Samara Private Game Reserve successfully released a founder pride of lions recently, restoring a species that once roamed the Great Karoo more than 180 years ago, as part of a pioneering project to return the Karoo to the state of true biodiversity it once enjoyed.
According to Samara founders, Mark and Sarah Tompkins, the lions’ movement, feeding and breeding patterns are being monitored through satellite technology and researchers on the ground.
The reintroduction of lions has transformed Samara into a ‘Big Five’ game reserve, as elephant, buffalo, black rhino and leopard were already present.
Lion populations have dwindled by 43% in the past 20 years.
Current lion populations are estimated at between 20 000 and 30 000. In South Africa, there are just 3 000 wild lions.
The project also advances the Samara vision, to transform the area into a fully restored and functional Great Karoo ecosystem. “The land on which Samara was established, 21 years ago, is made up of 11 livestock farms in one of the world’s 36 biodiversity hotspots,” said Tompkins.
“Already, much has been done to return this land to its former state; vegetation communities have improved significantly; antelope species have been reintroduced and the first wild cheetah made its return to the area after 130 years in 2004.”
According to Professor Graham Kerley, director of the Centre for African Conservation Ecology and distinguished professor of zoology at the Nelson Mandela University, “The reintroduction of lion boosts Samara’s conservation effectiveness to another level. Lions are in need of conservation, but also bring with them their role as the apex African predator.
“Increasingly we are learning that conservation areas without apex predators are only conserving part of the system.
“Besides that, hearing their roars echoing through our valleys is the ultimate and heart-warming African sound.”
