By Alicia van den Abeele | Project Leader
Thank you for donating to our Protecting Lions project. Our ground-based conservation partners, the Uganda Conservation Foundation (UCF) who David Shepherd Wildlife Foundation (DSWF) has long supported, have been working on the collaring, research and understanding of key lion populations in Uganda to ensure the species ecology is better understood and therefore protected.
The year 2020 has been fraught with challenges, in light of the global pandemic, which has forced us all to adapt, one way or another. Despite the difficulties we are now faced with, we are proud to say that our relationship is as strong as ever with our ground-based conservation partners and that our combined efforts are continuing to make a difference to some of the most world’s most vulnerable wildlife populations and communities living alongside them. We are incredibly grateful to the brave wildlife rangers, who even amid the current crisis, are risking their lives on the frontline of wildlife crime and working tirelessly to maintain vital conservation efforts.
The UCF team have been working to estimate the population density and viability within South Murchison Falls Conservation Area and Kidepo Valley National Park, and in turn to better understand how they can be protected. Their research includes collaring, monitoring and assessing lions by veterinarians in order determine the exact habitat size and range of Uganda’s lions and therefore evaluate the threats they face.
Your support, your impact:
Unfortunately, part of Karenga Community Reserve (south of Kidepo Valley National Park) is threatened by a takeover from district government. In partnership with the Uganda Wildlife Authority, the Uganda Conservation Foundation (UCF) Carnivore & Scavenger Programme has agreed to investigate the situation and continue to monitor lions and other big cats in the area. We were delighted to find out that, after a period four hard days in the bush, the UCF team managed to collar one male lion, providing valuable insight for years to come. In March this year, DSWF also funded for the UCF to carry out another operation returning to Karenga, where further lion observations were made.
Furthermore, through DSWF’s long-term funding, UCF has been able to engage with local communities and requested local leaders and herdsmen to identify young individuals to be trained into wildlife warriors. Inspiring and educating communities that live side by side with wildlife, gives us hope that these young individuals may one day become the conservation heroes of the area.
From everyone here at DSWF, thank you in advance for your support at such a critical time. With your help, DSWF can continue to fund UCF and their incredible work to protect the lions of Uganda.
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