Two male lions, previously from the Twee Rivieren section of Kgalagadi National Park, now call Addo Elephant National Park in the Eastern Cape home.
The two, estimated to be around seven years-old, had been acclimatising to their new conditions in a boma in AENP for the past few weeks.
They were released last week and early indications are that they are settling well into the landscape.
New set of genes
Their arrival follows close on the heels of the introduction of two lionesses into the park at the beginning of March.
The two-and-a-half year-old sisters were brought in from the !Khamab Kalahari Reserve on the south-eastern edge of the Kalahari.
The new sets of genes are a valuable addition to the lion population in the Addo Elephant National Park, as they bring with them strong, healthy genes that will add to the genetic variety in the park.
There are now nine lions in the main game viewing area and a further three in what is known as the Nyathi section of Addo.
Fine balance
The two males are collared for ease of monitoring and so that the rangers and researchers can observe what habitats they use, their proximity to the other lions, other predators and which species they prey on.
The collars will also enable management to reach a fine balance of managing the lion population carefully in relation to the size of the park and their impact on prey species.
Their management forms part of a larger initiative to mimic natural processes that regulate lion social behaviour and population growth, which includes swapping individuals between parks to ensure constant introduction of new genes.
At the same time two older males, known as Niklaas and Witwarm, were darted and moved to Mountain Zebra National Park outside Cradock.
The two are first setting in a boma inside the park before released.
Did you know there were other animals apart from elephants in the Addo Elephant National Park?
Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1
Subscribe to The South African website’s newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
