Search for the LION KING!

TL;DR

Coyote and his team search for a pride of lions in Kariega Game Reserve, hoping to track down and tranquilize one of the males for biometric data collection.

Transcript

(dramatic music) - [Coyote] This was an unprecedented level of danger, which meant everything had to go right, because if it didn't, that meant everything had gone horribly wrong. (roaring) (intense music) Sharp rays of sunlight crept up from the horizon, casting a golden radiance across the savanna. Morning has arrived in South Africa, and with it... Read More

Key Insights

• 🥇 Kariega Game Reserve is a wild and beautiful place, spanning over 10,000 hectares.
• 👨‍🔬 Finding and documenting the presence of lions in the reserve is challenging due to their constant movement and search for prey.
• 👣 Tracking footprints near water is a reliable method for locating animals in the reserve.
• 🙃 Tranquilizing lions is considered routine for their health check-ups and data collection.
• 🦁 The encounter with the pride of lions is a thrilling and potentially dangerous experience.
• 🕵️‍♀️ The focus is not only on the male lion but also on checking the health of the females in the pride.
• ❓ This expedition contributes to the protection and understanding of these iconic predators.

Questions & Answers

Q: What is the goal of tracking down and tranquilizing a male lion in Kariega Game Reserve?

The goal is to collect biometric data to ensure the health and wellbeing of the pride and contribute to scientific research.

Q: Why is tracking lions on foot difficult?

Tracking lions on foot can take days or weeks due to their constant movement and vast territory.

Q: How do the team members know they are hot on the pride's trail?

They find fresh lion tracks near water, indicating that the pride recently passed through the area.

Q: What is the process of tranquilizing a lion?

The lion is darted with a tranquilizer, biometric data is collected while it is asleep, and a reversal serum is administered to wake it up.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Coyote and his team join forces with field veterinarians to track down and tranquilize a male lion in Kariega Game Reserve.

• The team searches for evidence of the pride's whereabouts, finding a wildebeest skull and a zebra leg, indicating past lion kills.

• They locate the pride on a fresh kill and prepare for the tranquilization process to collect biometric data.