Last of the lions? The ongoing battle to prevent lion extinction by 2031

It’s not all doom and gloom though; as part of its Last Lions of Meru campaign, Born Free is highlighting just how supporting conservation efforts can make a difference and save us from a world without the kings of the jungle.

Home of the famous Elsa (the lioness whose story was told in the original book and film Born Free) and now Elsa’s pride, Meru National Park was tragically decimated by poachers in the 1980s. In the 2000s, concerted efforts were made to restock the park with wildlife and manage it effectively. In 2014 Born Free, working alongside Kenya Wildlife Service, launched its ‘Pride of Meru’ initiative to further revitalise the park and now it is not only home to a stable population of 60-80 lions, but also a whole host of other wildlife including 35 mammal, 400 bird and 40 reptile species.

Meru still has a long way to go but Born Free is looking to increase lion protection, monitoring and population tracking, as well as expanding their conservation work across the Meru Conservation Area, and rekindling the entire ecosystem so that other species can flourish once more.

Will Travers OBE, President and Co-Founder of Born Free, said:

“Our work in Meru National Park is a wonderful example of just how resilient our world can be, and how nature will bounce back if we all work together. Once poaching in the park was brought under control, wildlife was able to re-establish itself across the many diverse habitats found in this unique protected area. By implementing our lion monitoring project, working with local communities and schools bordering the park, educating and empowering people and highlighting the importance of wildlife conservation, we have been able to encourage co-existence, and promote more sustainable livelihoods that work for local communities living around Meru, and its wildlife.

“But this is only the first step. Our plan, building on the success of our protection work and Meru’s thriving wildlife, is to expand our efforts across the whole of the Meru Conservation Area spanning more than 4,000 km2 including Kora National Park and the Bisinadi and Mwingi national reserves.

“Starting with Meru, we must redouble our efforts to save and protect the lions of Africa now more than ever - a world without them is quite simply, unimaginable.”

Virginia McKenna OBE, actress and Co-Founder of Born Free, added:

“It’s hard to believe that 56 years have passed since I arrived in Kenya with my husband Bill and our young family to film Born Free. Little did we know then that our lives would be changed forever by the unique and inspiring story of Elsa the lioness, the incredible compassion of George and Joy Adamson, and the bonds we formed with some of the lions we worked with in the film.

“In those days, Meru was famous for its abundant wildlife and, some say, even rivalled the famous Maasai Mara. However, tragically, in the 1980s Meru was overrun by poachers and its wildlife was decimated. But, today, Meru is fighting back.

“At Born Free, we want a world where lions roam free, safe from poachers and human-wildlife conflict. Where people around the park and the wildlife within it can co-exist peacefully. Where nature thrives.

“I am asking people who share our vision to join us and help ensure a future for wild lions.”

To support Born Free’s Pride of Meru programme please visit www.bornfree.org.uk.

Notes to editor:

1 https://www.africanexponent.com/post/9910-kings-of-the-jungle-likely-to-be-wiped-out-within-20-years

2 https://www.nikela.org/projects/help-protect-lions-from-extinction/

https://defenders.org/magazine/fall-2010/can-we-save-lions