For the first time ever, lions were discovered living inside a national park in Ethiopia, confirming local folk tales of how these majestic creatures has been thriving, hidden from humans.
These lions were found in the Alatash National Park located in the northwestern region of Ethiopia, near the border of Sudan. Lion conservationist Hans Bauer, discovered them while on an expedition under the Oxford University's Wildlife Conservation Research Unit. Apart from this park, the lions were also traced to Dinder National Park across Sudan, near the eastern border.
According to Bauer, the lions were observed within easy range, where they appear to reside across the Alatash and Dinder. The lion populations that were found were estimated to be 100 to 200 lions inside the whole ecosystem including 50 more in Alatash.
Bauer says that since there is limited watering holes, prey are quite hard to come by which would mean lion populations are also low, that could bring about an estimate of one to two lions per 100 square kilometers.
Another reason why lions remain hidden or undiscovered by humans in the region is due to to less visitors as well. However, after the expedition, Bauer and his team obtained evidence from camera traps of lions and lion tracks in the area.
Conservationists feel positive about this discovery who have been rallying for international efforts for more lion protection. To date, lions are listed as a vulnerable species on the IUCN's Red List of Endangered species.
Since the 1980s, lion populations have declined from 50 percent to 75 percent where they are thought to be locally extinct in Sudan. In Africa, lions are being killed off to protect human communities and livestock where they have lost their habitats to expanding agriculture.
Researchers aim to alert the Ethiopian and Sudanese government officials about this discovery to begin conservation efforts of these populations and implement stricter regulations to protect these areas. Researchers say the next step is alerting government officials in Ethiopia and Sudan about the discovery, so they can embark on possible efforts to conserve these populations and better protect these areas.
According to chief executive Adam M. Roberts of Born Free who funded this expedition, this confirmation and evidence of lions that thrive in the area is certainly exciting news. Lion populations are already declining in Africa, and this discovery of unconfirmed populations is crucial in Ethiopia, as their government strongly supports the conservation of the species. Protection of their ecosystems is the most important step for the remaining lions in the continent so that they can bounce back from declining numbers.