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Most reserves would prefer to have a hands-off approach
to the management of large predators. However, in the modern
day conservation situation where a number of small reserves
have introduced lion populations, it is not always possible
and these reserves cannot afford a hands-off approach to
lion management. Lions on these reserves normally breed
fast, and with a lack of direct competitors in most cases,
the survival rate of cubs is high. This results in severe
pressure on the prey population, in some cases leading to
a sharp decline in the number of certain prey species. Managers
of small reserves need to find a way to manage and control
their lion populations to prevent the densities from becoming
so high that lions start escaping from the reserve, to prevent
their prey populations from declining, and to ensure that
large scale inbreeding does not occur.
This is also
the case on Welgevonden, and several lions have had to be
removed from the reserve in the past to reduce numbers and
to protect the prey populations. Translocation to other
reserves is the preferred method of reducing lion numbers,
but the market for lion is becoming increasingly saturated.
Recent changes in legislation and the fact few reserves
can accommodate more lion means that other ways of controlling
lion numbers are necessary. Reserves are increasingly forced
to make controversial decisions on controlling lion numbers,
with contraception and culling the only other options currently
available. Welgevonden has experimented with contraception
in the past, but mixed results have lead to this being excluded
as a management option.
A new and innovative mechanism
to control lion numbers on Welgevonden has recently been
implemented and the effectiveness of this is eagerly awaited.
In natural populations in large areas pride males have a
high turnover rate, which means that new males take over
prides regularly, and then often kill the cubs of the previous
pride male. The result is a sharp decrease in cub survival
rate. On small reserves this is normally not the case and
pride males stay in control of the prides for several years,
as it is mostly young males that are removed from the reserves
and very little fighting for control of prides ever takes
place. On Welgevonden the percentage of males in the population
will be allowed to increase to try and recreate a more natural
scenario where there is competition for pride control, and
in the same time an increase in pressure on cub survival.
This should also assist in maintaining a more natural pride
structure. In short, by increasing the percentage of males
in the population, the lion dynamics should correct to a
more natural scenario with population control benefits.
Despite the pressures to reduce lion numbers, it remains
necessary from time to time to introduce new individuals
into the population so as to prevent genetic inbreeding.
The problem with small reserves is that it is unlikely or
impossible for unrelated males to migrate into the reserve
from other populations due to the presence of fences, or
the lack of other lion populations in the area. To prevent
inbreeding on Welgevonden, new genes have already been introduced
into the population by the introduction of two males that
are unrelated to the current population, with further introductions
not excluded in the future.
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