The DA has called for an investigation into the killing of a lion in Vryheid by Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife. File Picture: Ian Landsberg Independent Newspapers
The DA has called for an investigation into the killing of a lion in an operation conducted by Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife in Vryheid last week.
The lion was one of three which were on the loose in northern KwaZulu-Natal. The two other lions are still being sought.
It is not known where the lions escaped from. Ezemvelo had dispatched a team to search for the lions after locals reported the killing of livestock in the area.
The DA has now written to the MEC for Economic Development, Tourism, and Environmental Affairs (Edtea) Musa Zondi demanding answers following the killing of the lion.
The party expressed concerns about whether every effort had been made to capture the animal before resorting to lethal measures.
In a statement, the DA said it sought urgent clarity from Edtea MEC, Reverend Zondi, regarding the circumstances surrounding the lion's death in Gluckstadt, Vryheid.
The party said while it acknowledged the concerns of local farmers and communities regarding the safety of their livestock, it said the killing of a lion should always be a measure of absolute last resort.
The DA has also called on Edtea to investigate successful examples of lion relocations and other effective strategies used to resolve human-wildlife conflict.
“There are well-documented cases globally where communities and conservationists have implemented proactive measures to protect both livestock and predators.
“One such example comes from the Predator Compensation Fund in Kenya’s Amboseli region, which has successfully reduced lion killings by compensating farmers for livestock losses, on the condition that no retaliatory action is taken. This initiative has helped increase the local lion population while maintaining peaceful coexistence with communities.
“Similarly, the Lion Guardians programme in Kenya and Tanzania has trained Maasai warriors to monitor lion movements and prevent livestock attacks, thereby reducing the need for lethal control measures. The use of predator-proof bomas in Tanzania has also proven successful, as the construction of fortified livestock enclosures has effectively reduced night-time attacks by predators,” it said.
The party said a sustainable and humane approach is critical in managing human-wildlife conflict, ensuring that conservation efforts are not undermined by reactive and irreversible actions.
The Mercury contacted the office of the Edtea MEC on Tuesday for comment but no response had been received by the time of publication.
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