Kenya to collar lions to enhance their protection

The Kenyan Wildlife Service (KWS) on Thursday announced funding to support the collaring of lions to boost their conservation against a backdrop of multiple threats.

KWS Director General, Kitili Mbathi, said an initial investment of 30,000 U.S. dollars will support the collaring of lions in parks to help track their movement and identify threats facing the carnivores on a real time basis.

Mbathi revealed that young male lions would be the first to be collared because they have a higher propensity of straying from parks as they explore new territories.

Kenya has fast-tracked the adoption of technology in boosting lions' conservation.

Mbathi said the use of satellite technology to track movement of lions will deter them from straying from sanctuaries.

"The collaring of lions is in response to a spike in cases of the carnivores straying from the national parks this year. It will be possible to locate the strayed lions and return them to the park once we collar them," Mbathi said.

Conservationists say threats facing the carnivores include conflict with human, shrinking habitat and climatic stresses.

According to government statistics, the lion population in Kenya stood at 1,970 in 2016 while a spike in poaching and human intrusion to their habitat threatens their survival.

Earlier this year, several lions strayed from the Nairobi National Park in the Kenyan capital city. Endit