The decline in lion populations in the northern parts of the Kruger National Park is a harsh reality that requires urgent attention. (Photo: Endangered Wildlife Trust/Facebook)
The Kruger National Park has long been regarded as the heartbeat of conservation in Southern Africa, but new data paint a disturbing picture of the challenges facing the king of the forest.
According to a recent survey by the Trust for Endangered Wildlife (EWT), in collaboration with SANParks and the Lion Recovery Fund, the decline in lion populations in the northern parts of the park is a harsh reality that requires urgent attention.
The Greater Limpopo Transboundary Conservation Area, which includes South Africa, Mozambique and Zimbabwe, is one of the last areas where the African lion (Panthera leo) still occur in significant numbers. Within this giant ecosystem, the Kruger National Park plays a key role in the maintenance of the species in surrounding reserves. Over the past decade, Tóg has brought new challenges that are beginning to threaten the survival of lions.
“The illegal hunting of lions in the last decade has taken a significant toll on the species, whether through the use of snares for bushmeat or the deliberate poisoning of carnivores in certain areas. With the persistent reports of poaching, especially in the northern part of the Kruger National Park, it is clear that the current state of the lions in the region is alarming,” says the report.
The illegal hunting of lions in the last decade has taken a significant toll on the species. (Photo: SAPS)
Numbers that tell the story
The contrast between historical data and current estimates is striking. In 2005, the first park-wide survey estimated the lion population at 1,803 individuals, of which 455 occurred in the extreme north. However, by 2025, the numbers in the Nxanatseni North and South areas had dropped to only 179 individuals.
The future of the Kruger lion rests on a combination of scientific research and socio-economic interventions. (Photo for illustration: Unsplash)
During a three-month survey in 2023 in the Nxanatseni North area, the lion population was estimated at only 105 individuals. For this study, researchers conducted fieldwork by actively searching for lions and using camera traps to identify individual animals.
In 2024, the focus shifted to the Nxanatseni south area, where the team traveled more than 10,446 km between July and September to conduct an accurate population survey of the lions.
The team recorded 182 sightings of 74 individual lions, of which 22 were males and 52 were females. Due to the high mortality rate among cubs under one year of age, the young lions were excluded from the survey to keep the data as accurate as possible.
“We used photographs of the lions’ unique whisker patterns to identify each individual. This helped prevent the same lion from being accidentally counted more than once,” say the researchers.
According to the 2024 survey, the lion population in Nxanatseni South is estimated at around 144 individuals, with a density of 3.5 lions per 100 km². Research shows that the availability of habitat and resources determines where the lions thrive best.
“Most lions have been recorded in parts of the park where there are large herds of herbivores, thanks to fertile soil and rich pasture. Conversely, fewer lions are in the western parts of the park where mopane veld, the proximity of human settlements and poaching limit the distribution of the animals.
“In areas with mountainous terrain, poor soil and little rainfall, the natural environment itself also plays a role in how many lions there are,” says EWT.
In addition to the quality of the habitat, water plays a critical role. The survey confirmed that the number of lions decreases drastically the further the carnivores move from water sources. Although the team did not specifically count poaching incidents, they did come across the carcasses of poached lions along the western border of the park.
The survey confirmed that the number of lions decreases drastically the further the carnivores move from water sources. (Photo: godiscoverabroad.com)
The way forward: Hope and hard work
The findings of the report send a strong message to conservationists and policy makers to act. The future of the Kruger lion rests on a combination of scientific research and socio-economic interventions.
“The sightings are alarming, given the conservation importance of the lion population in the Kruger National Park. To protect the lions within the Greater Kruger Conservation Area, it is necessary to strengthen cooperation with local communities and users of traditional medicine, together with stricter law enforcement.”
“This could mean that rangers receive powers of arrest to arrest persons involved in wildlife crimes and that heavier penalties are introduced for such crimes. In addition, more research is needed to better understand the effect of water management and the growing human presence along the park boundaries,” says EWT.
(Foto: Love South Africa/Facebook)