The number of Lion had largely Depleted through the 80’s and 90’s with an estimated population of under three hundred within a park of 14600 sq km, and at that time it was a rarity to see Lion in Hwange. Today the number of wild Lion within the Hwange area are estimated at over 2500, naturally the numbers incorporated with the botswana populations as there is enormous lion movement back and forth over the unfenced boundary between the two countries.
As a guide conducting photo Safaris, I feel extremely fortunate for the rise in the overall population but this does have it’s problems too…
Between the ages of 5 and 8 years of age a male lion needs to fight for breeding rights with the pride ladies within an area, many related males forming coalitions will hold territories and will fight older males. This very often ends with the pride male loosing his territory and becomes nomadic. Sadly the older males no longer having a territory will become cattle killers with no longer having good hunting they are pushed into the neighbouring communities and villages to secure easier prey, this generally being livestock such as cattle, sheep,goats pigs and donkeys.
In an extremely unusual situation, we have two unrelated males which traditionally having been enemies had lost their respective territories to a coalition of Brothers in September 2013. They have been named by the Lion research in Hwange, Cecil and Jericho.
Here a pic of these two at The Hide Zimbabwe Safari Lodge, having killed a young Buffalo the night before.
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