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On the 25th of December 2009 we found these three lionesses on the S90 about 1 kilometer from Balule camp. Not a great sighting you would want on espesially christmas day. Obviousely they have TB.









I do not think the last lioness made it to 2010.

What I would like to know, why aren't the lions put out, espesially those that are near the condition of what the last lioness already is in? Don't shoot them, inject them, but take them out of this painful situation! It will probably help to not spread the disease in these last months. I really believe human intervention are needed here!

Then another question: I heard that the lions are busy building up an immune system against TB. Could anybody verify this to be true? It really would be great news if that is the case.

And then a last question: I also heard that down at Croc Bridge there is a pride of twelve lions, all of them having TB and in no great shape. Is it true?

Hi EO, it might be some other ailment, the bovine TB at this stage seems to be OK in Kruger. Lets see if somebody can give some feedback.

During a discussion with the Head of Conservation Service, Kruger National Park, held at the end of August 2009, Dr. Venter confirmed that both Buffalo and Lions are developing antibodies against TB infection which is making them resistant.
He mentioned that the incidence of Bovine TB amongst Buffalo had reduced in the area south of the Sabie River from 70% to 30%.
He also mentioned that seeing the sick Lions is disturbing but the TB is part of natures process of natural selection and is therefore not interfered with.
Of course if the Lions or Buffalo had been threatened with extinction the reaction would have been different and the Conservation and Veterinerian Staff would have embarked on a large destruction process to destroy the sick animals and to inoculate those unaffected.

It is very upsetting to see animals in this condition. The same as when we saw two tiny lion cubs abandoned by their mother, who were very sadly not going to make it.

However I agree that nature needs to take its course, and the laws of survival of the fittest need to apply.

Thanx gmls... it gives one some peace of mind to know the animals are winning against the disease. Maybe in ten years time we won't have such heartbreaking sightings at all.

Also remember that a lions condition can at a certain critical stage quickly deteriorate. It is often the case with TB that lion will have it for years, before showing signs of deterioration. Then something flips, and the disease takes over dramatically.

I share your feelings but please rest assured that the the Conservation and Scientific Services part of KRUGER, iare still in good hands.

That I have also heard. They are still able to produce 2 or 3 generations of cubs in their life spam living with TB and that is why they also are not taken out once there is proof of being affected. But being as far as the last lioness is concerned, on her last legs, I still can not see how it will affect nature if she is being taken out quicker.

Terryc, where was the incident with the cubs being orphaned and do you know what happened to them?

Hi EO,

We saw them first on a night drive next to the road right near the Orpen camp.
We again saw them the following morning very earlier looking extremely weak. We did not see them thereafter, but the ranger who had taken us on the drive confirmed that they had died. Strangely enough, they were not killed by predators.

The people on the night drive were pleading with the ranger to save them, and get them vetinary care, but he said that this would only be allowed if they had been an endangearged species.

Yes, but what I mean by that, is that their condition can deteriorate from still being "viable" to critical or dead, within a short space of time. And as lions are not monitored on a regular basis, many will die without coming to the rangers attention.

It must have been awfull terryc!

You know, sometimes we have to remember that one have to have one's sad moments in the most special place on earth as well. I think it must be hard for the rangers not to do anything. Or maybe with time they learn to accept it. For us, we look up to the rangers and the vets to just make everything better. Wonder if we were in their shoes what would we do...?

Hi @ all

I will not read all Posts. I want to give a sattement of the first Post.

The Definition of NP ist as follows: It is an proteckted Area where Nature can do What nature want to do. Humans should not interfere, except it help to save the bilogical diversity. That means unless the Lions will die till extinction. In this case humans should interfere to proteckt the diversit, but this szeanrio is an exception!!!!

In my oppinion, we sholud never interfere, because nature will help themselves.

Best Regards

[quote="Eagle Owl"]It must have been awfull terryc!

It is the worst thing I have ever seen in the park. Both me and my son cried. To see these 2 tiny defenceless cubs being left on their own to die of starvation and thirst was awful... it stayed with me a long time, and this thread bought it back, to the extent that I am crying at the memory as I write this.

Eagle Owl, yes these photos are upsetting!
We saw this lion on the H10 during January 2009:

It is truly sad to see such a magnificent and proud animal in such a state! It grabs you by the heart.

One must remember that not all sick lion, or lion looking as if they are going to die, are due to TB. There are other reasons too, sometimes simply old age.

I also agree with the principle of minimum interference in nature. The more one meddles, the more things become unnatural, and it is difficult to impossible to predict the results of that. Some would argue that even the KNP is no longer a natural system, because it has boundaries. That is true, and in a sense that necessitates management of the system. But once you start micro management, it becomes truly unnatural. I would also argue that micro management in such a huge system is impossible and impractical and absolutely undesirable.

A dying lion is part of the natural system, even if it upsets our sensibilities. Why should a dying lion be treated differently than a dying Impala? Both are equal parts of the system, and their deaths will contribute in a similar way to the continuation and health of the system.