Since its founding in 2006, Panthera has been breaking new ground in the study and conservation of Africa’s iconic lions, the “king of beasts.” The challenges are steep: lions face enormous pressure from direct poaching, poaching of their prey and conflict with humans, among other threats. While populations in the best managed protected areas are faring well, most are experiencing devastating losses.
In October 2015, the world’s leading lion scientists sounded the alarm about the precipitous decline of lion populations across Africa;
the study, based on Panthera’s extensive surveys of nearly 50 protected areas projected that half of Africa’s remaining 20,000 lions could be lost in just two decades.
Panthera and our partners are helping to reverse this decline by securing the most vulnerable lion populations in 14 countries--ramping up security in protected areas to combat poaching and reducing human conflict with lions by increasing tolerance in rural communities and ensuring local people benefit from their presence.
Check out some of the critical programs we are conducting with support from
The Lion Recovery Fund as part of their goal to double lion numbers in Africa by 2050:
- Kafue National Park, Zambia: developing a clear law enforcement strategy to combat bushmeat poaching and other threats to lions within the park
- Limpopo National Park, Mozambique: with the Greater Limpopo Carnivore Program, strengthening site security programs and increasing patrols to prevent lion poaching
- Luengue-Luiana National Park, Angola: bolstering Panthera’s ability to recover lions in the park with support for increased site security staff and key equipment
- Batéké Plateau National Park, Gabon: implementing a strategic restoration of the lion population by translocating potential mates for the country’s sole lion—a male
- Niokolo-Koba National Park, Senegal: establishing a secure zone within the park and the necessary infrastructure to protect the park’s critically endangered West African lion population