June 25, 2000

Dr. Rob Slotow at the University of Natal in South Africa has created a website that details many of the projects he and his students are working on. You can go directly to that website to obtain some updates to the information that is provided below. That site is located at: University of Natal Life and Environmental Sciences website. The following sections provide you a summary of some of these South African research projects.

• Introduction to South African Projects A historical discussion and summary of these projects.
• 1999 Press Release. On July 28, 1999, three male and three female lions were moved from Pilanesberg Game Reserve to the northern part of the Hluhluwe-Umfolozi Park (HUP) as part of a larger programme to strengthen the genetic viability of lions in the Park.

• Master's Thesis by Deborah Weldon. The aim of this University of Natal, Durban student is to investigate the effect of ecological processes on lion spatial demography. Specific discussion points are (1) to determine the effect of habitat structure on lion spatial ecology, (2) to determine the effect of prey availability or presence of major lion prey species on lion group dynamics, and (3) to determine the effect of rainfall on lion group dynamics through its influence on prey species' movement patterns and distribution

• 1998 Progress Report on Lion spatial socio-ecology: the effect of habitat on lion group dynamics. By Debbie Weldon

• The socio-ecology of re-introduced lions in small reserves: comparisons with established populations and the implications for management in enclosed conservation areas. Preliminary Project Report, dated January 1999, by Luke Hunter

Location of some of the National Parks and Game Reserves in South Africa:

1. Kruger National Park

2. Private Game Reserves including Mala Mala, Londolozi, Sabi Sabi, etc.

5. Umfolozi-Hluhluwe: 2 reserves linked by a corridor.

9. Kalahari Gemsbok National Park

10. Namaqualand