African Lion - SAVE Wildlife Conservation Fund

More documents

Recommendations

Info

3. Diseases such as LLF and the FIV Virus (Feline Immunodeficiency Virus)A dramatic problem among the wild cat populations since 1995 are the diseases LLF and FIV. Especially in thesouthern part of Kruger National Park in South Africa, tuberculosis and the FIV virus have taken their toll on lions. Tothis date, there is no vaccine for these diseases.Tuberculosis, which affects the digestive tract, is transmitted to lions through the eating of buffalo, which are viruscarriers through domestic cattle. Lions with tuberculosis lose so much weight in such a short period of time thatamong other things, they are prone to more illnesses such as the FI Virus. Hence, mortality rates go up. Almost 90 %of the lions living in Kruger National Park have this bacterial infection. In 1962, it was an epidemic of biting house fliesthat killed many wild cats. As a result, a genetic shift took place, reducing the genetic diversity drastically.Most likely, the bacteria and viruses are originally brought to Africa by domestic dogs. 1000 lions died in the Serengetiin 1994 because of dogs that carried them. However, since house dogs can not survive in wildlife parks, there must bean animal that acts as an agent. Many study cases were performed and discoveries were made that 96% of all lionshave an anti-body for the Feline-Herpes-Virus. 42% have an immune complex for the Feline-Immune- Deficiency-Virusand 26% have one for the Canine-Distemper-Virus. Furthermore, experts found that the viruses in Botswana andTanzania form their own sub type. In Tanzania, it is said that the animals were infected by the Fi-virus much earlierthan it broke out. Similar to the Human Immunodeficiency Virus, it can take up to four years for an outbreak to occur.In cases as such, it is most likely that jackals are the agent. A way to determine the rate of infestation faster and moreefficiently would be affordable urine tests.A simple vaccination for house-held dogs alone would protect from such infectious diseases. Unfortunately, althoughseveral of these vaccinations are on the market, they are usually not enforced. Beyond that, a better control and aregistration of dogs would also be a productive attempt. A different approach would be to genetically mix the lionsfrom Kenya and South Africa.Obviously, there is still much to be done when it comes to calling attention to the problem, educating and actuallyimplementing solutions.© SAVE
© SAVE250.000200.000150.000100.00050.000-1975 1990 2002 2006© SAVEFigure 1: Shows the estimated population and the decline over the last 30-35 years.Picture: Lion darting , Kalahari, Botswana.In Africa, lions (Panthera leo) are on a rapid decline. From an estimated number of 200,000 Africanlions in 1975 (Myers, 1975), less than 100,000 remained by the early 1990s (Nowell & Jackson, 1996)and current population estimates range from as low as 23,000 (Bauer & van der Merwe, 2004) to39,000 (Chardonnet, 2002). The most recent, and probably most accurate, estimate numbers thecontinent-wide lion population at less than 28,000 (IUCN/SSC Cat Specialist Group, 2006).Key publications:Bauer, H., van der Merwe, S. (2004) Inventory of free-ranging lions (Panthera leo) in Africa. Oryx, 38:26-31Chardonnet, P. (2002) Conservation of the African lion. International Foundation for the Conservation of Wildlife and Conservation Force, ParisIUCN SSC Cat Specialist Group (2006). Regional Conservation Strategy for the lion Panthera leo in Eastern and Southern Africa. IUCN SSC Cat SpecialistGroup, Gland, SwitzerlandMyers, N. (1975) The silent savannas. International Wildlife, 5:5-10Nowell, K., Jackson, P. (eds) (1996) Wild cats: status survey and conservation action plan. IUCN, Gland
Page 1 and 2: © SAVELars GorschlüterSAVE Africa
Page 3 and 4: Conservation of African Lions (Pant
Page 5 and 6: © SAVESocial BehaviorLions are gro
Page 7: EnemiesAccording to the IUCN (Inter

African Lion - SAVE Wildlife Conservation Fund

Create successful ePaper yourself

Delete template?

Save as template?