Lion ConservationREBECCA IVE

Population Trends

Status: vulnerable Declining 22% of former range 10,000-15,000 wild

animals remain Fragmented

populations

Subspecies 8 subspecies Barbary Lion (Alggeria, Morocca, Tunisia, Egypt) Asiatic Lion (NW India) W African Lion (Senegal, Ghana, Mali, Nigeria, C Africa) (CE) Masai Lion (E Africa – Kenya, Ethiopia, Somalia, Tanzania, Mozambique) Congo Lion (Congo, Rwanda (extinct), Sudan) SW African Lion (Angloa, Botswana, Namibia, Zambia) Tranvaal Lion (S Africa, Swaziland, Mozambique) Ethiopian Lion (Captivity in Ethiopia)

Behaviour Crepuscular/ nocturnal Inactive for 20 hours/ day Social- two types of social organisation; pride, coalition

(larger) Some nomadic males, less females 50% diet from carrion Lionesses do most hunting Death by asphyxiation

Prey SpeciesBuffond kob Bubal hartebeest

African buffalo Warthog

Competition

Cheetahs and Leopards

Nile crocodile

Wild dogs

Spotted hyenas

Threats Encroachment by humans

into habitat Poaching of individuals Poaching of prey

(bushmeat) Retaliation attacks by

farmers Declines in the number of

functioning protected areas

Breeding Programs Historical genetic bottlenecks Aim to conserve genetic diversity and distinctness Inbreeding problems:

a) skeletal deformities, b) neurological problems, c) digestive abnormalities, d) reproductive problems, e) short lifespans

Zoo regulatory bodies; BIAZA, EAZA

Zoos 1998 – 2500 captive lions Currently - 6000 possible captive

lions Hybrids 77% unknown origin Mainly Barbary lions Problem of removal of individuals

from already vulnerable populations

Barnett, Ross; Yamaguchi, Nobuyuki; Barnes, Ian; Cooper, Alan (August 2006). "Lost populations and preserving genetic diversity in the lion Panthera leo: Implications for its ex situ conservation". Conservation Genetics 7 (4): 507–14. doi:10.1007/s10592-005-9062-0.

Barnett, Ross; Yamaguchi, Nobuyuki; Shapiro, Beth; Nijman, Vincent (2007). "Using ancient DNA techniques to identify the origin of unprovenanced museum specimens, as illustrated by the identification of a 19th century lion from Amsterdam". Contributions to Zoology 76(2): 87–94.

Captive Breeding

Holistic Zoo Programs 500 Asiatic lions, Gir Forest, W

India Improving local breeding facilities Train vet teams in disease

prevention and screening Monitoring and patrolling Training and equipping rescue

and rehabilitation teams Local and global education

Poaching 20% lion deaths attributed to

humans Skeletons exported for traditional

medicines, mostly to Vietnam and China

$75 per pound, $5,000 for complete skeleton

Traditional hunting in the Maasai Poison, spearing, snares Current poaching rates by Maasai

will ensure local extinctions within a decade

Trophy Hunting Asian and Western hunters Carcasses- head and hide 2013: 665 lions shot (59 from

Zimbabwe) Mostly hunt males 6-8 estimated deaths result

from each male shot. 5,382,265 square miles of

land are used for hunting tourism

$24,000 - $71,000 per animal- 3% profits goes to local communities

$55,000

National Imports of Lion Trophies

Controlled and Canned Hunting

Captive bred on ranches, then released for hunting within confined areas

Controversial Generate $500 million

annually Over $50 million in

South Africa Alone On private land

Local Conflict 250 villagers killed annually 1992 – 1998 - 135 lions

killed as problem animals in N Botswana.

Traditional hunting of lions by Maasai

3% livestock lost to lions - $400 per farmer

Bush meat trade – 85% decline in large herbivores

National Parks 2,000 lions live in

protected reserves and national parks

£40,000 salary for poaching officers

Lack of corridors Not complete

protection

Conservation Organisations

Combatting Lion Poaching Kenya - Lion Guardians Recruits Maasai Lion

Guardians Monitor lion

movements Prevent conflicts with

herders and cattle

Born Free Kenya Partnership with the

Kenya Wildlife Service Reducing human -

predator conflict Construct lion - proof

bomas - $500 Ensure that national and

international policies are lion friendly

http://www.bornfree.org.uk/campaigns/big-cats/in-action/lion-conservation/

Preventing Attacks

Solar powered lights and car battery

Moving flashlights imitate humans

Keep lions at bay from livestock

Prevent retaliation attacks to lions

National Geographic