Lion killed after making a pig of itself

A young male lion was shot on a fenced-off piece of land that is located within the Grietjie Nature Reserve (part of Balule Private Nature Reserve) on August 19, 2006.Four lions apparently entered the fenced land through the open gate and killed three pigs and wounded another in a small enclosure.

The person resident on the land then shot at the lions. A bullet passed through an 18-20 month old male, who died about 100m away. According to Crispian Barlow, warden of Grietjie Nature Reserve, there is a possibility that the bullet may have harmed one of the other lions. Barlow says that lions had previously killed a cow on the land, and Limpopo environmental affairs officials met with the person farming on the land about the issue.

Although physically located within Balule, the land does not form part of the nature reserve. The landowners were warned that unless they upgraded their fencing, which has not happened, they would not be issued a permit to shoot damage-causing animals. Investigations are now underway into the matter and it will be placed before the Phalaborwa prosecutor, who will have to make a ruling on the illegal shooting. The lion skin has been taken from a taxidermist to be used as evidence.