The majestic presence, strength, and hunting prowess of a lion captivated religious leaders today as they spent more than 30 minutes observing the lion resting in the bushes after a successful hunt. The lion, satiated and lying next to the remains of its prey, provided a rare and exciting spectacle for the group.
Lions are often regarded as the kings of the wild, known for their ability to hunt animals much larger than themselves. This characteristic draws people to witness them in their natural habitats.
Bishop Dimitrios Nziku of the Orthodox Church, one of the leaders present, expressed his excitement, stating, "I was thrilled when I saw the lion. We had started to doze off in the car, but the moment we were told there was a lion, I felt energized and thought to myself, this trip has truly borne fruit."
The religious leaders were not only thrilled by the sight of the lion but also by the beauty of the park's landscape and the abundance of wildlife they encountered during their tour. However, they expressed concern over the low water levels in the Great Ruaha River, which did not match the abundant flow they had often heard about. They pledged to raise awareness about this issue among their congregations.
Welcoming the religious leaders, Neema Kaitira, the Chief Conservation Officer and head of the park's Ecology Department, acknowledged the challenges posed by the declining water levels in the river. "Despite the water shortage in this river, the park continues to make efforts to ensure sufficient water supply for the animals, aiming to preserve the ecosystem of this park," Kaitira said.
She further added that this year has shown slight improvement compared to the previous year, as the river is still flowing. She expressed hope that the anticipated rains would replenish the water levels.
The religious leaders' visit, which took place on July 3, 2024, is part of the ongoing preparations for the celebration of Ruaha National Park's 60th anniversary, scheduled for October 7, 2024, at Msembe within the park.