BBC NEWS Today
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-33469042




Mozambique lion numbers 'grow as elephants poached'
• 9 July 2015
• From the section Africa

Lions are found in most countries in sub-Saharan Africa
The lion population at Mozambique's largest game reserve has risen partly because they are feeding on elephants killed by poachers, a conservationist has told the BBC.
Lions at the Niassa National Reserve also prey on baby elephants orphaned by poachers, Colleen Begg said.
Poachers kill the elephants to remove their tusks but leave the carcasses.
There is huge demand in Asia for tusks, which are used for medicinal purposes and as ornaments.
Mrs Begg, who heads the Niassa Carnivore Project, told the BBC the number of lions at the game reserve had increased over the last decade to between 800 and 1,000.
"The death of 6,000-7,000 elephants since 2011 has resulted in a large amount of meat that was previously unavailable," she said.
"In 2009, we recorded our first calf eaten by lions and this has also steadily increased as these are orphans that are easy to catch," she added.
The heavy poaching of elephants has benefited lions whose populations increase quickly if there is more food, Mrs Begg said.
On average, a lion eats up to seven kilograms (15 pounds) of meat a day while a female elephant provides them with 3,500 kg, she added.

This is absolutely correct. I talked to Colleen 2 years ago and she expressed the exact same opinion...so many ele carcasses lying around that the lions are doing well.

Seen this with my own eyes over the past eight years. Even reaped a reward off a carcass.
All game numbers seems to be increasing up in Nissa Reserve hunting subsidised blocks except for the Elephant which require more political desisions/ management to stop this proffesional poaching.

Makes sense to me. Much like the wolf population that exploded during the buffalo hunting years on the American plains

yup I have seen it over the past 4 years in Niassa...

There have been whispers of South African operators releasing lions in Moz.

Time will tell if the number of mature, large maned and scar free 'trophy quality' lions start disproportionally increasing in numbers out of Moz..

quote:

Originally posted by silkyoaks:
There have been whispers of South African operators releasing lions in Moz.

Time will tell if the number of mature, large maned and scar free 'trophy quality' lions start disproportionally increasing in numbers out of Moz..

Would not be the case in the north but quite possible in concessions backing onto Zim and RSA