Uganda: Major survey brings new light to carnivore conservation

Researchers unveiled the first comprehensive population estimate of Uganda's lions, leopards, and spotted hyenas in nearly two decades.

Conducted across six major protected areas -- including the 4000 km² Murchison Falls and the 2400 km² Queen Elizabeth Conservation Area -- this innovative study was a collaborative feat involving more than 100 conservation stakeholders.

Using advanced spatial capture-recapture methods set a new standard for wildlife monitoring in Africa, the findings are already influencing conservation policy, and served as the foundation for Uganda's new Strategic Action Plan for Large Carnivore Conservation (2023-2033).

Lions are in decline across most protected areas while hyenas show resilience

The study showed that populations of lions in the Queen Elizabeth and Kidepo Valley National Parks were critically low, with fewer than 40 and 20 individuals remaining respectively.

In contrast, spotted hyena populations appear to be faring well with the Murchison Falls National Park population holding Africa's largest density recorded to date at 45 individuals per 100 km².

The radically different numbers of hyenas displaying resilience could be indicative of a trophic imbalance.

"We could be seeing a release in hyena numbers as populations of lions decline," Dr Braczkowski said.

"However in places like Murchison Falls, we are seeing high densities of all three species, lions, hyenas, and leopards."

Murchison Falls National Park is the last critical lion stronghold in Uganda

The study identified the Murchison Falls National Park (Uganda's largest protected area) as a vital area for lion conservation.

The region supported high lion densities (seven lions per 100 km²) and an abundance of 240 individuals in a 3233 km² sampling area compared with Queen Elizabeth and Kidepo Valley despite significant pressures from wire snare poaching and oil exploration, making it a critical priority conservation area in the country.

Leopards holding on across most of the country

While leopard densities varied, Murchison Falls recorded some of the highest in Africa at 14 individuals per 100km², the highest recorded to date in Africa. Similarly to the national parks' lion populations, it is highly probable that the anti-poaching efforts by the government and several non-government organisations (including Uganda Conservation Foundation, Snares to Wares, and ICON) were preventing the low densities observed in other parts of the country.

Collaboration and training key to such a large effort

Griffith University lead researcher Dr Alexander Braczkowski said one of the most striking results from the survey was that it brought together more than 100 participants from 20 different NGOs, lodges, and conservation groups, meaning people who may not have had an opportunity to be involved in science previously now had an opportunity to survey and engage in science on the animals they lived closest to.

He added that this was critical for the long-lasting capacity needed to maintain a solid understanding of how these carnivore populations performed over time, especially against conservation action.

"This survey highlights both the challenges and successes of Uganda's carnivore conservation," Dr Braczkowski said.

"The collaborative nature of this work -- spanning governments, NGOs, and local communities -- is a testament to what's possible for wildlife conservation. More importantly, these are the kinds of training exercises that are most needed if we hope to build the science capacity in the places that need it most"

Dr Braczkowski said the results sounded an alarm for Uganda's iconic carnivores, whose survival was jeopardised by poaching, habitat loss and human-wildlife conflict. His team also emphasised the critical role of community engagement in conservation success.

The study has been published in Global Ecology and Conservation.