{"id":15874,"date":"2023-12-01T15:11:45","date_gmt":"2023-12-01T15:11:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/explorersagainstextinction.co.uk\/blog\/?p=15874"},"modified":"2025-01-13T15:15:32","modified_gmt":"2025-01-13T15:15:32","slug":"against-the-odds","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/explorersagainstextinction.co.uk\/blog\/against-the-odds\/","title":{"rendered":"Against the Odds"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Just over a year ago, two lionesses were caught and killed by snares set by poachers in the Papyrus Swamps of Busanga Plains, Kafue National Park in Zambia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Eight cubs, aged 6 to 8 months, were left orphaned. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

These cubs were too young to hunt for themselves and would have perished without intervention.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Across Africa, only about 20,000 lions remain in the wild<\/strong>. With threats such as poaching, habitat loss and human-lion conflict, lion population numbers have declined drastically. Safeguarding and managing protected areas where this species can thrive forms a major part of helping recover lion populations in Africa.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In an effort to salvage this desperate situation, African Parks<\/strong> together with the Zambian Carnivore Programme <\/strong>and PANTHERA planned a rescue mission.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Seven of the eight cubs were successfully traced and captured before being transferred to a large boma in Liuwa National Park where they were given an opportunity to bond with a mature lioness. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Images: November 2022, Andrea Reid<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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In May 2023 the cubs, all in good health, were transferred back to Kafue, where they had been born, to a newly built enclosure close to the park’s headquarters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here they could continue to grow and thrive under the watchful eye of rangers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Image: May 2023 Craig Reid<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Last week the orphaned cubs were released back to the wild.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Images: Erin Reid<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Image: November 2023 Erin Reid<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Image:  Erin Reid<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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They will continue to be monitored in the field using a combination of satellite and VHF telemetry collars.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Image: Erin Reid<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Watch video about the lion cub orphans here>><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Image: Erin Reid. Video: The Rusty Mokoro<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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