Mysterious Lion Population Discovered In Northwestern Ethiopia

An expedition led by Oxford University lion conservationist Hans Bauer has discovered approximately 200 lions in Ethiopia's Alatash National Park.

(Photo : Twitter/barkwaysmith)

The exciting news from a remote pocket in the northwestern areas of Ethiopia, at the Alatash National Park, on Ethiopia's border with Sudan, is the discovery of an unknown lion population, according to The Guardian. "The confirmation that lions persist in this area is exciting news," lion conservation group Born Free Foundation said. "With lion numbers in steep decline across most of the African continent, the discovery of previously unconfirmed populations is hugely important."

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There might be 200 of these lions here, according to lion conservationist Hans Bauer of Oxford University, chief of the tracking team.

Earlier, it was believed that hunting, as well as environmental degradation, had robbed the Alatash National Park. Since the 1990s, the total number in Africa has reduced by almost half, according to BBC News.

"Considering the relative ease with which lion signs were observed, it is likely that they are resident throughout Alatash and Dinder [in Sudan]," he said. "On a total surface area of about 10,000 square kilometres, this would mean a population of 100-200 lions for the entire ecosystem, of which 27-54 would be in Alatash."

"The situation is fairly positive," he added. "I think the fact that the Ethiopian government recently made it a national park is a giant leap forward. Now we have to support them in improving park management, but I think they're taking it very seriously."

Currently, there are 20,000 wild lions left in Africa, even though the population continues to reduce and might be halved again in the coming two decades, according to New Scientist.