Lion population in Africa is estimated to have declined by 43% in the past 20 years; with roughly 20,000 lions only believed to be roaming the entire Continent. The following were identified as key contributors to lion population decline:

• Habitat loss and degradation

• Reduction in prey base 

• Human lion conflict 

• Lack of incentives for the communities to tolerate lions leading to a negative perception of lions and lack of support for their conservation.

• Ineffective lion population management.

• Emerging illegal trade in lion bones and other body parts for traditional medicine and lion trophies.

WWF-Kenya participated in the development of the African Lion Conservation Strategy.In Kenya, we are working in partnership with KWS and other stakeholders to review the National lion strategy and to conduct a comprehensive nation-wide lion survey using a standardized method called Spatially Explicit Capture Recapture Method. In the Mara landscape, we are working in partnership with the Mara Predator Conservation Programme to monitor human lion conflict, lion population distribution and densities, habitat use and demography. The programme supports wildlife clubs in six schools in the Mara landscape to train the future wildlife conservation champions.