With lion habitats being significantly reduced over the past century, many metapopulations have formed throughout Africa. To combat the inbreeding and increased vulnerability due to having small, fragmented populations, many conservation groups are lobbying to increase the range of protected habitats for lions as well as to make more physical connections between the isolated areas. The connection of two protected habitats can help reduce effects of inbreeding and climate change. Bringing two populations together will ultimately allow for increased genetic diversity during mating, hopefully making all the lions less susceptible to novel catastrophic events. Near the Phinda Game Reserve in South Africa, regional stakeholders have agreed to consolidate 500 km^2 of land into a single conservation area, and have plans to connect this habitat to a 3,000 km^2 protected habitat via environmental corridors (8). Initiatives, like the one in South Africa, are being managed to create more protected habitats and connected areas for lions to reduce the formation and effects of metapopulations.
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| Potential Habitat Corridor for Lions |
Reintroduction of Lions
Lions have been estimated to have lost up to 80% of their past habitat range (12). As a way to preserve the species, new African lions are being introduced in past habitat ranges to see if survival is possible, and into current small populations to combat inbreeding. The reintroduction process for lions to old habitat has been slow, but is starting to become a viable option for many protected areas. Researchers start by containing lions in a small area of the new habitat, and then monitor behavior after the lions are allowed to be released from containment. In the Phinda region of South Africa, lions have shown the ability to recolonize areas quickly after reintroduction (8). A vital concern for long-term growth is that lions are reintroduced in areas with enough physical room to support their lifestyle and feeding. With careful planning and preservation techniques, the the reintroduction of lions into old habitats may allow for the formation of new prides of lions throughout Africa.
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| Potential new lion pride in a protected "old habitat" area |
Reduce Human-Lion Related Conflicts
One of the main causes of population decline for the Panthera leo has been through hunting by humans. Most lion killings have occurred because farmers are trying to protect livestock, but other hunting is also prevalent in some parts of Africa, like in Kenya, as a tradition for the Maasai Warrior Tribe. To combat the slaughtering of innocent lions, government and non-governmental organizations (NGO's) are teaming up to raise awareness for the African lion. The education of youth and ranchers throughout Africa will hopefully reduce poaching. Officials are now also monitoring "hot spots" for lion hunting, and have already found 3 habitats in Eastern and Southern Africa that could be potential areas for conservation awareness (15). The organizations have begun to develop methods and incentives for farmers not to kill livestock in these "hot spots." Problem animal control groups are working to catch loose African lions and revert them back to natural habitat, as lions moving from protected areas into farmland are usually lone individuals (8). The Maasai Warriors are also helping to reduce lion casualties as a new rule has been created within the community to encourage only group hunting and no solo hunting for the renewal of symbolic bravery.
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| Project Leonardo in Africa has been a major contributor in reducing human conflict with lions all throughout Africa (19) |
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