Find Your Pride
Thembile strikes a pose while Thuli rests in her shade during our morning walk with lions.
"Find Your Pride" is the slogan of the Lion Encounter at Victoria Falls, where lions are bred in capitivity to help restore the population. They use a four stage program outlined below, taken from the program's website.
Stage 1
Around 3 months and upwards until 18 months old: the cubs are taken on walks in the bush to help them become familiar with their natural surroundings. At 18 months to 2½ years human contact is removed and they are given the opportunity to hone their hunting skills by taking part in Night and Day Encounters in a safe and secure environment (fenced off, no humans).
Stage 2
The lions are released in a pride into a large enclosure where they can start to live as a wild pride, hunting and fending for themselves. They are closely monitored for research purposes; there is no human contact or intervention.
Stage 3
The pride is relocated to a larger area, where they will spend the rest of their lives. This area is big enough to have many different species in it, including competitive ones.
Stage 4
Cubs born in Stage 3 will be raised by the pride in a totally natural environment, and when old enough, can be relocated into those areas of Africa that need them.
For more information about the program, check the website here www.lionencounter.com/
Find Your Pride
Thembile strikes a pose while Thuli rests in her shade during our morning walk with lions.
"Find Your Pride" is the slogan of the Lion Encounter at Victoria Falls, where lions are bred in capitivity to help restore the population. They use a four stage program outlined below, taken from the program's website.
Stage 1
Around 3 months and upwards until 18 months old: the cubs are taken on walks in the bush to help them become familiar with their natural surroundings. At 18 months to 2½ years human contact is removed and they are given the opportunity to hone their hunting skills by taking part in Night and Day Encounters in a safe and secure environment (fenced off, no humans).
Stage 2
The lions are released in a pride into a large enclosure where they can start to live as a wild pride, hunting and fending for themselves. They are closely monitored for research purposes; there is no human contact or intervention.
Stage 3
The pride is relocated to a larger area, where they will spend the rest of their lives. This area is big enough to have many different species in it, including competitive ones.
Stage 4
Cubs born in Stage 3 will be raised by the pride in a totally natural environment, and when old enough, can be relocated into those areas of Africa that need them.
For more information about the program, check the website here www.lionencounter.com/