Do MoreNamibia Wildlife Sanctuary
Namibia Wildlife Sanctuary
Traveller rating:
14 - 84 Nights from Experience hands-on volunteering in Africa in the heart of the beautiful Namibian wilderness!
Lion Conservation
In almost every wildlife programme the Lion is the undoubted star of the show. Whenever anyone thinks of the wildlife in Africa, an image of a golden pride of lions trekking across the savannah comes to mind. These incredible big cats may be a symbol of strength in the animal kingdom, but lion conservation efforts are needed now more than ever to prevent the decline of this amazing animal. Lions once roamed across vast swathes of land in both Africa and Asia, but as their two major threats of habitat loss and hunting become ever more prominent, the fate of the lion is well and truly uncertain.
This is why here at The Great Projects we are delighted to be able to offer you the chance to take part in one of our incredible lion conservation projects! You can travel to South Africa or even Namibia to immerse yourself in the world of the planet's most famous big cat. Lion conservation projects are crucial to the survival of this big cat, so why not sign up to a project and help now!
Lions At A glance
ENDANGERED STATUS
VulnerableNUMBER REMAINING IN THE WILD
20,000-30,000ENDEMIC REGION
Africa And Some Parts Of AsiaHow Endangered Are Lions
Although a population of 20,000-30,000 may seem like a lot, in the grand scheme of things it spells danger for the lion. Over the last 20 years, their numbers have plummeted by around 30% and today over 40% of their population is in decline.The lion was not placed under the protection of the Endangered Species Act until December 2015, and this could go some way as to explaining why their numbers continued to drop at such an alarming rate. Now that they are on the list, the hope is that their species will be able to recover.
Threats Lions Are Facing
Lions may be an apex predator, but they are coming under increasing pressure from human-based threats. Two of the biggest of these threats are:
- Habitat Encroachment – as humans continue to expand their farmland into what was once considered lion territory, this is leading to clashes between the cats and people. If a lion takes down a farmer’s livestock, more often than not the lion is killed so the farmer can retain his animals.
- Hunting – hunting is still rife throughout Africa, and once these big cats are staring down the barrel of a so-called “hunter’s” rifle, they stand no chance at all.
Fast Facts
- An adult lion’s roar can be heard up to five miles away!
- In 2005, an Ethiopian girl was kidnapped and beaten by 7 men until a pride of lions chased her attackers off. The lions then stayed and defended her until help arrived.
- Lions with black manes are alpha males. A dark-maned lion’s testosterone levels are higher than the levels in other males, his cubs are more likely to survive, and he is more likely to recover from wounds. Lionesses prefer a dark-maned mate.
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Do More
Shamwari Conservation Experience
Shamwari Conservation Experience
Traveller rating:
14 - 84 Nights from $1,232.00
Volunteer with the 'Big Five' and the Born Free Foundation in one of South Africa's finest game reserves.
Zululand Wildlife Conservation Project
Zululand Wildlife Conservation Project
Traveller rating:
14 - 84 Nights from $1,494.00
Assist in vital conservation efforts in South Africa, working to protect the iconic ‘Big Five’.
Where you can go
Contact Info
UK OfficeThe Great Traveller Ltd,
3 Dairy Yard
Star Street
Ware, Hertfordshire
SG12 7DX
United Kingdom
Opening hours:
Mon-Fri 8:30am–5:30pm
Sat 10am-4pm Foreign Office Travel Advice
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