Four years after the last lion was seen in Malawi’s Liwonde National Park, African Parks has reintroduced the first of several wild lions.
In partnership with the Department of National Parks and Wildlife (DNPW), and with the support of the Dutch Government and the Lion Recovery Fund, two mature male lions were released into enclosed bomas within Liwonde National Park, after being translocated from Majete Wildlife Reserve, where lions were reintroduced in 2012.
The lions will remain in the bomas for several weeks to allow for close monitoring of their well-being, adjustment and bonding with the two lionesses, which will be translocated from South Africa in March, before being released into the national park.
The translocation is symbolic of Majete’s restoration, as the pride was completely poached out decades ago, but since their reintroduction, the population has grown significantly, so much so that it can assist in repopulating Liwonde, which is 200 kilometres northeast of Majete.
African Parks will supplement the populations in both parks over the upcoming months, with the translocation of up to 12 additional males from South Africa, making this an important milestone for lion conservation in Malawi, where populations are currently being revitalised in an effort to restore the country’s parks, rehabilitate wildlife populations and encourage tourism.
The arrival of these large cats forms the foundation for a secure national population of lions, aiding with further distinguishing Malawi as an emerging premier wildlife destination.
African Parks’ Liwonde Park Manager, Craig Reid commented: “The reintroduction of lions is fundamentally enriching for Liwonde. It restores a key species that is critical to the healthy functioning of the natural system, contributes to the establishment of an important local predator population, and will significantly benefit tourism as a mechanism for socio-economic growth.”
Over a century ago, there were more than 200 000 wild lions living in Africa and within two decades the population have decreased by 42%.
Lions are extinct in 26 African countries, with about 20 000 lions left in the wild, which has prompted the International union for the Conservation of Nature to classify lions as ‘vulnerable’ on the Red List of Threatened Species.
