The Last  Lions (Panthera Leo)

The Last Lions is an organisation established to promote, support, and develop a successful pathway for the reintroduction of hand-reared lions into the wild. The mission is to establish a world-first, scientifically and economically secure, hand-reared lion re-introduction programme in Kenya. This re-wilding concept pays homage to the incredible work of pioneers George Adamson and Tony Fitzjohn in hand releasing lions in Kenya.

The programme is designed to be implemented in phases, each with defined goals. The initial reintroduction is to focus on the Eastern-Southern African Lion (Panthera leo melanochaita). Our group has the expertise to implement this programme with minimal disruption to other conservation projects, interim being able to better support the overall national conservation goals.

The Last Lions team has engaged with Kenyan authorities and international experts to support this environmentally sound and financially viable pilot programme. We are confident that this phased five-year model will result in a template that can be adapted to a range of predator species in multiple National Parks.

This programme could become the cornerstone of broader rehabilitation efforts and national park reform within Kenya, leading to increased employment opportunities and improved tourism outcomes. Better management of natural resources alongside tourism focused initiatives will help to restore Kenya’s reputation as a preeminent and economically sustainable African wildlife paradise.

The main objectives of the project are:

1. In partnership with the Kenyan Wildlife Service (KWS), to establish a viable project site within the national parks system to protect its landscape and inhabitants with the use of Lions as an umbrella species.
2. Acquire and train approx. seven captive born or orphaned lion cubs through Kenyan Wildlife Services (KWS) for a return to the wild over an initial five-year period to help demonstrate this direct link back to the wild.
3. Improve local infrastructure and employment opportunities, working to better animal-human conflict
4. Use of modern drone technology for surveillance, anti-poaching, and scientific study
5. Use of appropriate scientific and social media channels to increase education and awareness, both locally and internationally, throughout the life span of the project.