Lion (Panthera leo) populations are declining rapidly across Africa, except in intensively managed areas.

ABSTRACT: We compiled all credible repeated lion surveys and present time series data for 47 lion (Panthera leo) populations. We used a Bayesian state space model to estimate growth rate-λ for each population and summed these into three regional sets to provide conservation-relevant estimates of trends since 1990. We found a striking geographical pattern: African lion populations are declining everywhere, except in four southern countries (Botswana, Namibia, South Africa, and Zimbabwe). Population models indicate a 67% chance that lions in West and Central Africa decline by one-half, while estimating a 37% chance that lions in East Africa also decline by one-half over two decades. We recommend separate regional assessments of the lion in the World Conservation Union (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Spe

SUBMITTER: Bauer H 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4672814 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature