Notes on the social dynamics and behaviour of reintroduced lions in the Welgevonden Private Game Reserve
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Published source details
Kilian P.J. & Bothma J.D. (2003) Notes on the social dynamics and behaviour of reintroduced lions in the Welgevonden Private Game Reserve. South African Journal of Wildlife Research, 33, 119-124.
Published source details Kilian P.J. & Bothma J.D. (2003) Notes on the social dynamics and behaviour of reintroduced lions in the Welgevonden Private Game Reserve. South African Journal of Wildlife Research, 33, 119-124.
Actions
This study is summarised as evidence for the following.
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Use holding pens at release site prior to release of translocated mammals Action Link |
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Use holding pens at release site prior to release of translocated mammals
A study in 1998–2002 in a shrubland wildlife reserve in Limpopo, South Africa (Kilian & Bothma 2003) found that after being held together in a pen for three months before release, five translocated African lions Panthera leo eventually formed two separate prides. Two months after release, there was aggression between two males and a female, which had sustained injuries shortly after release. Aggression continued intermittently for 10 weeks until the injured lion mated. Subsequently, over the following 3.5–4 years, two prides established territories. One pride comprised of a male and female half-siblings with an additional related female. The second pride was a looser association between a male and female sibling. Thus, inbreeding was likely to occur between mated pairs. Two male and three female wild-caught lions (from two locations) were released on 16 January 1998 into a 33,000-ha fenced reserve, after being held for three months in a 50 × 50-m pen. Lions were monitored by radio-tracking through to February 2002.
(Summarised by: Casey Johnson )
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