Lion and leopard populations in Zambia’s Kafue National Park are showing signs of a modest comeback after decades of poaching, helped by expanded protection strategies, including an innovative vulture early-warning system. Big cat densities across Kafue, measured broadly for the first time by global conservation organisation Panthera, remained stable and in some cases increased from 2018 to 2022, according to a new report shared exclusively with Reuters. In the recent assessment, scientists found that more lion cubs were born into Kafue prides from 2018-2021. That’s a sign that adult survival is improving because as females live longer, “they’re more likely to give birth to cubs”, said Panthera lion programme director Andrew Loveridge.
SOURCE: BUSINESS LIVE