Reintroduction
of lions to Hluhluwe-Umfolozi Park: new
genetic stock to alleviate genetic inbreeding
- Principal
researcher: Rob Slotow.
- Co-worker:
Byron Stein.
- Study
area: Hluhluwe-Umfolozi Park,
KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.
- Date
started: 1997
- Academic
institution: University of Natal,
Durban & Pietermaritzburg.
- Summary:
Experimental testing of reproductive
success and disease resistance of
inbred versus outbred lionesses by
bonding females from other reserves
into existing prides.
The
effects of sport hunting on an African
lion population and its potential as
a conservation tool
- Principal
researcher: Karyl Whitman.
- Supervisors:
Prof Craig Packer, Prof Tony Sinclair.
- Study
area: Maswa Game Reserve, Tanzania.
- Date
started: 1996
- Duration:
4 years
- Academic
institution: University of Minnesota.
- Affiliated
institutions: Wildlife Conservation
Society, Big Game Special Projects
Foundation (Minnesota), Bell Museum
of Natural History, Dayton-Wilkie
Fund, Graduate School of Minnesota,
Global Wildlife Trust, Friedkin Conservation
Fund, Serengeti Lion Project.
- Summary:
Lions are economically important to
the hunting industry. A high risk
of infanticide associated with the
removal of resident males, combined
with a high demand, make lions particularly
vulnerable to over-exploitation. Currently
only a few scientific studies have
examined the extent to which sport
hunting affects lion populations.
This study will model the effects
of different harvesting strategies
on a simulated population, monitor
a hunted population over time, and
provide a quantitative analysis of
the impact of regulated harvesting
on the reproductive potential and
social behavior of the lion.
- Publications
as a result of this study: Whitman,
K., Starfield, A.M., Quadling, H.S.,
& Packer, C. 2004. Sustainable
trophy hunting of African lions. Nature
An
investigation into the effects of trophy
hunting on the social behaviour, population
structure, and distribution of lion
(Panthera leo) in the mid-Zambezi
Valley, Zimbabwe
- Principal
researcher: Norman Monks.
- Supervisor:
Dr Tim Lynam, Dr Moyo.
- Study
area: Mid-Zambezi Valley, Zimbabwe.
- Date
started: 2000
- Duration:
3 years
- Academic
institution: Tropical Resources
Ecology, Programme,University of Zimbabwe.
- Summary:
The mid-Zambezi Valley in the north
of Zimbabwe of some 10,500 sq. km
is used primarily as safari hunting
area. Only in Mana Pools National
Park (2,196 sq. km) is hunting not
undertaken. The project will look
at the effects that sport hunting
of lion is having on the lion population.
Social behaviour, population structure,
and distribution, will be some aspects
looked at in the light of hunting
pressure.
Molecular
phylogeny and conservation of extinct
North African Barbary lion
- Principal
researchers: Prof. David Macdonald,
Dr Alan Cooper.
- Co-workers:
Dr Ian Barnes, Nobuyuki Yamaguchi.
- Study
area: North Africa (Morocco).
- Date
started: 2000
- Duration:
3-5 years
- Academic
institutions: Wildlife Conservation
Research Unit, Department of Zoology,
Oxford Universit; Ancient Biomolecules
Centre, Departments of Bioanthropology
& Zoology, Oxford University.
- Affiliated
institution: Wildlink International.
- Summary:
The North African Barbary lion became
extinct in the 1920's. The project
objectives are to investigate (1)
if the extinct Barbary lion can be
genetically distinguishable from other
lions, and (2) the genetic characteristics
of the king's lions compared to those
of the extinct Barbary lion to (3)
assess if it is worth breeding them
for restoring the North African lion
population.
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