Large Carnivore Monitoring

The primary goals of this project are to monitor the status of important predator populations and to develop simple, easy-to-repeat carnivore census techniques. These methods will assess the conservation status of an important local population of African lions.

Lion numbers are declining throughout much of Africa and the conservation predicament of the species has become clear in recent years. The South East Lowveld is one area with significant potential for the expansion of the geographic range of lions and where lion numbers are increasing. Monitoring the recovery of lions in the region represents an important step towards understanding the potential and constraints for increasing lion numbers in other parts of Africa.

Young male lions and one female with radio collar

Photo: S. Romañach. Used by permission.