Walking With Lions!

I have just returned from Zimbabwe, where I
had the great fortune to be able to witness
"Walking with Lions". A lion Conservation Project. There are 3 phases to this project and it is a long term involvement for everyone.

Phase One is where lions are rescued, in the main from the Mother being killed, and the cubs are unable to fend for themselves. This is in a controlled environmet and this stage sees them fed and excercised daily until they are about 18 months old, or getting rather too strong for their handlers.

Phase 2 is the time that they are in a much larger area with antelope and other animals around. They are encouraged to kill for themselves. But if necessary food is provided for them so that they dont starve, and human contact is greatly reduced. As the project grows in Phase 2, more lions will be added and in time they will, hopefully, mate and produce cubs.

When the cubs are weaned from their mothers, they will then go into Phase 3. These young cubs will have no contact with humans and will in fact be wild. As the Lion is on the Endangered Species List, these lions will can then be translocated to areas where the numbers are dangerously low.

Above is a photo of me with Penduka a male lion of 14 months. He has a male pal called Phoenix, and they go everywhere together, and love their walks in the morning and afternoon in the bush. Volunteers take part in the walks and come to know the lions very well. I was not a
Volunteer, but went on 3 walks and even in that short time I was able to bond with Penduka very well indeed, and to be honest I was heartbroken when I had to leave.