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The aim of the Lion breeding program is "To secure and, where
possible, restore sustainable lion populations throughout their present
and potential range within Eastern and Southern Africa, recognizing
their potential to provide substantial ecological, social, cultural and
economic benefits."
The project plans to do this by completing the following stages:
STAGE 1a
Young cubs born to female lions in breeding programs spend as many
daylight hours in the wild, accompanied by trained lion handlers. Guides
and volunteers contribute valuable data and observations. This exercise
is being carried out at Gweru Park and Victoria Falls, and it is
remarkable to observe the development of the natural hunting instincts
of the young lions. At 18 months, these lions are able to successfully
stalk and bring down a diversity of prey species.
STAGE 1b (only at Gweru)
Once sub-adult lions have demonstrated hunting skills, they are released
into large (approximately 1000 acres) enclosures stocked with prey
species. Release periods are planned to be from 3 to 5 days (but
currently only a few hours a day), and while the lions are still
monitored carefully, their periods of activity and hunting are no longer
determined by handlers. At present the Gweru park is periodically
releasing 18 month old lions into this enclosure (called ‘Night Lion
Orientation’), and results have shown an almost 100% stalk and kill rate
with wild antelope.
STAGE 2
From stage 1b, lions now used to hunt entirely for themselves will be
translocated to fenced mini-ecosystems where:
1. There are no other lions except for simultaneously introduced,
opposite sex groups to promote breeding;
2. There are no resident human beings;
3. There is a sufficient diversity of prey species for the lions to
hunt;
4. There is sufficient space (5,000 to 10,000 acres) within fenced areas
to maintain the lions – such areas will be sourced in various African
countries.
STAGE 3
The offspring of lions born to Stage 2 lions and therefore raised in a
totally natural environment, can be slowly introduced into appropriate
protected areas. With the economic situation of many African countries
in a stage of revival, there is a desire to restore and reconstruct
wildlife areas to vitally contribute to national economies. The Lion
Encounter has already received many requests to assist in lion
reintroduction.
As heartbreaking as it is, the lions of Africa are decreasing at an
alarming rate.
Current patterns indicate that within a
very short time there will be no lions left on this continent. Factors
that affect the decreasing number of lions include rampant poaching,
uncontrolled (and "canned") hunting and diminishing natural habitats.
Diseases such as Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV), which leads to
lions contracting Bovine Tuberculosis, are another killer of these
wonderful animals. A recent headline in the South African Sunday Times
read 'Kruger lions dying like flies'. The cause - incurable bovine
tuberculosis. Of 33 lions tranquillized and tested, 32 lions were TB
positive. Forecasts are that it is possible that within 5 years, 95% of
the Kruger lions will have died from TB.
The project leaders who own these projects feel passionately about
Zimbabwe and the state of the lion population in Africa. As a result
they run a Lion Breeding Programme with the express objectives of
preserving the African lions by producing a quality gene pool and
rebuilding the diminishing numbers of lions, and also reintroducing the
offspring back into the wild in environments where they will have the
best possible opportunity for survival and a good quality of life.
Having started with just six lions and run-down, only partially fenced
facilities, they have built the programme into a magnificent Game
Reserve and Lion Breeding facility. Since 1987 new bloodlines have been
imported from Tanzania and various other captive breeding units in
Zimbabwe and a strictly monitored breeding programme was commenced to
ensure that no in-breeding took place. DNA and TB tests were carried out
with the assistance of a veterinarian attached to the World Wildlife
Fund (WWF) and the lions are regularly vaccinated against Rabies.
There are currently
around 50 lions of various ages within the Gweru park. The aim is to
build up a gene-pool for other breeding programmes in Africa and the
rest of the world, and in 1999 alone, over 20 lions were exported to a
similar facility in South Africa, a step in the direction of fighting to
ensure the survival of these Kings of the Jungle. The owners firmly
believe that controlled re-introduction of the offspring of captive bred
lions into the wild can succeed and enable them to live in their natural
environment
The lion breeding program is mainly funded by tourist facilities, such
as the Lion Walk, swimming with elephants, etc. Without this funding the
Lion Breeding Programme couldn't exist.
Our volunteers' work assists in helping this project to continue and,
over the long term, will also hopefully contribute to the helping to
prevent the decrease in the lion population in Africa.
The owners of the Gweru park
have followed on from their experiences and have now started the Lion
Walking Project at Victoria falls. The first commercial lion
walks took place on Friday 25th March 2005 and there are usually about 5
lion cubs based at Vic Falls. Over time they hope to increase the amount
of lions at Victoria Falls and start the Lion breeding programme there
as well. The location is ideal for tourism - as this is the main
financial backer for the project it is an excellent location to draw
additional funds and spread the word about the plight of the African
Lion. Victoria Falls is also a superb location to translocate any lions
to Zambia and other African countries when the time is right.
YOUR WORK AT VICTORIA FALLS:
(click
here for information on your work at Victoria Falls)
YOUR WORK AT GWERU:
(click here for
information on your work at Gweru)
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Bobby, the head guide, taking a rest with
some of the Lions at Victoria Falls.
Lions -
Photo Gallery |
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