The African lion is listed as vulnerable on the IUCN red list of threatened species - their population has decreased by 75% in the last 50 years. Increasing human populations reduce available lion habitat, leading to a rise in human-lion conflict. GPS collars on selected lions have proven to be key tools in lion research. They've also proved useful in assisting Parks authorities to track potentially problem lions, intercept them before they stray into rural lands, and relocate them to the wild
Typically, the boundaries of protected wild areas adjoin tribal lands where rural communities of subsistence farmers live with their families and domestic animals. Lions are wide-ranging predators needing a vast amount of space to access prey. Understandably, lions targeting livestock as prey in these rural communities are a potential danger to people, their children, and a constant source of conflict between these communities and the interests of conservation.
SACT partners with WildCRU (wildlife conservation unit) Oxford University, UK. Using GPS satellite collars WildCRU, with SACT as project partners, closely monitor lion prides situated on park boundaries. Often these lions are likely to cause conflict with communities by threatening their livelihoods and killing livestock. By tracking the locations of these collared lions, we establish to an early warning system to local people with a live feed. This enables rapid dissemination to the community.
Over time, rural communities and SACT build mutual trust which should result in safer community environment and protection of free roaming lions from being killed by local communities. On a broader scale, saving these lions will help ensure long term viability of lions in Southern Africa. In many protected areas there are so few lions left that they are not viable from a genetic perspective. Enabling a connection of lions from different protected areas will further increase the gene pool.
This project has provided additional documentation in a PDF file (projdoc.pdf).
Support this important cause by creating a personalized fundraising page.
Start a Fundraiser
