Survey finds Uganda’s lion numbers plummeting in major parks, while hyenas thrive. Collaboration key to saving Africa’s big carnivores.
For nearly 15 years, Uganda had no comprehensive data on its large carnivore populations. Lions, leopards, and spotted hyenas—key draws for its growing safari industry—remained poorly monitored. Yet, these predators are vital to Uganda’s tourism economy, with tree-climbing lions of Queen Elizabeth National Park being a signature attraction.
🔍 Why Monitoring Matters
Unchecked, wildlife populations can vanish quickly, as seen with tigers in India’s Sariska Reserve. However, conservationists often view wildlife counting skeptically, seeing it as “bean-counting” that diverts funds from direct action. Others argue that counting elusive animals at scale is difficult, particularly for species like lions and leopards.
Despite Uganda being relatively small (32nd in size in Africa), monitoring its wide-ranging carnivores has been a logistical challenge. That’s the problem our team has spent nearly a decade addressing.
📸 Uganda’s Largest Carnivore Survey
Partnering with Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA), we launched two major studies in Murchison Falls and six key protected areas:
- Pian Upe Wildlife Reserve
- Kidepo Valley
- Toro Semliki
- Lake Mburo
- Queen Elizabeth
- Murchison Falls
We collaborated with local scientists, rangers, lodge owners, students from Makerere University, and even trophy hunters. Over 100 participants drove 26,000 km, set 7,516 camera trap nights across 232 locations, and engaged in rigorous workshops on carnivore detection, identity verification, and population estimation.
🧪 Key Findings: Lions in Trouble, Hyenas Rising
🦁 Lion Population Estimates
- Murchison Falls: ~240 lions across 3,200 km² — Uganda’s highest.
- Queen Elizabeth: Just 39 lions remain — a >40% drop since 2018.
- Kidepo Valley: Only 12 lions left — down from 132 lions 15 years ago.
🐆 Leopard Distribution
Leopards persist in healthy numbers in Lake Mburo and Murchison Falls, but have declined in Pian Upe and the Ishasha sector of Queen Elizabeth.
🐾 Spotted Hyenas Thrive
Hyenas are present at densities between 6.15 and 45.31 per 100 km². Their numbers in Queen Elizabeth may be increasing as lion competition and poaching pressures change predator dynamics.
🤝 Shared Science, Shared Conservation
Our initiative was more than a census—it empowered local conservationists. Many participants became first-time authors on scientific papers, a major asset for their careers. Despite differing opinions on conservation methods, everyone involved agreed on the value of the data because they collected and analyzed it themselves.
“Even if we disagree on the how, we now agree on the how many,” says Alexander Braczkowski.
🔬 Next Steps for Uganda
The findings highlight the urgent need for targeted conservation, especially in parks like Queen Elizabeth and Kidepo. Coordinated, science-driven action can prevent further decline.
“Since adopting a science-first approach, we’re committed to improving each survey and scaling monitoring across Uganda,” says Aggrey Rwetsiba, Senior Research and Monitoring Manager at UWA.
