Tackling Human-Lion Conflict

Tackling Human-Lion Conflict

The lion population in Gonarezhou National Park is increasing rapidly after 2 decades of being severely depleted. These successes are due to the partnership between the Gonarezhou Conservation Trust (GCT) and the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Authority. The park is largely unfenced and is bordered by livestock-keeping communities. Human-lion conflict has already resurfaced and is likely to become severe as the lion population increases. To get ahead of this problem, LRF has funded GCT to develop a trial human-lion conflict mitigation project, using tools developed elsewhere in Zimbabwe and in East Africa, to tackle the issue. Once this has been perfected, it will be rolled out along the boundary of the park as the lion numbers increase and conflict spreads.