Lion Kings & Queens

African lions (Panthera leo) are one of our most iconic species, yet they have lost nearly 80% of their native range and 50% of their population in the last 25 years. As human populations increase all over the world, there is less space for wild animals to live, and this can result in human-wildlife conflict. 

This problem is particularly relevant in the Ngorongoro Conservation Area of Tanzania where traditional tribal people are at odds with lions that kill their livestock, which are their only source of income. This specific situation is called human-lion conflict (HLC) and is a main contributor to lion population declines because the local people will retaliate and kill lions when their livestock are attacked. 

My main research question is: How is HLC impacting the health and reproduction of lions living in the Ngorongoro Conservation Area of Tanzania? 

In order to answer this question, I am partnering with a nonprofit organization in Tanzania called KopeLion that employs local people to mediate conflict between lions and herders, and monitor and collect samples from the lions. Hair and fecal samples are convenient because they are collected non-invasively, which means the lion is unaware the sample is being collected which does not cause any additional stress. 

I will then use these hormone data to better understand how HLC is impacting lion stress and reproduction.