THE FIRST KEY OBJECTIVE OF LION AID

The African lion population has declined by over 90% in the last 50 years. In order to focus conservation needs, we need an accurate count of how many lions actually remain in the wild.

WHY:

    a)  There has been a staggering decline in lion numbers in Africa over the past 50 years, which continues today.
    b)  Critics, who have vested interest in downplaying a problem with lion populations so that they can continue their profitable and unsustainable activities, would argue the extent of the decline. 
    c)  Current lion population assessments, conducted in 2002 and 2004 contain flaws. Very few of the counts were conducted with any rigorous or scientific protocols, although both surveys involved much work and dedication.

HOW:

    a) The best method is to identify and count lions that come to bait, attracted by broadcast calls of prey animals in distress or hyenas squabbling over a carcass. Lions will approach, can be photographed and individually identified. The method becomes again more powerful if repeated some months later. Statistical methods are available to add “new” lions to “known” lions to arrive at reasonable estimates.

WHEN:

    a) Once LION AID has identified areas where lion populations crucial to the survival of the species exist in the wild.
    b) Once LION AID is confident that a chosen area has a reasonable chance of long-term survival.
    c) The supported surveys will likely commence at the end of 2010.