary/blame laying). In my first week back I was given the chance to go and capture a lion that had escaped the park. The lion was thought to be one of a group of four that escaped Etosha, entered a farm, and killed over 30 cattle. The first three were shot on site. With a farmer’s livelihood being threatened so severely this is an understandable act, but one that highlights the consequences of human wildlife conflict in these areas. For reasons unknown the farmer decided to save the last lion, instead of sealing its fate as he had done to the others. I arrived with two ministry staff to find a very angry lion in a cage trap being gawked at by a growing crowd. Until then I had only seen the glint in a lion’s eye that seemed to say ‘watch it’ but this day I discovered just how ferocious a lion can be. It was a horrible sight. The young male was furious at his entrapment and see-sawed between ramming at the rickety cage in an attempt to break out and pressing his head against the bars and growling with teeth barred. They say you don’t have to run fast to survive a wild animal attack, you just need to outrun the slowest person. Knowing my athletic prowess, I was probably that person, so I stayed in the car, quite aware of the design flaws with these types of cages. I wasn’t getting eaten as retaliation for his brothers and I didn’t think he’d listen to me if I told him I was an animal lover not killer.

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Once the dart was in and he was safely napping, we got out of the cars, removed him from the cage and assessed the situation. Fortunately he hadn’t damaged his claws or teeth, as is often the case with trapped lions, so it was deemed worthwhile trying to release him back in the park. After branding him we bundled him into the back of the bakkie and drove him ~80km back into Etosha, releasing him near water and game to give him the best chance of survival. Unfortunately, as a young male who suddenly found himself without the protection of his pride, his chances at survival weren’t assured. As far as I know he hasn’t been resighted in or out of the park, but I am hopeful that he found a new family