Lapalala is celebrating the arrival of the first lion cubs to be born on the reserve since lion were introduced in 2019. The birth of the two lion cubs – and the fact that they have survived their first, most difficult months on the reserve – is an important milestone in our lion reintroduction project.
Recent observation by researchers has shown that their mother has linked up with her former female companion, thereby establishing a safe pride for the cubs to grow up in. Since the introduction of lion and cheetah (both introduced in 2019), we have conducted important research on their prey and habitat selection to ensure that we clearly understand the ecology of these major predators in the savanna biome.
LEOPARD SIGHTINGS ON THE INCREASE IN LAPALALA
Guests of our luxury lodge, Tintswalo at Lapalala, were recently treated to a special sighting of a young leopard during a daytime game drive near Lepotedi.
Tintswalo guide, Corné Engelbrecht, reported that the leopard did not seem overly bothered by the vehicle. Sightings of these elusive cats are usually fleeting, so it was particularly rewarding for the guests to spend an extended time with the leopard.
This was the second leopard sighting in Lapalala in recent months. Earlier this season, our predator researchers reported a sighting of a leopard cub in the Mohlatse Plains area. We are delighted that our leopard population is becoming more comfortable around vehicles and people.
The 2020 Ride for Rhinos took place in the Waterberg during January, and Lapalala was pleased to host a portion of the route.
The charity horse ride raises funds and awareness of the plight of the rhino in South Africa. This year, a group of 15 adventurous horse riders spent seven days in the saddle, covering a total distance of 300 km. Wild animals, including rhinos, tend to ignore the presence of horses, so horseback riding gives the rider a unique sense of being part of the landscape. Free of the noise and emissions of a vehicle, horse riding through a wilderness area holds environmental as well as aesthetic appeal. Horses leave little more than an occasional contribution of grass-based fertiliser in their path!
One may be forgiven for thinking that Lapalala had recently experienced summer snowfalls!
The spectacular sighting of thousands of white butterflies has caused a flutter among our staff and visitors. The butterflies have been so prolific that they have resembled a band of snowflakes drifting across the reserve.
The annual dispersal of these fascinating insects, known as caper white butterflies or brown-veined whites (Belenois aurota), takes place during mid-summer each year. The core local population is found in the Kalahari and the numbers are dependent on climatic conditions, like drought and rain. According to the Lepidopterists’ Society of Africa (LepSoc Africa) this year’s dispersal seems to be the largest since 1966. The event is still shrouded in some mystery, but researchers at LepSoc recently discovered that the butterflies are genetically pre- programmed to disperse. Individuals coded for dispersal have different coloured pupae, which is the insect stage inside a cocoon. The destination of the dispersing butterflies is unknown, but Mozambique seems to be the place where they settle and fall into the sea.
DONATION TO LAPALALA’S CONSERVATION EFFORTS
We sincerely thank the Annear family for their donation to Lapalala’s conservation efforts. It is our vision to see Lapalala take its place as Africa’s finest sustainable conservation initiative. The generosity and support of our custodians and external donors enable us to continue this work. We would like to remind readers that Lapalala is a non-profit company and, if you wish to make a donation, an S18A tax certificate can be arranged.
At Lapalala we use GPS collars to track selected animals, so that we can record important data at any time of the day or night, remotely and regularly.
In this edition of our reserve report, we share some insight into the process that is involved in replacing the GPS collar on one of our lionesses. The collar needed to be replaced as its batteries had come to the end of their operating life. The GPS collars are also fitted with VHF capabilities, allowing us to locate collared animals from the air relatively easily, even when the GPS function has stopped working.
The helicopter team located the lioness alone in the valley at Kwena – an area that was ideal for Lapalala’s veterinarian, Annemieke Müller, to dart the animal from the air. As the anaesthetic drug took effect, the lioness lay down in the thickets. The team was fortunate to keep her clearly in view, so that they could land the helicopter and approach her on foot in absolute silence. After she showed no response to sound or movement, the lioness was stabilised and blindfolded. At this point, a vehicle of guests joined the team to witness the procedure.
The collar was swiftly replaced as Annemieke treated the dart wound and monitored the lioness’s depth of anaesthesia. Minutes later the lioness received the antidote to the anaesthetic.Our guests uttered a sigh of relief as the thickets around the lioness eventually started to rustle. In a flash, she disappeared into the wilderness. As the GPS signal on our monitor began to move, we could confirm that our lioness had recovered well and that the operation had been a success.
