Imagine a place where lions still roam free, where golden savannas stretch into the horizon, and chimpanzees echo through ancient gallery forests. This is Niokolo-Koba National Park (NKNP) — a sprawling expanse of over 9,000 square kilometers in southeastern Senegal. As the second-largest national park in West Africa and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Niokolo-Koba is more than a protected area; it’s a vital sanctuary for the region’s dwindling biodiversity. NKNP is home to one of only two remaining populations of Critically Endangered West African lions, a distinct genetic clade.
Yet, like many ecosystems across West Africa, Niokolo-Koba has faced escalating threats. Over the past 30 years, the park’s lion and elephant populations have suffered dramatic declines. Fueled by climate change, illegal wildlife trade, human encroachment, and development-driven infrastructure like roads, the park’s fragile ecosystem has been stretched to the brink.
But Niokolo-Koba’s story isn’t just one of loss — it’s also one of resilience. Panthera began conservation work in Niokolo-Koba in 2011, when Senegal’s Department of National Parks (DPN) invited us to conduct the park’s first-ever lion survey. Only 10-15 individuals remained in the park at the time. Today, their population has more than doubled.
Over the past decade, we've built a strong working relationship with the government of Senegal, formalized through a long-term agreement with the DPN to strengthen park management and security. We provide direct support to ranger teams for effective large-scale patrols, the rebuilding and expansion of the park’s infrastructure, and intensive ecological monitoring, including monitoring lions using GPS collars.
In June 2021, Florence, or Flo, was the first lion in Senegal to be collared, along with several other members of the Simenti pride. Flo was around six years old and quickly became a fan favorite among Panthera field staff and followers. The pride then consisted of Flo, her sister Awa, a young male named Aziz, and two subadult females. A dominant male known as Bour (meaning "king" in Wolof), famous for his imposing presence and charisma, reigned over the pride.
The Simenti pride was closely monitored for 14 months thanks to their GPS collars, until the collars stopped working in August 2022. After that, scientists monitored the pride with remote cameras, tracking all of the highs and lows that come with lion life — from Bour’s disappearance following a violent confrontation with a coalition of three young males to Awa giving birth to a litter of four cubs, three of which are still alive today.
In late 2022, Flo disappeared, raising fears that she had been killed. Panthera scientists began an intensive search that included placing camera traps in areas where she was last tracked. Footage soon revealed that Flo, then about 9 or 10, had been denning to safely birth three cubs.
This marked Flo’s third litter, bringing her total to nine cubs. As the matriarch of Niokolo-Koba, she had contributed what was then roughly one-third of the park’s entire lion population. It was a joyous moment.
“When the history of Niokolo Koba’s recovery is written,” said Panthera West and Central Africa Regional Director Dr. Philipp Henschel, “Florence above all others will likely be recognized as the critical driver of West African lion recovery in one of this big cat’s last strongholds.”
Flo was not seen by camera traps, rangers, or tourists in 2024. Still, we held out hope. With the 2025 large carnivore monitoring campaign underway, the team remained optimistic that she might reappear.
“Each time camera traps were collected and reviewed — often late into the night — there was excitement and hope: maybe, just maybe, Flo would be among the lions captured in the images,” said Mouhamadou Mody Ndiaye, Panthera Wildlife and Habitat Monitoring Coordinator.
On June 8, the last remaining remote camera station was checked, located on a trail that has long been favored by the pride. The memory cards were removed with growing anticipation.
The images began to scroll — plenty of antelope, a few leopards, even some spotted hyenas — but no lions.
Then, an image dated June 3 appeared. An adult female lion walking in broad daylight, healthy and wearing a collar. She looked so familiar, team members initially thought it might be Flo.
But after a careful comparison with older images, it became clear: this wasn’t Flo. It was Ndeye, her daughter. Now fully grown, she has inherited her mother’s place, leading the pride with her sister, younger sibling, and two young brothers.
Awa, Flo’s sister, is also still occasionally spotted within the pride’s territory — though not always seen with the younger generation who have now taken over.
Nature can be unforgiving, even in a place as breathtaking as Niokolo-Koba National Park. While Flo’s fate remains uncertain — and there’s always a chance she could reappear — we do know that her life offers a promise of survival for West African lions in Senegal.
“Flo may not have returned, but she left behind a strong and thriving lineage. Her legacy endures through Ndeye and the pride she now leads, offering renewed hope for the lion population in Niokolo-Koba National Park,” said Ndiaye.
Niokolo-Koba is powerful symbol of what’s possible when local knowledge, national leadership, and international collaboration come together.
In 2024, UNESCO removed the park from the List of World Heritage Sites in Danger — recognizing the strides made over 17 years toward reversing its decline. This milestone reflects a collective commitment from Senegal’s national parks authority, local communities and conservation partners.
The “Ghost Elephant” of Niokolo-Koba was recently captured on video for the first time in years, sparking discussions on what can be done to protect the elephant and the technical feasibility of restoring a breeding population in the park.
Another camera trap in the park captured an endangered giant pangolin for the first time in 24 years, a discovery that revives hope for this nearly extinct species.
Panthera’s team is now working toward an ambitious but achievable goal: 50 West African lions in NKNP by 2025 and 100 by 2030. This includes protecting critical habitat, preventing poaching, and supporting sustainable livelihoods for those who share the land with wildlife.
NKNP's recovery is a testament to what’s possible when we listen to the land, respect those who live with wildlife, and invest in protection that lasts.
You can honor Flo and her legacy by helping us champion this comeback — for the lions, for Senegal, and for the future of wild West Africa.
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© Sebastian Kennerknecht
