A citizen science approach to monitoring of the Lion Panthera leo (Carnivora: Felidae) population in Niokolo-Koba National Park, Senegal

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Published: Jan 26, 2020
DOI: https://doi.org/10.11609/jott.5549.12.1.15091-15105
Keywords:
Asiatic Lion, fur hue, genome, group size, nose colour, population, sex ratio, western African Lion, whisker spot

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Dimitri Dagorne
6 rue d’Estienne d’Orves, 92400 Courbevoie, France.
https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0162-2381
Abdoulaye Kanté
GIE NIOKOLO, BP 362, Tambacounda, Senegal.
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9678-0691
John B. Rose
Association des Naturalistes des Yvelines, Villa de Chèvreloup, 34, route de Versailles, 78150 Le Chesnay-Rocquencourt, France.
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4890-8881

Abstract

A voluntary citizen science approach was used in a pilot study of the relict population of the Critically Endangered western African Lion Panthera leo in Niokolo-Koba National Park (NKNP) in Senegal.  In total, 93 observations involving 253 lion sightings were made by NKNP guides and their clients over a period of four and a half years in the central tourist area of the Park which represents about 3% of the total area of NKNP.  Identification sheets were produced for 10 individual lions on the basis of whisker spot patterns measured from photographs contributed by the tourists.  Although we were not able to identify a sufficient number of individual lions to estimate the lion population in the zone, extensive data on the geographic distribution, age-class and sex, and behaviour of the observed lions are presented.  Data are also presented to tentatively support a relationship between the annual variations in lion observations and the total rainfall in the preceding year.  The advantages of this citizen science approach in terms of complementing mainstream science, as well as in promoting tourism development and conservation sensitisation, are discussed, and recommendations are made for pursuing this cooperative effort at a higher level of effectiveness.

Article Details

Issue
Vol. 12 No. 1 (2020)
Section
Articles

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Author Biographies

Dimitri Dagorne, 6 rue d’Estienne d’Orves, 92400 Courbevoie, France.

Mr. DIMITRI DAGORNE is completing his masters degree in Ecology, Fauna and Flora at the National Museum of Natural History in Paris; he has undertaken missions to three African countries in the area of wildlife conservation.

 

Abdoulaye Kanté, GIE NIOKOLO, BP 362, Tambacounda, Senegal.

Mr. ABDOULAYE KANTÉ has been a NKNP guide since 2003; he is Comptroller of GIE NIOKOLO and municipal councillor responsible for environment and sustainable development.

John B. Rose, Association des Naturalistes des Yvelines, Villa de Chèvreloup, 34, route de Versailles, 78150 Le Chesnay-Rocquencourt, France.

Dr. JOHN B. ROSE is an amateur naturalist with particular interest in African fauna; he has been working since 2012 with GIE NIOKOLO to improve the professional and scientific skills of the NKNP guides in the context of equitable tourism activity.

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