As one of the most iconic wildlife species in Africa, lions are a major source of income for Kenya. Large numbers of tourists are attracted to Kenya’s lion hotspots, as to catch a glimpse of the big cat during a safari. However, to keep populations healthy and thriving, protection measures need to be implemented. In the case of lions, such measures are often aimed at avoiding conflicts with local communities.In Kenya’s National Parks, Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS), a state corporation under the Ministry of Tourism and Wildlife, is responsible for the implementation of such measures. The Leo Foundation is working closely with KWS, to support them on their mission. Using a broad range of methods for surveying and monitoring, KWS now also integrated genetics as part of their toolbox. A recent scientific study was conducted to understand how genetics could help protect Kenya’s lions.
The study was led by employees of KWS and the Wildlife Research and Training Institute. Ms. Mumbi Chege, who is currently a PhD student at Leiden University and is also supported by the Leo Foundation, deployed genetics to obtain insights into Kenya’s lion diversity. Kenyan lions show a quite pronounced genetic structure, which can partially be attributed to their evolutionary history over the past few millennia, but also to recent changes in the environment, including management interventions. To conserve lions and their diversity in the best possible way, this information needs to be taken into account. The article therefore specifically addresses how past management interventions have influenced current patterns of lion diversity, and what this means for future conservation decisions.
In Kenya, as a result of human encroachment into lion habitats, lions sometimes come into conflict with local communities, e.g. through incidents involving lion attacks on livestock, and in certain cases humans. When such incidents are reported, KWS steps in to mitigate the conflict, often by capturing the so-called “problem lion” and moving it to a different location. This new research shows that the effects of such relocations remain visible in the genetic make-up of lion populations, especially in areas that often served as the new location for “problem lions”. Another way of mitigating conflict between lions and people is by fencing protected areas. This also affects the genetic composition of lion populations, as the study results have shown. This effect could be explained by the increased degree of isolation caused by the fencing, and may ultimately lead to inbreeding..
For this study, the researchers analyzed 171 lion samples. These were collected from various sources, including KWS field stations across Kenya. Originally, the sample collection was started by Dr. Francis Lesilau, a former KWS employee and partner of the Leo Foundation, who obtained his PhD degree at Leiden University in 2019. Mumbi Chege continued the sample collection to obtain a good coverage of all major lion populations in Kenya. To analyze the samples, a lion-specific genetic panel was used.
This publication shows how a genetic panel can serve as a tool to better inform wildlife management. Apart from identifying population structure and potential risks for inbreeding, it can serve as a reliable method to estimate population sizes, study connectivity and for forensic applications. Ultimately it will provide KWS with an advanced and useful management tool to help protect Kenya’s lion diversity in a more effective way.
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