Kenya at risk of losing all lions in the next 20 years

17/08/2009 23:43:07 Kenya's lions under threat
August 2009. Kenya might lose all its lions in the next 20 years if the current rate of decline continues, and unless urgent and decisive measures are taken.

The national lion population has been falling by an average of 100 per year for the last seven years due to a combination of factors, particularly human-wildlife conflict, destruction of habitats, climate change, disease and increase in human population.

Kenya's lion population has dropped from an estimated 2,749 in 2002 to 2,280 in 2004 and probably just 2000 individuals in 2009. To reverse this disturbing trend, Kenya Wildlife Service has taken a number of measures including monitoring lion movements, creating public awareness and drafting of a comprehensive national lion conservation and management strategy.

The new strategy will guide efforts geared towards conserving lions in the long-term and prescribes actions that need to reverse the declining national population.

Lion tracking
KWS scientists have placed tracking devices on 2 lions in Amboseli National Park. There are five collared lions in the project, including three females and two males. The Amboseli Lion Project is a joint effort between KWS and the Leiden University, Netherlands under a Memorandum of Understanding between the two institutions.

Lions have a special place in Kenyans' livelihood and conservation efforts. Other than being the symbol for national strength, they are among the major attractions for visitors to Kenya.

The trend of lion population decline is disturbing and every effort needs to be made to ensure that Kenya either stabilises its population at the current population of 2000 lions or increases the numbers to a sustainable level. Quick and decisive actions need to be taken to create public awareness as well as formulation of national guidelines on lion conservation and management in the long-term.

The Amboseli Lion Project offers a good opportunity for Kenya to understand how part of its lion population is behaving to enable the formulation of appropriate ecosystem level conservation approaches.

 

Name of National Park/Reserve	Number of Lions
Masai Mara ecosystem, Nairobi and Kajiado	825
Tsavo Conservation Area	675
Laikipia	230
Isiolo/Samburu Complex	100
Northern Kenya	100
Meru Conservation Area	40
Aberdare	Approximately 30
Total	2000