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Zambia Lion Project
Research on African lions in Zambia began in 2003 as part of a broader study of large and small
carnivore species in the North Luangwa Valley. Since that time, the Zambia Lion Project has evolved to focus on
lions while expanding its investigations to a countrywide scale. Research is conducted both within the fully
protected National Parks and the surrounding multi-use Game Management Areas (GMAs). GMAs contain human settlements, agriculture,
and tourism comprised of both consumptive (commercial trophy hunting) and non-consumptive (photographic) activities.
Unlike many parts of East Africa, direct observation of lions in much of Zambia is difficult due to the limited
system of roads and the dense habitat structure. As a result, little past work had been conducted on lions in Zambia, and
the current status of the lion populations in that country were virtually unknown.
The goals of the Zambia Lion Project are to:
The goals of the Zambia Lion Project are to:
1) Conduct countrywide surveys through historic lion habitats
in Zambia, with an emphasis on outlying areas where lion occurrence is reported but current status of lion
is unknown.
2) Estimate population size, demography, and productivity of prides,
and determine movements of lions between fully-protected National Parks and multi-use Game Management Areas within
the two regions in Zambia where lion populations are robust i.e., Luangwa Valley and Kafue ecosystems.
3) Assess the genetic biodiversity of lions from three potentially different stocks in Zambia (Luangwa Valley,
Lower Zambezi, Kafue). Investigations into the genetic profiles of Zambia's lions will aid in identifying wildlife
corridors as well as detecting genetic features that may be unique to Zambia's lion populations. Along with
geographic information on lion occurrence and distribution, genetic profiles help to identify areas in which lion
conservation should be prioritized.
4) Develop an age-based trophy selection program
that is applicable to Zambia's lions. Working with Professional Hunters and Safari Operators, the Zambia Lion Project gathers
regional information on physical characteristics of trophy lions that correspond to the animal's age. By
selecting older lions as trophies, hunting can be conducted in a sustainable fashion with minimal negative impact on the resident
lion population.
The Zambia Lion Project conducts field work and utilizes first-hand accounts from photo-tourism camps, hunting safari operators, and anti-poaching scouts in collecting data to address the research questions. Field studies include surveys, biopsy sampling, and scat collection of lions within the national parks and GMAs for genetic (DNA) analysis. Professional Hunters and Safari Operators provide samples from trophy lions taken during the hunting season for genetic and age studies.
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| An adult male lion and his pride investigate a playback call used for survey purposes |
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| Zambia Lion Project early bush camp in North Luangwa National Park |
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| End of dry season in Zambia's Luangwa Valley; rains are on the way |