1. The status of African Lions
March 2019
The Parliament of South Africa

2. Definitions
Below is the definitions of the three categories of lions as per South Africa’s Lion Biodiversity Management Plan 1. Wild lions completely fulfil their role in biodiversity processes and are largely unmanaged, and exist only in formally proclaimed national parks and game reserves. Conservationists do not actively manipulate vital rates and lion demographics. 2. Managed wild lions include all lions that have been re-introduced into smaller fenced reserves (managed to limit population growth and maintain genetic diversity). Managers actively manipulate some vital rates and demographics. 3. Captive lions are bred exclusively to generate money. Managers actively manipulate all vital rates and demographics.

3. The status of African mammal populations
Charlene Bisset
Craige et al Large mammal population declines in Africa’s protected areas. Biological Conservation 143: 2221–2228. 3

4. The home range of African Lions
Continentally, lions have a vulnerable status, are declining in fragmented small populations, but do well when they live in large areas 4

5. The status of African Lions
South Africa’s Lion Population
In Southern Africa, the population grew by 8%, while in sharp contrast, the populations declined by 59% in Eastern Africa and 66% in West and Central Africa.
Bauer, H., Packer, C., Funston, P.F., Henschel, P. & Nowell, K Panthera leo. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2016: e.T15951A

6. The status of African Lions
Wild Lions in Unfenced Populations in Central, East and West Africa (n = 23)
IUCN Red List

7. The status of African Lions
Wild Lions in Unfenced Populations in Southern Africa (n = 6)
IUCN Red List

8. The status of African Lions
Managed Lions in Fenced Populations (n = 16)
IUCN Red List

9. Other global populations
IUCN Red List

10. The status of South Africa’s lions
Wild lions
Kruger National Park
1700
Associated Private Nature Reserves
300
Kalahari Gemsbok National Park
246
Greater Mapungubwe 10
Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park
120
Managed wild lions
Private reserves
500
Captive lions
Breeding facilities
6000
Miller S, Riggio J, Funston P, Power RJ, Williams V, Child MF A conservation assessment of Panthera leo. In Child MF, Roxburgh L, Do Linh San E, Raimondo D, Davies-Mostert HT, editors. The Red List of Mammals of South Africa, Swaziland and Lesotho. South African National Biodiversity Institute and Endangered Wildlife Trust, South Africa.
SANParks is not involved in captive lion breeding or management of captive bred lions

11. Thank you
THANK YOU