Wildlife in Uganda, including rare tree-climbing lions, is once again roaring (Op-Ed)

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One of the dangers facing lions and their offspring is the illegal wildlife trade.

Six months have passed since the shooting and mutilation of six lions in Uganda's Queen Elizabeth National Park's Ishasha area (QENP).

These so-called Ishasha lions can be seen lounging around in the fig trees of the park if you come. One of only two lion populations known to be able to climb trees, these majestic cats are a famous tourist attraction and a fascinating study subject. Despite these dangers, the lion population continues to decline due to habitat degradation, snaring, and human-wildlife conflict.

The Ishasha lion population is now down to barely 20 to 30 animals due to these dangers; tourism profits, which accounted for around 8% of Uganda's GDP before the COVID-19 outbreak, are also in jeopardy as threats to this appealing fauna increase. As a precautionary measure, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has designated this population as "vulnerable" to extinction. At the same time, Uganda's national list classifies it as "critically endangered," both according to the Red List.

The lshasha lion cubs have arrived in the country and now need our help to grow into adults. According to Bazil Alidria, the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) Carnivore Officer who watches the lion pride, six additional males—including Sultan and Sula (fathers of the pups), Jacob (snare survivor), and three adolescent brothers—are ready to defend and groom them.

Unfortunately, little is known about the dynamics of lion populations and the risks they face in Uganda. The Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) used GPS collars to track lions in Uganda's Murchison Falls National Park (MFNP) and Queen Elizabeth Park (QEP) back in 2005 and 2008.

Margaret Driciru, a veterinarian of the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA), and Ludwig Siefert of the Uganda Carnivore Program (UCP) contributed to this research. WCS also removed snares from the parks that threaten this iconic animal and worked to reduce human-lion conflict by erecting carnivore-proof enclosures to prevent lions from attacking livestock and encouraging retaliatory kills by furious herders while monitoring the lions in the parks.

There were 408 lions in Queen Elizabeth, Murchison Falls, and Kidepo Valley national parks when the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) conducted a study in 2010.

WCS, the Uganda Carnivore Program (UCP), and UWA have been monitoring lion populations in the Queen Elizabeth National Park in Uganda for the past decade. Lion sightings imply that the population trend is stable, says Simon Nampindo, WCS Uganda country director. The greatest threat to lions today is human-induced mortality, including retaliation for the killing of livestock, exacerbated by Ugandan beliefs that parts of these lions have medicinal value and traditional beliefs that lion body parts should be kept in homes and shops as a source of power and wealth, according to a 2021 study commissioned by the Wildlife Conservation Society.

A broader strategy to combat poaching, traditional healers, businesspeople, religious leaders, and others in Uganda who want lion body parts, according to Nampindo's 2021 study of QENP lion killings, is needed because the findings revealed an increase in the demand for lion body parts among these groups.

Additionally, climate change poses a significant threat to lions' ability to thrive. Lions and elephants are now frequent visitors to towns and villages outside of Uganda's national parks due to the loss of adequate habitat for prey and predators caused by climate unpredictability, which is helping invasive animals spread throughout the country. Human-wildlife conflict has increased around these protected areas due to the exodus, which has resulted in livestock predation and agricultural destruction.

Our natural heritage is under attack, and we need everyone's help to stop it before it's too late.

We are encouraged by the lshasha lions' tenacity in the face of adversity. It is the mission of WCS to inspire a lifelong appreciation for nature in public by educating them about conservation issues, forging strong partnerships, and preserving their strongholds and landscapes for future generations.

Our goal is to protect lion populations and the tourism industry in Uganda by removing snares and traps in conjunction with the Uganda Wildlife Authority, the business sector, and other conservation organizations.

Reference : https://www.livescience.com/ishasha-lions-uganda-conservation

Image source : https://pixabay.com/id/photos/singa-gigi-mengaum-marah-gemuruh-2885618/

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