The Last Lion Project not only has the potential to run along aside several other conservation initiatives but allow for new baselines to be established and routine monitoring of these.
The scientific partnerships affiliated with the programme are critical to assessing and evaluating long-term coordinated success. Progress will be evaluated in cooperation with several organisations including the Kenyan Wildlife Services. The project has already secured assistance from world-class, field-leading scientists such as Dr Y V Jhala from the Wildlife Institute of India, whose considerable experience in the release of hand-reared predators is invaluable to the project.
The responsibility of such partnerships will include the collection of comprehensive data sets from monitoring programmes and the respective interpolation of data collected. This type of information will be essential in creating diagnostic tools for evaluating both current and future projects as well as assessing management interventions. This will help guide the programme and shape a best practice model that ensures the safety of both personnel and our lions.
Potential research objectives could include:
- Site-specific diversity and prey density assessments
- Assessment of the current carrying capacity
- Population Habitat Viability Analysis
- Training of personnel
- Disease and Health Management of the Founders and other Lions in the area
- Individual lion welfare, capture, holding and transportation to site
- Community Participation: Awareness & Outreach, Conflict Mitigation, and Livelihood Enhancement
- Facilitate additional research activities