Paul the lion-heart
2005-08-25
SHE has a blonde mane, is a mere eight months old and already weighs more than 40kg. And she is quite infatuated with her human friend, Paul Hart.
Bai the lion cub was flown from Cameroon to the Drakenstein Lion Park in January this year.
She was sick and weak. Today - after months of bottle-feeding and special care in the Hart’s home and even their bed - Bai is alive and well.
In fact, she has become a real lioness. With a roar that sends everyone but Paul back a quick few paces and an appetite second to none.
The move from house pet to lion in the wild was definitely made easier with the arrival a month ago of Shumba, says Paul.
Before that Bai needed to be coached to drink from the water trough and how to roll in the grass.
Shumba, seven-months-old, is another of the lion park owner’s acts of mercy. The young lion would have followed the footsteps of his two brothers to a hunting farm, had it not been for Paul’s intervention.
When Paul fetched Shumba north of Gauteng, he could not walk and was dying. It took weeks of physiotherapy by Paul and his wife Sue, before the little lion could move about freely.
“We massaged him and did exercises until one day he suddenly got up and walked, and we knew he was going to be alright,” Paul remembers.
Although Shumba allows his rescuer in his enclosure, Paul needs to keep a beady eye on him. He already has the scars to prove that Shumba is no cuddly pet.
Fifteen lions now reside at the 7,5 hectare lion park, with Sandy the oldest at 17.
Soon visitors can overnight five metres from the electrified fencing keeping the lions at bay.
Paul is erecting four safari tents with a lapa where pap and boerewors (no, not lion meat!) will be served.
“Did you know a lion’s roar can be heard from 8 km? The beds will rattle. We are thinking of leaving the plastic on the mattresses....”
The lion park not only has visitors who come to high-tea with the kings and queens of the jungle.
Farmers who have heard of the wonder cure against buck and baboons who feed on their grapes, also visit regularly. They come to buy lion manure.
There is a special way of preparing the deterrent, Paul says. It is mixed with water to a paste and then painted on the perimeter of the vineyard.
Just the solution for the neighbour’s dogs who use your lawn as a toilet?
I’m sure it will do the trick, Paul agrees.
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