https://allafrica.com/stories/201908120146.html



Africa: Tanzania Has Largest Number of Lions in Africa, New Report Says


11 AUGUST 2019

Tanzania Daily News (Dar es Salaam)

By Edward Qorro in Arusha

TANZANIA has the largest number of lions compared to other African countries, a new report says.

There are estimated to be between 14,000 and 15,000 lions in the country today, thanks to an extensive network of protected areas in form of national parks, game reserves which form at least 300,000 square kilometres.

"This ensures sufficient space for the lions to hunt (feed) and breed and protection from human disturbance and for the ecological balance needed for their survival," said Dr Dennis Ikanda, Principal Research Officer in charge of Carnivore Ecology and Conservation at the Tanzania Wildlife Research Institute (Tawiri) yesterday.

Dr Ikanda, who was reacting to a recent study released by the University of Oxford on the dwindling number of lions in Africa, noted that there were estimated to be over 16,000 Panthera leos in Tanzania, nearly a decade ago, a clear affirmation of the country's zeal in the protection of its rich wildlife diversity.

The researcher, who is also a member of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Cat Specialist Group, however, cautioned that the number of lions could decline if recurrent conflict between humans and wildlife was not resolved.



"But even in Tanzania, the number of lions living outside protected areas is declining due to habitat loss, natural prey and conflict with pastoralists," warned the researcher during a telephone interview with this paper.

Released on August 3, the report entitled "State of the Lion: Fragility of a Flagship Species" by Amy Dickman and Amy Hinks from the Wildlife Conservation Research Unit at the University of Oxford, suggests that wild lions have vanished from 95 per cent of their historic range. According to the study, there are only 22,509 wild lions left in Africa.

"Tanzania has the highest number of lions at 8,176, followed by South Africa with 2,070 lions, Kenya with 1,825, while Zimbabwe has 1,709 lions to its name," says part of the report. Mozambique and Zambia have 1,295 and 1,095 lions respectively.



Dr Ikanda, however, noted that the 8,170 figure could be representing close to 50 per cent of the population, perhaps from just two of its strongholds, namely the Selous Game Reserve and the Serengeti-Maasai Steppe, further suggesting that there could even be more lions in the country. Echoing similar sentiments, Director of Serengeti Wildlife Research Centre, Dr Robert Fyumagwa, said Tanzania continued being the lions' paradise, thanks to the government's clear strategies of protecting wildlife. "The findings from the study don't come by surprise. If anything, Serengeti alone has 3,000 lions," he explained. "This is attributed to enough resources and strategies that have been put in place to protect diverse wildlife in the country." Dr Fyumagwa noted that Tanzania was and still remained vigilant to ensure that lions roaming over the country's plains were increasing and well protected. This, according to the researcher, is solely done by the government, unlike in other African countries, where the ecological task is jointly undertaken through the assistance of wildlife organisations and non governmental organisations. He further said that Tanzania had always been on alert since the Canine Distemper Virus (CDV) that struck the country in 1993/94, claiming the lives of lions in national parks, game reserves and concessions. Commenting on the study, a renowned conservationist, Mr Erasto Lufungulo, attributed the country's success of the big cats' largest population in Africa to Tanzania's efforts to conserve wildlife habitats. "Immediately after independence, we only had Serengeti National Park, but today we have 19 parks. This speaks volumes of the country's zeal in wildlife conservation," he noted. The wildlife expert commended Tanzania National Parks (Tanapa) for playing a leading role in the management of such diverse resources. The report by the Oxford University says that 40 per cent of the current wild lions range is in protected areas, while 14 per cent of wild lion populations don't overlap at all with protected areas. The major threats to Africa's lions are habitat loss and degradation, bush meat snaring and conflict with people when lions threaten them or their livestock, according to Mr Dickman.

So, SA has the second highest number of lions in africa. How many of them would be captive bred lions? How many of those 2,070 would be in KNP?

It`s important to see the criteria they used when counting also. Amy Dickman which is one of the authors wrote the following on facebook forum:

"Criteria were for free roaming resident populations, based on best expert opinion available. Restricted to any free roaming population, or partially fenced if at least 500km2, or fully fenced if at least 1000km2. We are in touch with AP so will look at updating that figure if it fits the criteria"

At any rate I have little doubt that Tanzania rates no 1 in wild Lion population..RSA would be no. 1 in fenced anything...

quote:

Originally posted by 376 steyr:
So, SA has the second highest number of lions in africa. How many of them would be captive bred lions? How many of those 2,070 would be in KNP?

Contrary to popular belief, RSA does have wild lions outside of Kruger in other parks. About 6-7 years ago the number was +- 900 wild lion and +- 4500 captive bred lions. Most of the free range lion come and go between Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Botswana etc. It makes it difficult to put a number on them. These are genuine free range lion.

The free range lion in RSA are actually quite interesting to follow. They pop up on farms, towns etc from time to time. There has also been quite a few cases of man eaters as well! However, these lion are seldom hunted. I have pictures of a young male that popped up on a leopard bait a few years ago!

This comment from a good friend of mine who is a real old Africa hand & was involved in the SGR for many, many years & who probably knows more about the SGR & other Tz areas than all the rest of us put together.

"Steve, i read talk on the tz lion status and can add that the tz parks folks had nothing to do with this in regards to any mangement or protection efforts . These numbers are simply whats left of a once much larger population as the killing by poisoning and other means continues all over the country. This story will end like tz elephant populations killed off by tz folks while asking for help to stop poaching for past 20 years etc."

quote:

Originally posted by shakari:
This comment from a good friend of mine who is a real old Africa hand & was involved in the SGR for many, many years & who probably knows more about the SGR & other Tz areas than all the rest of us put together.

"Steve, i read talk on the tz lion status and can add that the tz parks folks had nothing to do with this in regards to any mangement or protection efforts . These numbers are simply whats left of a once much larger population as the killing by poisoning and other means continues all over the country. This story will end like tz elephant populations killed off by tz folks while asking for help to stop poaching for past 20 years etc."

Typical!

I would have thought Tanzania had at least 8,177 lions, rather than 8,176. I would like a recount.