Tompkins said the cubs were a significant contribution to wild lion conservation in a region where lions had been extinct.
“Their mother has given them the best chance of survival.
“She has periodically moved den sites across the escarpment, not far from her hunting grounds on Samara’s plateau grasslands, where large herds of black wildebeest and blesbok abound,” Tompkins said.
Lions are under threat globally, mainly because of habitat loss, conflict with humans and the illegal trade in lion bones as substitutes for tiger bones in Eastern medicine.
Tompkins said in SA the canned lion trade, in which lions were bred and hunted in captivity, threatened the survival of the species in the wild.
“There are now estimated to be just 3,000 wild lions in the country.”
The introduction of lions at Samara is one of several initiatives by the reserve to restore the biodiversity of the Great Karoo.
Over the past 22 years, thousands of wild animals have been successfully reintroduced at the reserve, including antelope, zebra, buffalo, cheetah and elephant.
Professor Graham Kerley, director of the Centre for African Conservation Ecology at Nelson Mandela University, said: “Lions are the sentinels of wildness in Africa and the success of these apex predators in our protected areas is a key indicator of the effectiveness of conservation measures.”
ziyandaz@dispatch.co.za
First lions born in Camdeboo in 200 years
Image: Supplied
A litter of cubs at a private game reserve in Camdeboo are the first lions to be born in the area in almost two centuries.
The new arrivals at Samara Private Game Reserve near Graaff-Reinet come a year after the reserve introduced a pride of lions.
The cubs were born in September, according to a statement released by the reserve on Wednesday.
The birth of the cubs represented a victory for wild lion conservation, the reserve said.
Samara founder Sarah Tompkins said the cubs were a sign that the reserve’s move to re-wild the landscape to create optimum conditions for lions had succeeded.
“We are ecstatic about this birth,” Tompkins said.
“The birth of the first wild lion cubs in the region in almost two centuries is a wonderful milestone on our journey.
“It serves as a great incentive to continue our commitment to the preservation of this fantastically biodiverse region.”
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Tompkins said the cubs were a significant contribution to wild lion conservation in a region where lions had been extinct.
“Their mother has given them the best chance of survival.
“She has periodically moved den sites across the escarpment, not far from her hunting grounds on Samara’s plateau grasslands, where large herds of black wildebeest and blesbok abound,” Tompkins said.
Lions are under threat globally, mainly because of habitat loss, conflict with humans and the illegal trade in lion bones as substitutes for tiger bones in Eastern medicine.
Tompkins said in SA the canned lion trade, in which lions were bred and hunted in captivity, threatened the survival of the species in the wild.
“There are now estimated to be just 3,000 wild lions in the country.”
The introduction of lions at Samara is one of several initiatives by the reserve to restore the biodiversity of the Great Karoo.
Over the past 22 years, thousands of wild animals have been successfully reintroduced at the reserve, including antelope, zebra, buffalo, cheetah and elephant.
Professor Graham Kerley, director of the Centre for African Conservation Ecology at Nelson Mandela University, said: “Lions are the sentinels of wildness in Africa and the success of these apex predators in our protected areas is a key indicator of the effectiveness of conservation measures.”
ziyandaz@dispatch.co.za
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