South Africa’s most famous lion escape artist who ran away from the Karoo National Park for a second time this year, will be relocated to Addo Elephant National Park on Friday.
Sylvester the lion escaped from the park in March, after having done the same last June.
South African National Parks (SANParks) said Sylvester would be moved into a boma within an existing 200ha enclosure in the Kuzuko contractual area of Addo Elephant National Park.
“It is expected that he will bond with two young female cubs already in the larger enclosure and ultimately establish himself as the pride’s resident male,” said SANParks spokeswoman Fayroush Ludick.
The lions will then be released into the greater park when the fence between Kuzuko and the neighbouring Darlington section is dropped.
This will in turn provide them with 60 000ha in which to roam.
The decision to relocate the lion was the “most beneficial one” for Sylvester and SANParks’ broader predator management, she said.
The lion first escaped from Karoo National Park on June 5 and managed to evade capture for more than three weeks.
He had wandered 300km and was asleep when found by rangers.
He was darted and airlifted from the Nuweveld Mountains.
After his capture, he was fitted with a combination satellite/VHF collar to locate him if he managed to get out again.
“This collar then alerted authorities in March that the lion had once again left the park’s boundary and played a big role in tracking him and returning him to park much quicker – three days later on March 28,” said Ludick.
Sylvester has been kept in a boma in the park.