Evidence wa ka Ngobeni
The Kruger National Park has called on tourists to help back up its contention that there are still plenty of healthy lions in the reserve – despite the impact of bovine tuberculosis (TB).
The call follows reports that TB is wiping out Kruger Park lions, which are a prime attraction for tourists.
Bovine TB is believed to have entered the park’s southern border when buffalo herds crossed the Crocodile River into farming areas during the late 1950s. The likely source was infected cattle.
Since then buffalo have been the main host of the disease, while some spill-over to other large animal species has also occurred.
According to Kruger Park studies, the disease has now been identified in lions and in very low numbers of baboons, cheetahs, kudu and leopard.
About 32 out of 33 Kruger lions recently tested in the southern part of the park proved positive for tuberculosis.
Studies show there has been a reduction in lion numbers in a small portion of the southern part of the park in recent years, but the cause is unknown.
The park management has invited tourists to get involved by taking photographs and recording details of any lions they see during visits to the reserve. Prizes will be awarded to the best entries.
The R300 000 research initiative, dubbed the Lion Watch Awareness programme, is aimed at providing answers to the real causes of the spate of lion deaths in the park, and to increase public awareness through active monitoring of the lions.
Says park director David Mabunda: “Recent research has shown a decrease in lion numbers, but TB alone cannot account for such a decline.
“Other factors, such as changes in prey dynamics, poaching and emigration of lions to cattle farms to the north, should be taken into consideration.
“Our efforts to provide answers are ongoing, and this project is one of them.”
Mabunda says bovine TB is killing “some” Kruger lions, but he is adamant that the entire population of Kruger lions is not threatened by the disease.
“In the entire recorded history of mankind, there is not a single disease which is known to have wiped out species.
“It is not in the interest of a disease organism to kill all its hosts, because then it will die out itself.”
Scientists and wildlife managers are evaluating ways to deal with the disease, he says.
In the meanwhile, there is no need for tourists to panic: “There are still a great many lions roaming the veld, just as they did hundreds or thousands of years ago.”
ENDS