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Micro-chipping & DNA testing of lions at Antelope Park, Zimbabwe Africa Newsletters » May/Jun 2006 » Micro-chipping & DNA testing of lions at Antelope Park, Zimbabwe Africa In mid-May we undertook the mammoth task of chemically immobilising (darting) a group of 19 of our fully grown lions for the purposes of DNA testing and micro-chipping them... The operations was facilitated by our consultant vets, Dr Keith Dutlow and Dr Lisa Marabini. The DNA test samples have been sent to Brookfield Zoo in Chicago for testing and analysis. The microchips were inserted for gathering data and information on those lions at a later stage when they are released (not all of those that were micro-chipped have been selected for the first release group, but a large majority of them will be). We will keep you updated on the test results and our progress on the release programme. Update on African Encounter’s release and rehabilitation of captive bred lions into the wild from Andrew and Wendy Conolly Preparation for the first release of our captive bred lions later this year continues on schedule. Selection of lions for release 14 lions, varying in age from 20 to 30 months, have been selected for release into a 5,000 acre area set aside for the programme, on a wildlife conservancy 100km north of Bulawayo. All of the lions selected for release have completed Stage 1 of our rehabilitation programme i.e. They have spent as much time as is physically possible out in the bush. All the lions selected have been involved in the successful stalking and hunting of wildlife at Antelope Park. Selection for release has been based on several criteria observed and documented during Stage 1, such as the lion’s hunting and stalking skills and instincts, aggression, leaders, ability to co-exist with other lions etc. We believe that as a pride, all of the lions chosen for release will be able to stalk, hunt and survive in their release area. DNA Testing and Microchipping of lions for release Whilst African Encounter has lion breeding records going back for over 20 years, we needed to be 100% certain of the DNA and family relationships of all the lions destined for release. Our two consulting wildlife vets, have just spent three days Microchipping, DNA testing and taking blood samples from the 14 lions due for release. The exercise is expected to continue on all the Antelope Park lions next month. The DNA samples are being sent to a university in the United States for testing. This university is conducting a genetic research exercise on lions across Africa and we are extremely privileged to be a part of this exercise. We are informed that very little is known about the genetics of Zimbabwe’s lions and the DNA samples, while being a vital part of our release exercise, will also provide very important information for African lion research on the whole. Blood and other samples taken by the vets will help provide very useful information on nutrition of the African Encounter lions. Lions for release – training. The lions identified for release in the wild will continue refining their hunting skills up until the time of their release later this year. New enclosures, facing on to a game rich area of Antelope Park are presently under construction and the selected lions will periodically be released to enable them to continue to stalk and hunt wildlife. We will continue with our observations and research during this pre-release period. Materials for release area. A lot of the materials for the release area have already been sourced. An excellent management team has been chosen and will be living on site at the conservancy to oversee the project. Fundraising The African Lion and Research Trust (ALERT) has been registered as a trust to raise funds for the project. A senior marketing executive from the UK has been working with us on the project for the past six weeks and has now returned to the UK to spearhead ALERT’s fundraising efforts there. In the meantime, African Encounter and Lion Encounter, continue to privately fund the release programme – so your support of our lion walks is a huge help. In conclusion I want to say that we have no doubt that this programme will offer a partial solution to the continued decline in the number of African lions. Call it a reserve pool of lions if you like, that will be available either for areas where there are no lions, or for areas where the lion populations are in severe decline, but yet are able to sustain a lion population. To those of you who already support the Lion Encounter and Walk With Lions, a BIG THANK YOU – we look forward to your continued support. To those of you who don’t, please GET INVOLVED in this very worthy project! Thank you and kind regards, ANDREW CONOLLY Micro-chipping & DNA testing of lions at Antelope Park, Africa VOLUNTEER PROFILE: Paddy’s experience at the Mozambique Dolphin research programme FEATURED PROJECT: Zimbabwe Wildlife Conservation Big 5 Experience Farewell to Bobbie and Milena Pathfinders Bush Awareness and Survival Courses News Snippets Subscribe to our free newsletter Africa volunteer opportunities       print this page | bookmark this page (CTRL-D) | send to a friend back to top