"In 2017 Cheryl Gould and Lion World returned us to Africa - Zambia and Botswana - after a 20 year hiatus. Lionesses have a gestation period of three and a half months (about 108 days). With more than 77,000 square miles of protected land, the population is approximately 1,200 strong. The Zambian Carnivore Programme is a non-profit organisation working in the Luangwa Valley, Kafue and Liuwa ecosystems. Typically, two or more dominant males protect the territory against intruders. Where lions are king: How to track the big cats in Zambia Wildlife conservationists are working to protect the lion population in southern Africa. The most widespread in Zambia are those comprising miombo, mopane and Baikiaea woodland savanna, with grasslands (mainly flooded grasslands) and evergreen forest also present.The chief determinant of the distribution of ecoregions and wildlife is climate, see Climate of Zambia for … I never tire of seeing lions no matter how many times I travel to Africa. There’s a rough number of 20,000 lions left in the world according to a survey conducted in 2020. There is a new coalition in the main game-viewing area and we look forward to seeing the next generation of Big Pride lions. Lions are found in all the major Parks in Zambia; South Luangwa, Kafue, North Luangwa, and Lower Zambezi. KNP is affected by prey depletion, particularly for large herbivores that were preferred prey for KNP lions a half‐century ago. There’s a rough number of 20,000 lions left in the world according to a survey conducted in 2020. Zambia's population comprises more than 70 Bantu-speaking ethnic groups. The most widespread in Zambia are those comprising miombo, mopane and Baikiaea woodland savanna, with grasslands (mainly flooded grasslands) and evergreen forest also present.The chief determinant of the distribution of ecoregions and wildlife is climate, see Climate of Zambia for … - W, Valentine’s Day goals with @royallivingstone_ana, Here is some exciting news from @robin_pope_safari, A gorgeous sighting by the @bushcampcompany - I li. Retaliation is the primary reason for lion killings. Although lions are now protected in many parts of Africa, they were once considered to be stock-raiding vermin and were killed on sight. Two of the sister prides (Mwamba 1 and Mwamba 2) stayed north and Mwamba 3 followed the Luangwa River south. By continuing to use our site you agree to us using cookies in accordance with our Cookie Policy. The Greater Kafue Ecoystem is Zambia's second largest lion population and of key importance for carnivore conservation in the country and the region. Zambia has a population of around 12 million, and Zambians are generally a very friendly, curious and grateful people when it comes to welcoming tourists. Liuwa Plain in western Zambia has one of the oldest conservation histories in Africa, dating back to the late 19th century when the King of Barotseland, Lubosi Lewanika, appointed his people as the custodians of the reserve. Zambia is typical of a large African country in that there are numerous cultural groupings (at least 16 major ones have been identified) and dialects (more than 70). However, because trophy hunting lions can trigger population declines, a science-based Conservation Strategy and Action Plan for the African Lion was adopted by the Zambian government (ZAWA, 2009). We measured African lion density and tested the factors that affect survival using mark‐recapture models fit to six years of data from known individuals in Kafue National Park (KNP), Zambia. © 2021 Zambia Tourism | All Rights Reserved |, "So much of who we are is where we have been." Through intensive monitoring, the researchers were able to compile a database of lions in 21 prides and 24 male coalitions from 2008-2015. Today, just over 22,000 remain. The impact of this seems to bring the females into heat again and soon produce cubs from the new dominant males. After some years the dominant males of the group are replaced by more powerful contenders, thus ensuring the introduction of new genetic material into the pride gene pool. Lions District 413 - Zambia is part of the Lions Clubs International, the largest service club in the world with over 1.4 million members. A significant number of lions inhabit spaces outside of conservation areas, making it difficult to determine their exact number. © 2021 Zambia Tourism | All Rights Reserved |. Zambian Carnivore Programme (ZCP) is working with various partners to ensure that the Valley continues to be one of the last remaining strongholds for the King of the Jungle. The average pride consists of about 15 individuals, including five to 10 females with their young and two or three territorial males that are usually brothers or pride mates. Within the pride, the territorial males are the fathers of all the cubs. This lion number is a small fraction of the previously recorded 200,000 a century ago. Currently 11 strong with 5 prime-aged lionesses, this group is a super pride in the making. This website uses cookies, Some of the cookies we use are essential for the site to work. It would appear that Zambia is gearing up for the 2017 hunting season. Chart and table of Zambia population from 1950 to 2021. Currently, the District has over 50 Clubs with about 1,400 members in all provinces in Zambia. In this study, researchers measured lion survival and population growth before and during a lion hunting moratorium enacted by the Government of Zambia from 2013-2015. Applications for the allocation of quotas have been announced, probably indicating that most of the legal problems surrounding previous allocations of hunting concessions have been sorted out.It would also appear that concerns leading to the imposition of a lion trophy hunting moratorium in January … The pain is necessary for feline mating as it is the shock to her system that induces ovulation and permits fertilization. Here’s how … Lion are plentiful in the bigger National Parks but will often tend to stay in the remote parts for long periods at a time. Park manager Rob Reid said signs of struggling and bloody fecal discharge surrounded the lion’s body, which suggest either poisoning or a virulent disease. The Lion is so iconic and precious to Africa, and we must do something now to stop this decline. In this study, researchers measured lion survival and population growth before and during a lion hunting moratorium enacted by the Government of Zambia from 2013-2015. All these coalitions sired cubs with the pride but the most successful, by far, was the Nsolo Coalition. Today, Zambia has one of the largest lion populations. One particular pride of 15 lions in 2012 had only three left by the end of 2014. Her recommended addition of Mfuwe Lodge in S. Luangwa National Park, Zambia added a wildlife experience from our cottage deck alone that rivaled all other safaris: management and staff at Mfuwe were flawless. Factors that limit African lion populations are manifold and well-recognized, but their relative demographic effects remain poorly understood, particularly trophy hunting near protected areas. This series of articles will introduce future visitors to South Luangwa to the lion prides they may encounter on safari. According to IUCN research, there were 200,000 lions in the wild just 25 years ago. Given the importance of this region within KAZA and the global importance of the KAZA lion population (one of the largest remaining strongholds for the species in Africa), the escalating human-lion conflict could not be left unchecked. Before maturity at four years, young males are evicted from the group to live a nomadic existence, unwanted in any other lion territory. Zambia, a country in southeast Africa, has approximately 1,200 lions, one of the largest lion populations on the continent. This adds about 523,000 people to the population. The Big Pride: The Big Pride has been the highlight of many safaris in the main game-viewing area of South Luangwa National Park for over a decade. Over the years, the Big Pride has undergone both temporary and permanent fragmentation phases and has to date spawned 3 other groups. Although not as efficient at hunting as leopard or wild dog, their communal hunting methods ensure the survival of the group. It would appear that Zambia is gearing up for the 2017 hunting season. They are the only cats moving in family groups and normally occupy a well defined territory. In Ruaha National Park, where 10 percent of the worlds remaining population can be found, AWFs Ruaha Carnivore Project is fostering a much-needed shift in the local opinion of carnivores. This website uses cookies, Some of the cookies we use are essential for the site to work. https://www.zambiatourism.com/the-lions-of-south-luangwa-national-park Zambia has a tropical climate, … Lion Population. The most recent splinter group is the Nkwali Pride, which is composed of lionesses from the 2012/2013 cohort. This means that from 300,000 lions 25 years ago, only slightly over 22,000 remain in the wild across Africa today. We identified and monitored 386 individual lions within and around South Luangwa National Park, Zambia, for five years (2008–2012) with trophy hunting and for three … The pride was formed when a super pride of 30+ lions split into 3 groups in the Lion Plain/Mwamba area. Their mission is to conserve large carnivores and their habitat with research, conservation action and conservation empowerment. Copper isn’t Zambia’s only rich natural resource. One particular pride of 15 lions in 2012 had only three left by the end of 2014. Efforts to reestablish a healthy lion population in Zambia’s Liuwa Plain National Park suffered a devastating setback last week when the park's only adult male lion, Nakawa, was found dead. Zambia’s Lions Roam Areas Previously Believed to Be Uninhabitable A select group of migrating big cats ensures high levels of genetic diversity throughout the country’s lion population There are few regions as important to the viability of lion populations … It’s a welcome antidote to the general bad news concerning lions. The current population of Zambia in 2021 is 18,920,651, a 2.92% increase from 2020.; The population of Zambia in 2020 was 18,383,955, a 2.93% increase from 2019.; The population of Zambia in 2019 was 17,861,030, a 2.94% increase from 2018. Several lionesses may produce cubs at one time and share the feeding. Zambia, a country in southeast Africa, has approximately 1,200 lions, one of the largest lion populations on the continent. By the end of their tenure, the famous Ginger and Garlic had only produced 3 surviving cubs in the Big Pride. In the southern part of South Luangwa the territories are quite small and the numbers in the groups quite large, some over twenty. If the cubs didn’t get enough to sustain them and another kill is not made soon enough, the cubs are the first to die. Lion are plentiful in the bigger National Parks but will often tend to stay in the remote parts for long periods at a time. African lion populations have been declining by an astonishing 43% from 1993 to 2018 according to IUCN research. Since 2002, our Large Carnivore Research Project has undertaken research aimed at ensuring the continued survival of large predators living around Botswana, Namibia, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. In some areas, livestock predation remains a severe problem. Since leaving the Lion Plain/Mwamba area, the Big Pride has seen several male coalitions come and go. Exclusive Wilderness Escapes for Families, A Quick Travel Guide on How to Get to Livingstone from Lusaka. An estimated 4,500 lions remain in Zambia, while the leopard population is unknown. In the nearly 12 years that it has been South Luangwa’s most viewed pride, the group has been attended by the Luwi Coalition (Slit, Stewart & Grumpy), Shaka of the Chichele Coalition, Nsolo Coalition of 3 males, Ginger and Garlic and more recently, the Chipela Coalition from Lion Plain. Here’s how … Turning first to numbers of live elephants, the censuses suggested that elephant numbers are stable (or possibly even increasing) in the two largest elephant landscapes – Luangwa and Kafue. The Lion population is dwindling fast. Find information about wildlife, conservation efforts, tourism, how to visit the park, and more. As lion populations plummet across Africa, Sue Watt meets a lioness (Lady Liuwa) who acquired celebrity status through her story of survival in Zambia’s Liuwa Plains National Park. Factors that limit African lion populations are manifold and well-recognized, but their relative demographic effects remain poorly understood, particularly trophy hunting near protected areas. The predominant religion is a blend … The penis is barbed and its withdrawal hurts the female who may twist around and attack the dismounting male. The mating behaviour of lions is a painful process for the female. Secondly lions are not the most efficient hunters and often go hungry, and when a kill is made, the adults generally eat first. In 2017, drawn by the tragic plight of these big cats, Panthera (the global wild cat conservation organization) in partnership with Zambia’s Department of National Parks and Wildlife (DNPW) and the Zambian Carnivore Programme (ZCP), launched a massive program to curb poaching in the park. The pair usually mates for less than a minute, but it does so about every 15 to 30 minutes over a period of four to five days.