Lion Encounter Mission Statement

The Lion Encounter team mission is to ensure a balanced ecosystem for the benefit of future generations

Through researching the introduction of captive breeding lions into the wild
Through initiating and facilitating the controlled breeding of lions in a protected natural environment for reintroduction to the wild
Through working with all interested stakeholders

The Conservation Programme

Over 250,000 lions used to roam the African continent. This number is now estimated to be less than 20,000.

We are under no illusions that the African continent could again sustain 250,000 lions. There is neither sufficient room for them nor sufficient prey species for them to feed on.

However, the remaining dramatically reduced population of lions continues to decline – to such an extent that the African lion is now officially on the list of vulnerable species. “Lions (Panthera Leo) are listed as Convention of International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) Appendix II and are regarded as ‘vulnerable’ by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List [Version 3.1 2001].”

There is already intense lobbying from concerned countries and conservation organizations for the African lion to be upgraded to Appendix 1 of the endangered species list. We believe that the evidence is too great to deny that action must be taken to ensure the future of the African lion.

What has caused the dramatic decline in the number of lions in Africa?

First and foremost, it is the increase in human habitation and the consequent decrease in the area available for lions – and in fact, all wildlife species - to live. Lions are now restricted mainly to large private conservancies, National Parks and game parks.
Hunting, snaring and poaching is rife across Africa and having a major impact on the number of lions.
Disease outbreaks such as Anthrax or Incurable Bovine Tuberculosis have the potential to decimate lion populations in these areas. Canine Distemper wiped out 1,000 lions in the Serengeti (one third of the population) between 1994-1997.

So what happens if large numbers of lions, or even the entire lion population of a certain area, is destroyed? The Lion Encounter mission is to provide a reserve pool of lions that can be re-introduced into these areas.

Rehabilitation and Reintroduction of lions into the wild

Captive bred lions can and have been rehabilitated into the wild. In South Africa, this is confirmed by senior ecologists and conservationists.

The Lion Encounter Programme was founded in 1972, at Antelope Park in Zimbabwe, and has been actively researching the breeding and rehabilitation of lions for the past 20 years. The programme has 3 stages.

Stage 1

The young cubs (2 – 16 months) spend as many daylight hours as possible in the wild. They are observed and accompanied by volunteer workers, guides or lion handlers. This exercise is already being carried out at Antelope Park and it is remarkable to observe the natural hunting instincts of the young lions developing.

At 12 – 16 months, the young lions are already able to successfully stalk and hunt down the young of wildebeest, impala, zebra, kudu, tsessebe and other smaller antelope. By accompanying the lions on these walks, visitors are very much a part of the rehabilitation programme.

Stage 2

From Stage 1 the lions are translocated, in selected breeding groups, to fenced mini-ecosystems where:

There are no other lions
There are no resident human beings
There are sufficient prey species for the lions to hunt and survive on
These areas are a minimum of 10,000 acres in size, located in various African countries.

Stage 3

The lions in Stage 2 will give birth to cubs, which will be raised in a totally natural environment. We believe that these lions, born in Stage 2 will be able to be reintroduced into appropriate game reserves, conservancies and National Parks across the African continent. Controlled breeding in protected areas will be used to restock suitable areas when and where necessary with lions.

Ambassadors for African Wild Life

All three stages of the rehabilitation programme will have the potential to generate much needed income for the lion project and other wildlife conservation programmes. Hence the lions themselves will also be a fundraising ambassador for Africa’s wildlife through a conservation trust known as “the African Lion and Environmental Research Trust (ALERT).

The Lion Encounter FAQ’s

Q: What happens to the lions after they are too big for the Lion Encounter Program (Victoria Falls) or Walk with Lions (Antelope Park)?

A: This question has been asked by almost every person who comes into contact with the lions. The captive bred lions that interact with people on the walks go into a staged rehabilitation programme as the 2nd phase of the reintroduction process.

Q: How long can the programme continue producing lion cubs for eventual re-introduction into the wild?

A: The programme produces an average of 12 lion cubs per year. Presently this is a sustainable number that can be increased. It is believed that the African lion population is decreasing by substantially more than 12 lions per year and there are a lot of areas in Africa that have the right conditions to facilitate Stage 2 of the programme. Many of these areas are very interested in receiving lion cubs from the Stage 2 program. There are many areas on the African continent that have very low numbers of African lion, places where lions used to roam and they no longer do. These areas desperately need lions for a balanced ecosystem.

Q: What about over production in Stage 2?

A: Stage 2 is a mini ecosystem environment for the lions. Breeding in Stage 2 can and will be controlled. Stage 2 areas will be approximately 10,000 – 20,000 acres, depending on location and funding. The facility will be adjoined by another fenced 5,000 acre area where older breeding males, can, if necessary, be kept separate from the main prides.
At this stage there is already a large demand for lions that can be introduced into the wild and Stage 2 will only breed sufficient lions for areas that require them. There will be a continuous demand for lions from Stage 2. Stage 2 provides the reserve pool of lions living in a natural protected environment and this stage should also provide significant funding for the sustainability of the overall project.

Q: Will the human contact with the lions in Stage 1 not affect the lions at later stages?

A: That is the very reason why it is emphasized that the areas of Stage 2 must have no human habitation so that the cubs born in Stage 2 will have no human contact. Lions in Stage 2 will be totally free of human contact and able to breed and raise their cubs in a completely natural and protected environment. The human element cannot be removed entirely as cubs need to be observed and supervised during Stage 1 of the project.
From trials carried out at Antelope Park, the cubs are very happy to leave the human minders at approximately 16 months of age and go out and hunt on their own.

Q: So why not use cubs from Stage 2 and not have the Lion Encounter or Walk with Lions?

A: The controlled breeding and research enclosures at Antelope Park enable a variety of tests and research observations to be carried out. It is here that the lions are DNA tested as well as various characteristics of the individual lions. eg. are they good hunters? are they dominant, aggressive, independent and a host of other points that help to select the best bred lions to introduce back into the rehabilitation programme.
Volunteers accompany all lions on a daily basis and complete data sheets for each and every day that the lions are in the wild. It is one of the great benefits of Stage 1 where a monitored and controlled breeding programme ensures that various genetic characteristics of lions released into Stage 2 can be identified and recorded. This means that inbreeding and incorrect breeding can be avoided.

Q: Are the numbers of lions in Africa really threatened?

A: The mere fact that lions have been placed on the vulnerable species list is sufficient reason to warrant a programme of this nature. Most species that go on to the vulnerable list end up on the endangered species list.
Obviously there are conflicting reports and opinions with regard to the African lion, but there is obviously sufficient concern for them to be officially declared vulnerable.

Q: What are the main reasons for the initiation of this project?

A: Over the past few years, there have been several startling headlines such as

“Kruger Lions dying like Flies”
“Lion Population Threatened”
“Kenya Lobby’s for CITES Up-listing of Lions”
“Man Drives King of the Jungle towards Extinction”

As Antelope Park has had a captive breeding programme since 1972, it was decided to extend the programme to provide a controlled and monitored gene pool of lions for re-introduction into certain areas on the African continent that no longer have adequate lion populations.

Q: Why has Victoria Falls/Livingstone been identified for the Lion Encounter?

A: It is primarily for the international exposure to the project. The Victoria Falls is one of the 7 natural wonders of the world and one of Africa’s most popular tourist attractions. People from all walks of life and all parts of the world visit the Victoria Falls. It is also a destination for international government and business conferences.
Therefore the Lion Encounter rehabilitation programme will get maximum exposure in the Victoria Falls area and this exposure will generate the publicity required to raise the much needed financial funding.

Fact file: Lion Conservation - Victoria Falls

Lion Encounter Mission Statement

The Conservation Programme

Rehabilitation and Reintroduction of lions into the wild

Ambassadors for African Wild Life

The Lion Encounter FAQ’s