The Second Key Objective of LION AID™

The silent issue of lion conservation that concerns some worrisome disease issues.

WHY:

a) A variety of diseases continue to threaten the wellbeing of lion populations.
b) A pernicious virus present among some populations exacerbates disease issues among lions. However, inclusive acknowledgement of the danger this virus poses has only recently been admitted due to a combination of past complacency, lack of understanding of host/virus relationships and vested interests.
c) The Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV) which affects virtually all adult lions in places like Northern Botswana, Kruger National Park in South Africa and the Serengeti/Mara in Tanzania/Kenya has been acknowledged to be a problem and there is finally an admittance that FIV among lions could, in some cases, cause problems with immune competence similar to that among FIV affected domestic cats. 
d) Lions with compromised immune systems are susceptible to many diseases. Those could include diseases introduced from outside sources, such as canine distemper from domestic dogs and bovine tuberculosis from cattle via wild buffalo.

HOW:

a) Lion populations need to be tested for a number of diseases that could influence reproduction, morbidity and mortality.
b) Blood samples need to be taken from lions to test for antibodies as a start point.
c) Viruses need to be characterized, parasites identified and progress made towards understanding threats.

WHEN:

a) LION AID will begin in 2010 to actively seek and cooperate with teams able to collect blood samples from wild lions across the African continent.
b) LION AID will, in 2010, ensure that such samples are stored in national biorepositories and will provide equipment to ensure this.