Queen Elizabeth National Park launches lion recovery program

The Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) and the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) have entered into a 10-year conservation management partnership focused on the Ishasha sector of Queen Elizabeth National Park. A primary goal of this initiative is to recover the population of tree-climbing lions, which has declined from approximately 80 individuals in the 1970s to a much smaller number today.

The program aims to strengthen wildlife protection, restore habitats, develop tourism, and reduce human-wildlife conflict. Potential strategies include the scientific translocation of lions to supplement existing populations, conducted in consultation with local communities. The Ishasha sector is part of the Greater Virunga Landscape, a transboundary ecosystem connecting Uganda with the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Queen Elizabeth National Park, established in 1952 and a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve since 1979, covers approximately 1,978 square kilometers. Its landscape is characterized by a diverse mosaic of savannas, wetlands, crater lakes, and forests situated between Lake George and Lake Edward.