Lion Program

Jaws made waves for sharks in 1975, terrifying generations of beachgoers and creating a harmful portrayal of the species that encourages more lethal mitigation techniques than what is actually necessary. The resulting "Jaws effect" is associated with the devastating decline of shark populations, estimated to be as high as 71% in the last 50 years. Both sharks and lions are classified as Vulnerable by the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.

When you think of landscapes where cats roam in Africa, your mind likely wanders to East or southern Africa. Lions stalk the landscape. Leopards drag their meals up trees and cheetahs race past, hunting gazelles. Thousands of wildebeest and zebra dot the landscape. Hippos and hungry crocodiles lurk in the rivers. 

Note: This piece is the second installment of a blog series detailing our work protecting Critically Endangered West African lions in Senegal’s Niokolo-Koba National Park. For an introduction to the program, click here. 

In this blog, read from Conservation Scientist Dr. Kristoffer Everatt about our project recovering West African lion populations in Niokolo-Koba National Park, Senegal. This article details his second trip to the park to GPS collar these Critically Endangered lions. 

2021 began with hope. We took inspiration from the highly adaptable wild cats whom we work tirelessly to protect, who seem to come back stronger after every challenge. Looking into the future, we wished for a better world, where the struggles of COVID-19 would slowly start to fade away. After a year of isolation, we saw a glimmer of the life we once knew. Unfortunately, however, 2021 brought its own difficulties. As the leader of a global organization, I myself had to adapt to best support our staff, and, of course, wild cats during this trying time.

Each year on Endangered Species Day, we are reminded of a sorrowing reality. It is an unfortunate truth — many of the world’s most iconic species are endangered and face extinction. From Sumatran rhinoceroses to blue whales, species everywhere are in danger of dying out. Every year, we are reminded that we must commit ourselves to their protection. 

Editor's Note: This piece was originally published on the Lion Recovery Fund's website. Click here to see the original.

February 14, 2022

Today is Valentine’s Day! On this romantic date, we’re showing our love for wild cats. And if you don’t have a special someone to spend the day with, we’ve got you covered. Check out these big cat dating profiles and see who you’re most compatible with. Love is in the air!

July 16, 2021

In this Field Notes blog, SMART Coordinator for Zambia and Zimbabwe Choolwe Mulenga explains how SMART software has made it easier to analyze, report and store data in a secure manner and how this amazing and innovative technology helps us protect wild cats and the wild places where they live.

As Regional Carnivore Monitoring Coordinator for West and Central Africa, Marine Drouilly shares her amazing experience setting up camera traps to study wildlife in Senegal’s Niokolo Koba National Park. Working alongside the Directorate of National Parks and Panthera Senegal, she reminds us of how working together, we can ensure a future for some of Africa’s most iconic wildlife.

“Grrrrrr…”