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Threat of rapid extermination of the lion ( Panthera leo leo ) in Waza National Park, Northern Cameroon
Author(s) -
Tumenta P. N.,
Kok J. S.,
Van Rijssel J. C.,
Buij R.,
Croes B. M.,
Funston P. J.,
De Iongh H. H.,
Udo de Haes H. A.
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
african journal of ecology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.499
H-Index - 54
eISSN - 1365-2028
pISSN - 0141-6707
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2028.2009.01181.x
Subject(s) - national park , panthera , wildlife , geography , population , livestock , extinction (optical mineralogy) , poaching , socioeconomics , environmental protection , demography , ecology , archaeology , forestry , biology , paleontology , sociology
Lion populations in West and Central Africa are small and fragmented. In areas where park management is weak, threats will likely facilitate the extinction of the lion. Wildlife management requires knowledge of the population estimate. The population of lions in Waza National Park (Waza NP) was assessed by individual identification of members in the population. The population was assessed to comprise of 14–21 adult individual lions. The age structure was skewed towards adults; cubs comprised 22% of all lions identified while the sex ratio was 1 : 3. Two out of four collared lions were lost to illegal, retaliatory killings within 1 year; and probably two more males and one more female were also killed during this period. The lion population appears to have declined during the last 5 years with six lions dying per year, which is at a much higher rate than observed in the previous decades. Human‐livestock pressure has increased tremendously in this period, resulting to frequent human‐lion conflicts. To ensure the survival of the lion in Waza NP and in the entire region, management needs to intensify efforts to mitigate the pressure from humans and their livestock.