Increasing Targeted Poaching of Lions for Trade Has the Potential to Pose an Existential Threat to the Species in Africa

ABSTRACT Lions ( Panthera leo ) in Africa are targeted for the illegal wildlife trade, driven by demand in African and Asian markets, for their body parts. This threat is distinct from traditional drivers of lion decline such as prey depletion, habitat loss, and persecution and is poorly understood, underreported, growing, and prone to the influence of organized transnational crime. Here, we synthesize the current state of knowledge on targeted poaching for lion parts, identify key conservation and legal challenges, and propose a coordinated response agenda, drawing on examples from around the continent. We call for consideration in six critical areas: improving in situ protection, effective engagement of communities in conservation interventions, improved understanding of trade dynamics, disrupting the trade via multiple mechanisms, strengthening legal frameworks, and demand reduction. We recommend a proactive approach to prevent entrenchment of poaching and illicit markets and avert severe impacts on lion populations. Without coordinated action to address targeted poaching, there is a significant risk of lion population declines and extirpations. Urgent action is needed to acknowledge and address this issue, because it represents a potentially existential threat to the species.

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Publication Details

Journal
Conservation Letters
Published
2026-01-01
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1111/con4.70014
Primary Topic
Wildlife Ecology and Conservation
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
0.00
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article

Increasing Targeted Poaching of Lions for Trade Has the Potential to Pose an Existential Threat to the Species in Africa

Vivienne L. Williams, Mike Chase, Ashleigh Dore, Peter A. Lindsey et al.
Conservation Letters
Wildlife Ecology and Conservation
article

Increasing Targeted Poaching of Lions for Trade Has the Potential to Pose an Existential Threat to the Species in Africa

Vivienne L. Williams, Mike Chase, Ashleigh Dore, Peter A. Lindsey, Kenneth Uiseb, Vincent N. Naude, Marnus Roodbol, Simon Nampindo, Roseline Mandisodza‐Chikerema, Willem D. Briers‐Louw, Andrew Loveridge, João Almeida, Matthew S. Becker, Samantha Nicholson, Bob Mandinyenya, Gareth Whittington‐Jones, Peter G. R. Coals, W. Andrew Taylor, Jonathan L. Kwiyega, Kerri Rademeyer, Philipp Henschel
article en

Abstract

ABSTRACT Lions ( Panthera leo ) in Africa are targeted for the illegal wildlife trade, driven by demand in African and Asian markets, for their body parts. This threat is distinct from traditional drivers of lion decline such as prey depletion, habitat loss, and persecution and is poorly understood, underreported, growing, and prone to the influence of organized transnational crime. Here, we synthesize the current state of knowledge on targeted poaching for lion parts, identify key conservation and legal challenges, and propose a coordinated response agenda, drawing on examples from around the continent. We call for consideration in six critical areas: improving in situ protection, effective engagement of communities in conservation interventions, improved understanding of trade dynamics, disrupting the trade via multiple mechanisms, strengthening legal frameworks, and demand reduction. We recommend a proactive approach to prevent entrenchment of poaching and illicit markets and avert severe impacts on lion populations. Without coordinated action to address targeted poaching, there is a significant risk of lion population declines and extirpations. Urgent action is needed to acknowledge and address this issue, because it represents a potentially existential threat to the species.

Conservation LettersVol. 19(1)
South African National Parks (ZA), Panthera Corporation (US), Save the Elephants (KE), University of the Witwatersrand (ZA), Montana State University (US), Stellenbosch University (ZA), University of Zambia (ZM), Family Aids Caring Trust (ZW), Universidade Zambeze (MZ), Wildlife Conservation Society United Kingdom (GB), Zimbabwe National Water Authority (ZW), National Directorate of Geology (MZ), Wildlife Conservation Society Uganda (UG), Ministry of Environment and Tourism (NA), Institute of Slavic Studies (PL), Ministry of Health and Social Services (NA), Endangered Wildlife Trust (ZA), University of Pretoria (ZA)
Life in Land
Openalex Percentile: Top 95%
Wildlife Ecology and Conservation
DOIOpen Access PDFOpenAlex
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