Ariel Schalit/AP
Conservationists and wildlife enthusiasts are mourning the case of six lions that have been found dead and dismembered in what is a suspected to be a poisoning in one of Uganda’s most renowned national parks.
Dead vultures provided a clue.
In a statement, the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) said the big cats were found Friday evening with “most of their bodies parts missing” in Queen Elizabeth National Park, their carcasses surrounded by the lifeless scavengers, “which points to possible poisoning of the lions.”
UWA said it was “saddened” by the grisly case, and it “cannot rule out illegal wildlife trafficking.”
The discovery is a devastating blow that officials say can negatively impact the country’s tourism sector, which is a top foreign exchange earner for Uganda. Nature tourism pours $1.6 billion into the economy each year.
It’s not the first time lions have been set upon in the country’s most popular national park. In 2018, a pride of 11 lions, including eight cubs, were discovered dead, believed to have been poisoned. Suspicion then fell on farmers who denied any involvement, but who also expressed frustration at wildlife that kills their cattle and damages their crops.
To incentivize farmers living near preserves and parks to protect increasingly vulnerable wildlife, Ugandan authorities give farmers 20% of the gate fees taken at national parks. The UWA says the revenue-sharing scheme enhances the livelihood of the local community and helps sustain protected areas.
A vulnerable species
According to wildlife conservation groups, the illegal wildlife trade, poachers, and trophy hunters are all contributing to the disappearance of lions on the African continent. The loss of habitat, poor regulation of legal trade, and climate change are also drivers in their declining numbers.
About 20,000 lions still live in the wild of Africa; a century ago there were 200,000 lions, the largest of Africa’s big cats.
Lions are currently listed as “vulnerable” on the “red list” of threatened species compiled by the International Union for Conservation of Nature.
Queen Elizabeth National Park boasts sweeping savannas, crater lakes and forests, and is home to some 600 species…
Read More: 6 Lions Found Dead In Ugandan National Park : NPR