CENTURION’S RIETVLEI NATURE RESERVE IS ONE OF THE LARGEST URBAN NATURE RESERVES IN THE WORLD. THE WILDLIFE COUNT CURRENTLY:
123
ELAND – 111 WATERBUCK – 968 BLESBOK – 107 SPRINGBOK – 285 BLACK WILDEBEEST –
102 RED HARTBEEST – 138 ZEBRA – 12 RHINO – 8 HYAENA – 60 BUFFALO - 6 LION – 7
HIPPO – 5 CHEETAH – 36 REEDBUCK – 77 0STRICH – 6 BUSHPIG – SEVERAL GUINEA FOWL,
WATER BIRDS AND BIRDS OF PREY
“The lion is the largest carnivore on the
African continent. Historically it was probably one of the most abundant, at least in savanna
woodlands. As long as it is protected
from persecution and has plentiful, substantial prey to rely upon, the lion
reaches the highest densities of any large cat on the planet.”
MORE THAN
ANY OTHER SINGLE ATTRACTION, LIONS RANK OVERWHELMINGLY TOP OF THE WISH LIST OF
INTERNATIONAL VISITORS TO AFRICAN GAME PARKS
“Ironically, though, protected areas are
increasingly the only places where lions can exist. Lions and people are simply not compatible
and as Africa’s human population grows, its lion numbers decline. It is now thought that in the whole of Africa
there are only six contiguous populations of lions with more than 1 500 adults. Numerous smaller populations occur but many
of them suffer from isolation and persecution, and their future is bleak. Provided large national parks and reserves
exist the lion will always survive, but outside such areas it is rapidly
becoming an endangered species.” – Africa’s Great Predators, Luke Hunter (2005)
