Although lions were evenly distributed in the continent, they are now found just in the eastern and southern Africa and some parts of the south of Sahara desert. According to Panthera, a hundred years ago, there were more than , lions in Africa. This can be taken as a slightly relieving report to lovers of this amazing species, but it is clear that no matter the estimate, the number of lions left in the wild is considerably low. The reduction in the number of lions has been attributed to various factors.
Farmers will kill off lions in the area in an attempt to protect their livestock. In addition to this, lions often contract diseases from livestock and spread them to other members of the pride. Trophy hunters are also responsible for this problem. Unfortunately, trophy hunting is still legal in many countries in Africa. Where trophy hunting is illegal, hunters will, however, pay a fee to corrupt conservationists in order to fulfill their needs.
In addition to trophy hunters and corrupt conservationists, a handful of African tribes also pose a huge threat to these creatures. Some consider killing a lion as an important part of a ritualistic culture. This jeopardizes them in their natural habitat. Scattered across Africa are some of the best lion conservation spots in the world.
The centers have hands-on projects where they are responsible for studying the lions and placing them under protection laws. Kenya has a proud integrated program where they educate locals and international visitors about the diminishing lion populations. Public awareness , ecological restoration , habitat management , and protection are at the forefront of these programs.
They tend to work closely with the local community and are therefore responsible for job creation as well. The best and safest way to see lions is at a national park or private game reserve.
These parks are all across Southern and Eastern Africa and are actively conserving these animals. Lions are in high demand among sightseeing safari-goers, however, they are not as plentiful as you might think. A lion sighting is never guaranteed. Here are some of the best spots where you can see lions flourish in their natural habitat.
Boasting luscious grasslands, Botswana is the perfect place for lion prides. Here they have access to many prey species, including impala , springbok , zebras and wildebeest. Places like the Okavango Delta have an unparalleled variety of animal sightings and are perfect for an all-inclusive safari tour.
South Africa is the crown jewel of African safari destinations. This makes the IUCN Red List a powerful tool to inform conservation action and policy change in order to protect biodiversity across the globe.
Effective conservation planning requires continuous assessment of changes in status and distribution of lion populations across Africa. New data on the abundance and distribution of lion populations will be continuously added to this database, promoting collaboration amongst stakeholders and helping to direct conservation planning in the future.
More information about the project can be found here. Affected by: Habitat loss and fragmentation , Illegal wildlife trade , Human wildlife conflict , Extractives.
Powerful and majestic, the king of the beasts has no natural predators. Lions are the most sociable of all big cats. They live in groups called prides, which usually consist of related females and their cubs.
Dominant males, with their flowing manes a sign of virility , fight to maintain breeding rights. Three-quarters of African lion populations are in decline. On an early morning game drive in Ruaha National Park in Tanzania we discovered a lioness gently dozing on the banks of the river.
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