Big Cat Month Nat Geo WILD; Interview with Hans de Iongh

Recently Prof Hans de Iongh, Chair of the Leo foundation, but also also guest researcher of the Institute of Environmental Sciences Leiden and guest professor at Antwerp university, gave an interview on lion conservation in Africa. This as a contribution to Big Cat Month ( February) on Nat Geo WILD. The interview was held in the appropriate setting of the African savanna of Burgers zoo in Arnhem.

Based on more than 10 years of support on the ground by the Leo foundation ánd more than years of research by CML Leiden and Antwerp university on large cats in Africa, Prof Hans de Iongh highlights both successes and failures and the contribution of science to lion conservation in Africa.

Hans specifically notes that due to collaboration of scientists with NGOs (like the Leo Loundation, IUCN, WWF and WCS), local governments and local communities in many African countries (Kenya, Cameroon, Benin and Senegal) successes in conservation have been reported. Besides science practical actions on the ground such as the implementation of national action plans for lion conservation, education of school children and enforcement of bomas to protect livestock are of utmost importance. Prof

Hans de Iongh welcomed the contributions of The National Geographic Big Cat Initiative and Burgers zoo in Arnhem to conservation projects on the ground supported by scientific research to make well informed management decisions. He also stressed the importance of local capacity building through African PhD students and education programmes for African school children. CML Leiden has played an important role in academic capacity building of African scientist by supporting more than 18 African PhD students over the past 20 years