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Conserving Lions in Hwange National Park Zimbabwe


Lions are emblematic of Africa and a vital component of African savannah ecosystems. Over the last 20 years, human populations in Africa have increased and wild areas have diminished. Sadly, lion populations have declined dramatically over the same period, and lions are now classified as ‘vulnerable’ by the World Conservation Union (IUCN). Hwange National Park (HNP) is home to one quarter of Zimbabwe’s lions and, as elsewhere in Africa, survival of the population is threatened by over-hunting. However, sport hunting is a mainstay of the Zimbabwean economy. This high-profile project aims to conserve the lions of Hwange by implementing sustainable levels of sport hunting.

Why is this project important?

Tourism in Africa is heavily dependent on lions, and particularly important to poorer countries such as Zimbabwe. Human population growth and habitat loss are major factors in the decline of African predators, and National Parks may offer the only safe haven from persecution. However, although hunting is illegal inside HNP, it is permitted in adjacent hunting concessions. Lions from within the park are regularly lured out of the park (using bait), where they can then be legally shot. Until this project began, hunting quotas for the concession areas were set in the absence of reliable information on population size and structure; a situation that could easily lead to over-exploitation, disruption of breeding and social systems, and local extinction.

What are we doing?

Ours is the first lion study in Hwange, and the most extensive in Zimbabwe. The first phase (1999-2003) involved raising the profile of unsustainable hunting, and gaining support and co-operation from the Department of National Parks (DNP). We captured 51 animals and fitted them with radio or GPS collars. We tracked their movements to establish their home ranges, and estimated the population size at 320 animals; this included just 42 adult males. Behavioural observations allowed us to determine the lions’ social structure. Until 2002, the DNP approved an annual quota of 60 adult males (more than were there) and the majority of our collared males were shot. Hunting outside the park created a ‘vacuum’ effect, causing a continuous flow of animals from the centre of the park into hunting concession areas where they were shot. We persuaded the DNP to halve the quota for 2003, and to agree, in principle, a hunting ban between 2004 and 2006 to allow the population to recover. The second (recovery) phase of the study (2004-2006) will be essential to determine the size, structure and behaviour of a stable population, and thereby to identify a sustainable hunting level. As well as continuing to monitor the collared lions, we will collar a further ten animals, focussing on the centre of the park where the habitat and conditions differ from those near the perimeter.




The African lion; now classified as vulnerable

How is this project making a difference?

Deliverables

Besides securing a reduction in the quota, and probably an interim hunting ban, we have regularly communicated our findings to experts and the local community. In 2000, we founded the Annual African Lion Conservation Workshop, and Proceedings are published each year. In 2002, we established the ‘WildCRU Ingonyama Players’ (see separate profile: Community Conservation Education in Africa), a unique theatre group which travels the local community delivering a conservation message. The recovery phase will allow us to advise the DNP on the introduction of revised quotas (or continuation of the ban), and to extend our outreach to include production of scientific publications on the management of lion populations. .

Cascade effects

Our research will directly influence conservation policy for big cats locally and regionally.

How can you help?

We are urgently seeking funding to begin the recovery phase of this project. We are poised to capitalise on our tremendous achievements of the first phase; if we are unable to continue this work, much of the value will be lost because unrealistic quotas would almost certainly be reintroduced, and the population could quickly become unviable. Our work is logistically difficult; a male lion roams 700-1,000 square km and Hwange consists of thick bush and scrub, with few roads. We rely on expensive equipment such as GPS collars, and most work must be conducted from vehicles including a two-seater ultra-light aircraft. Sponsorship will allow us to maintain vital equipment, retain valuable, experienced staff and to continue our research with the second phase of the project.




Dr. Andy Loveridge collaring a Hwange lion

YOU CAN HELP THIS PROJECT

You can find out about the budget for this project by contacting us. See our contact details.

If you are interested in finding out more about the science involved in this project, we would be happy to send you further information.

WildCRU is part of the University of Oxford, a tax- exempt charity. To maximise tax benefits to both donors and WildCRU, please see Donations.

Principal funders (of the first phase)
The Darwin Initiative for Biodiversity
Mitsubishi Fund for Europe
Africa Marwell Preservation Trust.

Main Partners
Department of National Parks and Wildlife Management, Zimbabwe

Text by Sandra Baker and Andy Loveridge