Conserving lions in the vast wildlands of the Kgalagadi
Conserving lions in the vast wildlands of the Kgalagadi
By Dr. Peter Lindsey, Director of the Lion Recovery Fund
Botswana is renowned for its wild landscapes, epic wildlife, and its strong commitment to conservation. The country has set aside approximately 29% of its land area for conservation and is home to some of the world’s most iconic wildlife areas, including the Okavango Delta, Chobe National Park, Makgadikgadi Pans National Park, Central Kalahari Game Reserve, and the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park.
Botswana hosts the world’s largest population of elephants and the second largest population of lions, after Tanzania. A report compiled in 2015 by Christiaan Winterbach and Glyn Maude estimated that the national population of lions stood at around 3,500 individuals, with approximately 2,000 in northern Botswana, 700 in Central Kalahari Game Reserve, and 750 in the Kgalagadi. While these numbers are impressive, the general trend in Africa over recent years has been for numbers to be lower than expected when recounted, especially using more scientifically robust methods. There is no room for complacency, particularly given the growing human pressures on Botswana’s wildlife. There has been a gradual expansion of human and livestock populations in many of the country’s Wildlife Management Areas—a lesser category of protected area where multiple land uses are permitted. In addition, there is pressure on wildlife from poachers in search of bushmeat and body parts.
