Lion survey Northern Kruger

Protecting Africa’s iconic predator

Africa’s lions are disappearing rapidly — wild populations have declined by over 90% in the past century, with fewer than 20,000 remaining today. The Greater Limpopo Transfrontier Conservation Area, including South Africa’s Kruger National Park, is one of their last strongholds, home to more than 2,000 lions.

In northern Kruger, poaching and poisoning have increasingly threatened lions, leopards, and vultures. As apex predators, lions play a crucial role in maintaining ecosystem balance and their decline could have far reaching consequences.

To protect these majestic animals, the Endangered Wildlife Trust, in partnership with SANParks, conducts a three-month lion survey — tracking, monitoring, and identifying individual lions across this vast and remote landscape. I had the privilege of being part of this team, helping to locate lions in the field and take identification photos of each individual. This hands-on experience allowed me to witness the lions’ behavior up close while contributing directly to their conservation.

Documenting this work helps raise awareness, support conservation efforts, and ensure that these iconic predators continue to thrive.