SANParks insists decision to put down 7 Karoo lions ‘not taken in haste’

The pride left the park and killed a number of sheep from a neighbouring farm.

In a statement on Friday SANParks said it’s responses to transgressing lions, that pose threats to livestock and people, are considered urgent and action is taken after “a thorough assessment and observation of the circumstances over time.”

"In this case, SANParks was well placed to weigh up its options in responding to a difficult set of situations that had presented itself in Karoo National Park with regard to its lion population," the statement read.

It said that several factors were taken into consideration before the final decision was made.

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"The crucial aspects which were considered in making the decision to put down these specific animals are, firstly, this female lion group had left the Park before killing a number of sheep from a neighbouring farm and presenting a threat to human beings. 

"Secondly, the pride had familiarised themselves with a specific area from which they escaped and one of the members of the pride had developed a habit of digging underneath fences.

“Further exacerbating the situation, is the terrain of the Karoo National Park which is mountainous with many small streams and gullies."

SANParks noted: “Lions as a species are generally opportunistic, they prefer easy prey, are extremely fast learners and could easily become habitual live-stock raiders when circumstances allow. In most instances when lions start catching livestock, they also tend to lose their fear for humans; such lions present a danger to human life.”

The Parks authority said  relocating the lions to a neighbouring reserve was not an option ”due to their own space constraints and the pride’s history of catching livestock.”