Rangers lead efforts to monitor Uganda’s lion population in critical stronghold

In a new study, Uganda Wildlife Authority rangers have demonstrated their ability to generate accurate and reliable data on lion populations in Uganda’s Nile Delta, a key stronghold for Africa’s lions.

The results of “Rangers on the Front Lines of Wildlife Monitoring: A Case Study of African Lions in Uganda’s Nile Delta” were published in Nature Communications Biology.

The study finds that rangers, a vital part of global conservation efforts but often underutilized in scientific research, can play a central role in the conservation science of the world’s most beloved big cat.

Rangers are effective at monitoring lions and are an underutilized resource

The study showed that rangers trained in search and encounter surveys (the scientific gold standard for lion monitoring) provided robust, cost-effective data on lion populations.

With 102 detections over 76 days, the lion density in the Murchison Falls Nile Delta was estimated at 13.91 lions per 100 km.²highlighting this area as an important stronghold for lion conservation.

Although rangers were often on the front lines of wildlife protection, they were rarely involved in scientific research efforts.

This study is one of the first to demonstrate that rangers could effectively lead and contribute to data collection and monitoring of endangered wildlife populations.

Their in-depth knowledge of landscapes and the behavior of target species makes them valuable conservation champions.

Ranger profitability

One of the most striking findings of the study was the cost-effectiveness of ranger-led surveys.

The cost of ranger efforts was 50% lower than using remote infrared camera traps, another popular method used to study big cats, showing that ranger-led initiatives could be a more cost effective method. sustainable and more cost-effective way to monitor lions in Africa.

Despite the deployment of 64 infrared camera traps, the cameras yielded only two detections usable for individual identification, suggesting that camera traps, in their current form, were not yet suitable for monitoring populations of lions.

The Nile Delta in Murchison, a crucial stronghold for lions

The study identified the Nile Delta in Murchison Falls National Park (Uganda’s largest protected area) as a vital area for lion conservation.

The region has been home to high densities of lions, despite significant pressures from poaching and oil exploration, making it a priority conservation area in the country.

Incorporating ranger skills into future studies

By empowering rangers and focusing on protecting critical habitats such as the Nile Delta, we could ensure a future for Uganda’s lions.

This study provides a useful case study for scaling up lion monitoring efforts across Africa, using the invaluable skills of rangers to safeguard these iconic predators.

The authors advocated for wider adoption of integrating rangers’ field skills to study lions across Africa to ensure more consistent and reliable wildlife data, which was essential for effective management. adaptive conservation.

Lead author Dr Alex Braczkowski said: “Rangers are the unsung heroes of wildlife conservation. Our co-authors, Lilian Namukose and Silva Musobozi, have worked for the Uganda Wildlife Authority for over a decade and their extensive knowledge of where lions “We were in the Murchison landscape allowed us to “Having a good idea of ​​the status of lions in this critical area Our study shows that involving rangers in wildlife monitoring and census efforts could be extremely powerful for lions across Africa.”

Ms. Lilian Namukose, Uganda Wildlife Authority Ranger and co-author of the study, added: “This was the first scientific wildlife study in which I was directly involved and my first point of view. entry into science. Through rigorous training in three workshops in three national parks. , we quickly learned to integrate lion data collection into our daily tasks in the field. We are grateful to the Uganda Wildlife Authority for the opportunity to be involved in this work.

Mr Silva Musobozi, Uganda Wildlife Authority ranger and co-author of the study, said: “Rangers are arguably the closest group to wildlife in the field and have good knowledge of animal behavior. Through capacity building and training, rangers can be better integrated. in the scientific and management process.

Mr Orin Cornille, Field Coordinator of the Volcanoes Safaris Partnership Trust and co-author of the study, said: “The incorporation of the Uganda Wildlife Authority Rangers allowed our wider research team to focus on other parts of this very large national park. The lion’s behavior meant a high sample size of quality data.

Professor Duan Biggs, associate professor at Northern Arizona University and co-author of the study, concludes: “Our paper shows that by partnering with the nation’s conservation agencies and enabling local rangers, we can achieve an accurate estimate of the number of lions at a fraction of the price. the cost of other techniques.