IUCN / SSC Cat Specialist Group - Digital Cat Library |
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| Funston, J.P. | |
| Conservation and management of lions in Southern Africa: status, threats, utilization and the restoration option | |
| 2008 Conference Proceeding | |
The declines in lion numbers and distribution recorded throughout its range are typical also of the situation in southern Africa, with the largest reduction having occurred in South Africa. There are also fundamental differences in South Africa, as compared with other countries in the sub-region, with lions being restricted to fenced reserves. However, the presence of these fences, along with a substantial increase in wildlife related tourism in the country, has resulted in 25 new lion populations having been established in the last 15 years. Collectively these reserves cover an area of 5702 kmý incorporating about 460 lions. The management of lions in these small fenced reserves is complicated primarily by the small size of each subpopulation, and the predation impact on the ungulate populations in each reserve. This has lead to the development of micro-management strategies that are questionable in terms of their desirability, effectiveness, and financial sustainability. These restored populations nevertheless offer the potential for metapopulation management and meaningful conservation benefit. However, as most of these populations are not managed according to metapopulation guidelines, tending rather to be managed as single or isolated populations, it remains doubtful that they individually can make a meaningful contribution to lion conservation. While lion populations in other southern African countries suffer from the negative effects of habitat and prey loss, as well as excessive human conflict and in places trophy hunting mortality, there is evidence that in large conservancies being established in Botswana, Namibia and Zimbabwe, that lion populations are being restored in areas where they were previously extirpated. Some countries in southern Africa clearly also set lion hunting quotas that are not biologically sustainable, and threaten at least four of the seven important populations in the region. There are, however, initiatives underway to bring these levels of utilization in line with guidelines that will ensure a sustainable harvest. The impact of particularly phototourism on lions conservation in southern Africa is substantial and is a key to there survival and restoration in many areas. |
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