Addo park to take in Sylvester

SYLVESTER, the wandering Karoo lion, will soon have a new home in the Eastern Cape, following a SANParks announcement yesterday that the troublesome big cat would be relocated to the Addo National Elephant Park.

Sylvester made headlines for the second time in less than a year last month after escaping from the Karoo National Park near Beaufort West. He was, however, successfully recaptured three days later.

The decision to relocate Sylvester to Addo came after a public outcry over his future, following an initial decision to maybe put the lion down after he was found.

Within the next week or two, Sylvester will be moved into a boma within an existing 200-hectare enclosure in the Kuzuko section of Addo for him to bond with two young females. The two lionesses are the cubs rescued in Addo’s main camp after their mother was killed by a snake early last year.

The young lions survived for about two months on their own, but were later rescued with the help of the public and rangers.

SANParks chief executive Fundisile Mketeni said yesterday Sylvester was still young enough to bond with the two and establish himself as the resident pride male.

The lions would then be released to roam free in the park.

“The fence between Kuzuko and the neighbouring Darlington section of park is due to be dropped soon, which will then provide the three lions with 60 000ha in which to roam,” Mketeni said.

“There is always a risk that this lion may break out again, but it will be mitigated by reducing any potential conflict with other males, by first placing him in the boma.

“In addition, we have an area to the west of the dam to which these males can be retired, if necessary.”