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There was a lioness that we saw going towards satara last week
she had been attacked she could not walk or stand up, it looked like one of her back legs was Brocken and she had a big hole in her leg
she was on her own right by the edge of the tar road.
We did report the incident when we got to camp, we was told that the vet from skukuza was on there way. The next day we enquired about her but
Know one could tell us what had happened.

She was either very fat or she may have been pregnant, or may be she had massive internal bleeding

I just wondered if anyone else would know what happened to her

It was very sad……. But hay that is nature

I could not decide whether I wanted to post the pictures of the injured lioness I saw during my last trip in the Kruger. It was really sad to see such a beautiful animal lying next to the road and realizing that the animal might not make it until the next day.

However, as a beautiful sunset is part of nature, so is the death of all creatures no matter where you are on the food chain.

As shangri-la mentioned, the lioness were lying next to the road a few kilometre to the north of Satara. Here are the pictures.

Image 1


Image 2


Image 3


Image 4


Image 5



This sighting made me realise how fragile all things (humans included) in nature really are.

Shame, she does seem badly mauled.
Not being an expert I don't think she looks pregnant, I would expect her to show some signs of having milk? Let's hope her belly was swollen because of a very good meal she had and it sustained her for long enough to heal to the point where she could once again meet up with her pride. Nature has the most amazing ways of healing itself.

That last one almost looks like a bite across the spine. Maybe she's a nomad who ran foul of the locla pride? Sad to see.

I too have some photos of her verry much the same as yours
i will post some when i get my pc to work

here she is

It is so sad to see a beautiful animal in such a shape but it is nature.

But sometimes the healing process of wild animals cannot be compared with others and especially lions do have another healing processes which surprises also scientists so hopefully she will do have a fair chance to survive

Thanks shangri-la and Leeukos.

Sad indeed, but as you say that is nature for you.

Hi SL, as long as the injury was caused by another animal then I can accept it. If however a car had hit her then that is unacceptable. During my recent trip I remonstrated with several motorists (mainly in the south) for speeding and all I got was verbal abuse. But that is another story for another thread.

In Trevor Carnaby's book "Beat about the Bush - Mammals" he explains competition fighting among male lions. Also how rival coalitions inflict painful wounds on the 'outgoing' pride leaders. The pictures that accompany the text, bear a strong resemblance to the wounds of this poor lioness.

What I found very interesting, is that he writes:"I have also witnessed this behaviour with lionesses in the same general area." (see page 98) So, in lion language, gender does not mean you are going to be treated any different... (hope it makes sense???)

Perhaps a lion "guru" could enlighten us?!?...

If the lioness's leg was broken, sadly I don't think she has any chance of survival at all!

she was picked up by the vets at the Skukuza camp

It that always done, vets interfering with wild injured animals?

Perhaps you could read this Alko explained by our Kgalagadi guru..It might help explain SANParks policy