Living with Lions
   
 
CONSERVATION CRISIS

'Everyone sees lions on safari in Africa... they can't be dying out!'

The rapid decline in African lion numbers has been largely overlooked by both the public and conservationists, because lions are still easy to see in National Parks and game reserves, where most of the remaining lions live.

'So if lions are still quite common in National Parks in Africa, why is there a conservation crisis?'

Lion in a National Park

 

Most protected areas are not large enough to ensure the long-term survival of viable populations of lions. Lions need huge areas in which to hunt and only a few National Parks in Africa are big enough to supply them.

This means that lions wander across park boundaries and into human-dominated areas where they come into conflict with man, and are often killed. Most National Parks are too widely separated to allow lions to move safely between them, and thus inbreeding is a growing concern for small populations as it soon leads to genetic problems such as increased vulnerability to disease and poor reproduction.

Another problem is that disease can spread much more quickly in a small population, potentially wiping out all individuals. In larger areas, some are likely to survive to repopulate after an epidemic. Further, political unrest or war has completely wiped out wildlife in many African protected areas. It is therefore crucial to maintain lions and other wildlife outside parks and managed areas, which is why we focus on these critical human-dominated lands.

 
All images are copyright protected and may not be used without permission. Web design and all photography, unless otherwise stated is by Amy Howard. www.amyhoward.co.uk alprazolam

Want to help? Click here to find out how

Click here to visit the Mara Lions Database

Click here to see our sponsors list

Click here to find out about the Kilimanjaro Lion Conservation Project

Living with Lions Home Mara Predator Project Laikipia Predator Project