Two lionesses translocated to Liuwa Plain

As part of the long-awaited bid to ensure a viable pride of lions at Liuwa Plain National Park, two young lionesses were captured in Kafue National Park last week and translocated to Liuwa. It is hoped that the youngsters will prove to be the catalyst for a thriving lion population once more in this 366 000-hectare national park.

The tale of The Last Lioness – captured in an award-winning documentary – highlights the demise of Liuwa's once thriving lion population and documents the solitary life of Lady Liuwa, the only lion remaining within this vast floodplain ecosystem in western Zambia. In a hopeful ending, the film documents the introduction of two male lions whose courtship with Lady Liuwa would end her lonely vigil and result in litters of cubs being born on the Liuwa plains. Sadly, despite responding enthusiastically to her companions and engaging in copious mating activity, she failed to produce any cubs over an 18-month period. By the end of 2010, despite Lady Liuwa's worldwide fame, the prospects of a viable lion population at Liuwa once again seemed dire.

In mid-2011, African Parks took the decision that the introduction of new lioness was the only option to ensure the continuance of lions in Liuwa, despite the potential threat that new females could pose to the now aging Lady Liuwa. After obtaining permission from the Zambian Wildlife Authority (ZAWA) to capture two young lionesses at Kafue National Park, the hunt was on to identify a suitable pair. The Zambian Carnivore Programme, led by Dr Matt Becker, assisted with an advance team in the search process and several different prides were monitored, before a suitable pride was found on the western bank of the Kafue River.

The two young lionesses finally selected were part of a pride comprising three adult lionesses and nine cubs, two of which were deemed to be the appropriate age of 1.5 – 2 years old. It had been decided to introduce youngsters to reduce the threat to Lady Liuwa and also to ensure that they learned appropriate hunting behaviour from the veteran. Explains Dr Anthony Hall-Martin, conservation director of African Parks: "Lady Liuwa has demonstrated over many years that she can live in harmony with human activity, which is vitally important in an open system such as Liuwa, and we want her to teach the youngsters to hunt wildlife whilst avoiding people and cattle.”

The two young lioness were captured on October 18th and driven overnight to Kalabo village on the outskirts of Liuwa Plain where they were transferred to an open truck and driven into the park. Once safely ensconced in their new boma, it took them two days to finally eat their first meal. A special license was granted to shoot wildebeest and the youngsters are currently enjoying their ready-made meals and surveying their surroundings from their enclosure.

Liuwa park manager Raquel Seybert says the newcomers have not yet met Lady Liuwa and her two consorts and the Liuwa team is eagerly awaiting the interaction. "We are keeping our fingers crossed because it is vital that the existing lions bond with the new females. Obviously the introduction of the two lioness is a risky venture and we cannot be guaranteed of the outcome. This project will be rated a success only once new cubs are born.”

The lioness will be held in their boma for at least two months in order to adjust to their surroundings and Liuwa's resident three lions, and further developments will be reported. Film company Aquavision is recording proceedings as part of a planned sequel to The Last Lioness, which will ideally end in the birth of lion cubs at Liuwa for the first time in over a decade.

African Parks would like to thank the following contributors to the lion translocation:

• ZAWA Kafue National Park Team and ZAWA wildlife vets Dr. Matandiko and Dr. Squarre for their help in securing the appropriate permits on time, plus their technical support during the translocation.
• Matt Becker, CEO of the Zambian Carnivore Program and his Kafue National Park team-member, Robin Lines, for their dedication and thoroughness in finding the most appropriate lioness for Liuwa.
• Mukambi Lodge, in Kafue National Park, for their excellent logistical support.
• Wildlife vet Dr. Ian Parson for his consistent professional support.