In Mozambique, two male lions, brothers, bypassed fences and roamed 80km to the south of Limpopo National Park where they started hunting cattle from a nearby village. This alarmed the local community, who feared the lions and were concerned by the loss of livestock which directly impacts their income and food security. Already in a vulnerable position, these people now faced increased risk from the lions in their locality.
These brothers had always moved and hunted together, but the team from Mozambique monitoring them, noticed a shift—the brothers had started to hunt the easy prey alone, doubling the risk to locals and their livestock.
This PeaceParks.TV episode shows the ground team putting an urgent plan into action, working to sedate the lions for transport, and then relocating them to a boma, which is a secure holding area, in Karingani Game Reserve. The brothers spent two weeks in this controlled environment, reconnecting, safely away from community livestock.
The lions were then moved to Coutada 11, a district in Marromeu, central Mozambique. This vast, untouched wilderness is far from any human activity or livestock, and the lion population needs a boost. This remote area offers them a true sanctuary, a place where they can roam freely without temptation or threat.
Quickly adjusting to their new home, the powerful predators claimed a rich, expansive territory. In a wonderful turn of events, two lionesses joined them, making a family pride of four. Within months, their new home will hopefully welcome two sets of cubs, firmly establishing a new generation of lions in this Coutada.
This story of resilience, and hope was made possible through a collaboration with Mozambique’s National Administration for Conservation Areas, Peace Parks Foundation, the Mozambique Wildlife Alliance, Karingani Game Reserve and Zambeze Delta Safaris. The successful mission highlights the power of conservation partnerships and the importance of finding a balance between humans and wildlife, ensuring that both can coexist in peace.
Stay tuned to Peace Parks TV for more amazing wildlife wins!
