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| Tracking lions with VHF radio collars in Botswana. |
AWF`s Conservation Approach to Ensuring the Future of the African Lion
www.AWF.org
Applied research is a fundamental tool of the species protection work of the African Wildlife Foundation. Presently, much of AWF`s large cat research activities are appropriately focused on African lions because lions are both extremely threatened and an important indicator of a balanced and healthy ecosystem.
To protect Africa`s remaining lion populations, more information and new knowledge about lion behavior and their interactions with people is desperately needed. And based on well analyzed current base line data, sound management plans for regions that are lion strongholds, as well as for depleted areas, must be designed. More information on individual lions and their prides is required and maps indicating areas of conflict and livestock depredation are desirable to better comprehend lion/human dynamics. This will allow conservation and local authorities to document movement patterns and institute strategies to alleviate wildlife and human conflict.
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| Sustaining wildlife populations that help to enhance the livelihoods of local people, especially children, is an important part of AWF`s conservation strategy. |
AWF is presently conducting and/or supporting lion research in three of the most critical lion strongholds in Africa – these include 1) the trans-boundary region on the Botswana, Namibia, and Zambia border where lions regularly move in and out of the protected Chobe National Park, 2) the increasingly human-impacted savannah landscape surrounding Tanzania`s Tarangire National Park and AWF`s Manyara Ranch, and 3) the patchwork of protected areas, private lands, and community group ranches in Kenya`s Northern Frontier and Laikipia region.
Using VHF radio collars, radio tracking antennas and global positioning equipment, AWF is seeking to develop a better understanding of the extent of the range required by lions to hunt, maintain the integrity of their prides, and ensure genetic exchange between unrelated individuals. This knowledge will assist AWF to liaise with critical governmental and community partners to strategically ensure the future of the African lion while designing sustainable enterprise programs that enhance the livelihood of people willing to co-exist with Africa`s greatest cat.
Using VHF radio collars, radio tracking antennas and global positioning equipment, AWF is seeking to develop a better understanding of the extent of the range required by lions to hunt, maintain the integrity of their prides, and ensure genetic exchange between unrelated individuals. This knowledge will assist AWF to liaise with critical governmental and community partners to strategically ensure the future of the African lion while designing sustainable enterprise programs that enhance the livelihood of people willing to co-exist with Africa`s greatest cat.
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Kilimanjaro Lion Conservation Project
www.LionConservation.org
Project Outline: Due to conflict with livestock, lions have been in steep decline in most of Africa, threatening them with extinction in all but the largest protected areas. In southern Kenya, the Kilimanjaro Lion Conservation Project is working to reverse the recent decimation of lion numbers due to spearing by Masai warriors.
The work of the Laikipia Predator Project has shown that Living with Lions is not difficult – the ancient livestock management methods developed by African herding tribes millennia ago still work well if properly implemented.
However, these are being lost to modernization, and predators are being exterminated as a result. With biologically sound management, we can reverse this trend wherever trophy hunting or tourism gives lions financial value. However, there has never been any attempt at scientific management of lion populations.
The Kenya Wildlife Service and the landowners of Laikipia District have asked us to develop and coordinate lion management in this region, which is Kenya`s great conservation success story. Based on our research over the last eight years, the LPP has developed comprehensive plans for managing lions in livestock-producing rangelands with the intention of increasing lion numbers while decreasing their impact on livestock. We are working to reintroduce sustainable use as a way to create economic value to the wildlife of Kenya. Because many Laikipia lions are shot as problem animals every year, management principles we develop can be broadly applied throughout Africa, including hunting blocks.
To effectively manage the Laikipia lion population and reverse the current lion slaughter in Masailand, we need more personnel, more radio collars, another vehicle, a light plane for radio tracking and transport between projects, and lion hounds for use in research and Problem Animal Control.