recent press release from the "African Lion Working Group
(ALWG)" announces that : "The African lion is becoming an
endangered species"!
This statement, which will surprise to say the least those people who are
working in the field, is based upon an exaggerated interpretation by ALWG
of an IUCN criterion to list a species as "endangered", i.e.when its
numbers have undergone a "suspected reduction in abundance of at
least 50% over a ten year period".
An IUCN lion survey, published in 1996 by the IUCN/SSC Cat Specialist Group,
which regroups the wild cat experts of the world, estimated that there were
between 30,000 and 100,000 lions in Sub-Saharan Africa, and concluded, as
quoted by ALWG members meeting in October 1999, that "lions are a high
priority for conservation action… nonetheless, no data are available
indicating that the situation is deteriorating". The ALWG decided to
undertake a continent-wide survey of lions in Africa.
Since very little data had been available from Central and Western Africa, a
workshop was first organized in Cameroon and then a questionnaire was sent to
some people in these two regions. The result , as could be expected, is very
incomplete due in part to the lack of field experience of some members of ALWG
who carried out this task.
The result was a first panicky ALWG Press Release in February, followed now
by a Report of the presence of 40% fewer lions in Africa than the 1996 lower
estimate, accompanied by claims that the Western and Central African
populations were indeed endangered and that "zero offtake (was
recommended) pending new censuses".
A conclusive figure for the continental population of African lion is given,
although several lion Range States are not covered, nor major lion populations
such as the ones in Omo N.P. in Ethiopia, Tarangire/Ruaha in Tanzania, etc…Some
Central and West African lion populations (Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon) which
have been the object of sustainable offtake for decades, are ignored. I wonder
whether the absence of some sources may be attributed to a lack of familiarity
with the French language.
My conclusion is that more field experts should always be involved when
addressing wildlife management issues and recommendations. The ALWG founders
had taken that very resolution two years ago. Furthermore, when it is formally
established that a particular sub-population is steadily declining ( it must be
remembered that predator/prey systems are known to fluctuate naturally ), a
consensual action plan should be drawn up.
In the meantime, let us hope that all will work together and that the Cat
Specialist Group will be revitalized and play its role.
