Lions, classified as vulnerable by the International Union for Conservation of Nature, face threats from habitat loss, climate change, and human conflict. ‘Knowing how many lions are in national parks is crucial,’ says Govaerts. ‘The next step is connecting these parks to ensure genetic diversity and species survival.’
Govaerts uses unique whisker patterns, similar to fingerprints, to identify individual lions, ensuring no duplicates in their count. Her work is funded by the Lion Recovery Fund in partnership with South African National Parks.
Despite challenges in locating the lions, the survey aims to give a clear picture of the population by the end of September. Govaerts stresses the need for collaboration with local communities, highlighting the human element in successful conservation strategies.
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