• Home
  • How we take action
  • News
  • About
  • Contact
Menu
  • Home
  • How we take action
  • News
  • About
  • Contact
Donate now
  • How we take action
  • Testimonials
  • News
  • About
  • Contact
  • Donate
Menu
  • How we take action
  • Testimonials
  • News
  • About
  • Contact
  • Donate

Lions on the move: UK charity helps South African lion gene pool

  • February 25, 2020
  • Lion Relocation
  • South Africa
Lion Relocation

Lions all over Africa are disappearing at a frightening rate. A hundred years ago there were 200,000 lions – a meager 20,000 are left.

Rural people kill lions as they fear they will kill their livestock, hunters kill lions for trophies and their paws and bones are used in phony Asian medicine.

As their numbers shrink, so does the gene pool; lions who lack DNA diversity are more vulnerable to disease and struggle to adapt to environmental changes. Lions need genetic diversity to adapt to changing weather patterns caused by climate change.

Network for Animals is diversifying that all-important gene pool by helping move lions to different breeding areas far apart from one another. Recently, we helped relocate three young male lions from the Addo Elephant National Park, in South Africa’s Eastern Cape, to Madikwe Game Reserve in the north of the country, a 1,600-kilometer (1,000 mile) journey. By breeding in Madikwe, the genes brought by Addo’s lions will benefit future generations.

Luke Barritt, Network for Animals’ (NFA) campaign manager, explained that such moves are vital but expensive and complex, not to mention dangerous.

The three relocated lions were sedated, and tracking collars were placed on their necks. Then they were loaded into a light plane and flown north for three hours. “Nervous times,” said Barritt. “Lions have been known to wake up in a plane; that’s something you don’t want to happen so vets fly with the lions and monitor them throughout the journey.

“But the risk is worthwhile because these lions are a key ingredient in the future survival of the species,” he added.

On arrival in Madikwe, the lions were fully woken and released into a large enclosure to acclimatize to their new surroundings before being released and settling into their new home.

“NFA works around the world to help animals; everything we do is important but preserving Africa’s lion population is essential,” said Barritt. “It is no exaggeration to say that nearly all Africa’s animals are under threat and we have to act now to save them.”

By supporting our work, you are reaching out with caring hands to stop animal abuse

Please donate now
Stay up to date

Stay up to date

Share on facebook
Share on google
Share on twitter
Share on whatsapp

New Zealand City Closes Road To Protect Mother Sea Lion And Pup

In a heart-warming act of animal charity, a New Zealand South Island city, Dunedin, has closed one of its coastal roads to allow a mother

20 January 2021

Man’s Best Friend Is Saving Lives – No Matter The Weather!

Meet Flo – an energetic and confident four-year-old Border Collie who has a knack for saving lives. Flo is a member of Mountain Rescue Search

18 January 2021

Network For Animals Slams Denmark’s Rushed COVID-19 Mink Massacre

An apology by Denmark’s Government is little comfort to animal lovers worldwide after 15 million mink were mercilessly slaughtered on farms across the country. Meanwhile,

10 December 2020

Albatross Beak Mutilation In Atlantic: Fishermen Cut The Bills Off Live Seabirds

Endangered seabirds, including live albatrosses and petrels, are being killed in brutal circumstances by having their bills hacked off by fishermen in three South American

7 December 2020

Help us fight cruelty to animals around the world

Click here to donate

Network for Animals

Network for Animals is a non-government, international animal welfare organisation crusading for animals around the world.

© Network for Animals
Privacy policy

Campaigns

Cats In Crisis Disaster Relief Dogs In Distress Elephants Hunting with Hounds Organized Horse Fighting Seal Hunt Worldwide Donkey Crisis

Stay up to date

Receive our regular emails about our campaigns for animals around the world.

Sign up

Stay up to date with our campaigns

Contact us

+1 727 599 8148
+44 (0)20 8471 7666
info@networkforanimals.org

Facebook-f
Twitter
Youtube
Instagram
Linkedin

This site uses cookies. By continuing to browse the site, you are agreeing to our use of cookies.

I agree