/ 14 October 2001

LIONS TO BE INTRODUCED INTO TEMBE ELEPHANT PARK

LIONS will be reintroduced to the Tembe Elephant Park on the border of Mozambique in northern KwaZulu-Natal, making it a big five reserve, it was announced on Wednesday. Wildlands Trust, an independent fund-raising and project management organisation involved in conservation-based community development in the province, has allocated R100 000 to upgrade the park fence before the lions arrive. Wildlands chief executive Andrew Venter said in a statement that what was unusual in this case was that the request for the introduction of lions came directly from the local people. – Sapa