The High Five Wildlife Society

31/05/2026

Wildlife crime is a multi-billion-dollar industry. After drug, arms, and human trafficking, the illegal trade in wildlife is among the most lucrative forms of crime, with an estimated value of over $20 billion per year according to Interpol. Gaining insight into trafficking routes and poaching hotsp...

29/05/2026

Lions now occupy only a fraction of their historical range across the continent. Recent assessments estimate that lion range has declined by approximately 34% over the last three lion generations, shrinking from roughly 2.37 million km² in 2004 to 1.57 million km² in 2025.

Today, lions persist across fragmented landscapes, with many populations increasingly isolated and under pressure from habitat loss, prey depletion, human–wildlife conflict, and other growing threats.

Understanding where lions remain, and where populations are declining, is critical for effective conservation planning, monitoring, and long-term recovery efforts.

The African Lion Database (ALD) works to consolidate and standardize lion distribution, population, and threat data from across Africa to support science-based conservation and informed decision-making.

🦁 Stronger data. Smarter action. A better future for lions.

11/03/2026

A new peer-reviewed study warns that targeted poaching for African lion body parts — including claws, teeth and skins — could pose an existential threat to the species if left unchecked.

Panthera’s lion scientists and Counter Wildlife Crime experts contributed to this research and are working to recognize early warning signs and develop coordinated and impactful interventions before emerging trade becomes entrenched.

Our approach combines crime analysis and research, supporting site protection, countering wildlife trafficking networks, and co-developing sustainable solutions with local communities.

In Senegal, Panthera works with government authorities to reinforce protected area management and counter-poaching efforts in Niokolo-Koba National Park — one of the last strongholds for West African lions. In just a few years, this collaboration has contributed to significant increases in lion numbers and positive trends for prey species.

Read the full blog to learn how we protect lions and other wild cats — and how you can be part of the solution: https://panthera.org/blog-post/early-warnings-what-new-research-signals-future-africas-lions.

📷: Andrew Beck

15/10/2025

The northern lion has its own IUCN RedList status now!

Northern lion: Endangered and Largely Depleted - intensified conservation actions needed

The Northern lion Panthera leo leo is assessed as Endangered on the IUCN Red List under Criterion A2c, with a suspected 66% population size reduction over the last three generations due to habitat decline. Major threats include habitat loss and conversion, poaching for body parts, human–lion conflict, and snaring bycatch. Civil unrest and armed conflict further weaken protected area management, especially in Central and West Africa. Several subpopulations are extinct or possibly extinct, and all except the Indian population likely number fewer than 250 mature individuals.

On the IUCN Green Status, the Northern lion is assessed as Largely Depleted with a Species Recovery Score of 22%. It is regionally extinct in North Africa and Southwest Asia and continues to face range contractions, declines, and loss of ecological function. Conservation has slowed declines and remains critical to maintain its current recovery status and in preventing regional extinction in West Africa and mitigating threats elsewhere. The long-term outlook remains uncertain, but intensified conservation over the next 100 years will be essential to limit further declines and support restoration of viable Northern lion subpopulations.

For more information please access: https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/280668607/280668782

The Northern lion RLA and GSS has been carried out in collaboration with the African lion database https://www.facebook.com/share/19EHhkC8kw/

Photo credit: P. Meier

26/09/2025

25/09/2025

10/08/2025

Ahead of , a WCS camera trap has photographed the first lioness in Northern CAR since 2019. “This is a truly exciting and hopeful sign for lions in the region,” said Armand Luh Mfone, WCS’s Director of Programs for CAR. https://bit.ly/4m6ABTj