IUCN / SSC Cat Specialist Group - Digital Cat Library
   

 

View printer friendly
Tumenta, P.N.; Croes, B.M.; Bertola, L.D.; Adam, S.; Kagalang, D.; Kamgang, S.A.; Loth, P.; de Iong, H.H.
Strategies to restore Waza National Park, Cameroon, an important lion stronghold
2023  Cat News (77): 23-28

As one of the few formally protected Sahelian savanna ecosystems in Cameroon, Waza National Park Waza NP still harbours a rich and unique biodiversity. Observations made early 2021 in Waza NP indicate that intrusions by fishermen and cattle herds are becoming more frequent and persistent, threatening the habitat this protected area offers to lions _Panthera leo leo_ and the prey on which they depend. In order to assess the current status of the lion population and their prey base, as well as human activities and overall threats to the park, a survey was initiated consisting of nine calling stations, 248 km of line transects and a semi-structured questionnaire conducted among 200 randomly selected respondents from six villages with full consent. Although no lions responded to the calling stations, lion presence in the park was revealed during the line transect survey. The transect survey further confirmed that numbers of kob antelope, an important prey for lions, had decreased from previous assessments. Based on our assessment and some lessons learnt from the Waza Logone Project, we define a strategy to restore Waza NP and the surrounding floodplain ecosystem. We suggest simultaneously strengthening the capacity of Waza NP's management and enhancing the carrying capacity of the surrounding floodplain, not only to benefit livelihoods of local communities, but eventually also to restore the lion population and overall biodiversity. The ultimate aim of the strategy is to achieve a well-managed national park with thriving biodiversity in sustainable co-existence with local communities around the park that profit from improved floodplain ecology.

PDF files are only accessible to Friends of the Cat Group. Joining Friends of the Cat Group gives you unlimited access and downloads in the Cat SG Library for one year, and allows you to receive our newsletter Cat News (2 regular issues per year plus special issues). More information how to join here

 

(c) IUCN/SSC Cat Specialist Group ( IUCN - The World Conservation Union)