The Last Lion of The Liuwa Plains

Honoring Lady Liuwa - The Last Lion of The Liuwa Plains

Lonely Lady Liuwa was the only surviving lion in the Liuwa Plains until the Zambian Carnivore Programme (ZCP) helped successfully reintroduce lions to the Plains. Lady Liuwa died this year at 17 of natural causes. “It’s incredibly rare for a lion to live to such an old age and to die from natural causes,” said Matthew Becker, CEO of ZCP. “Her survival and that of her growing pride signify what can happen when people come together to help protect and restore a species – Lady’s story is one of hope and possibility.” Another carnivore under ZCP’s care, Wild Dog #73 rescued from a snare that would have killed him, went on to produce 129 pups through several generations.

ZCP conserves large carnivores and their ecosystems (Luangwa Valley, Greater Kafue, and Greater Liuwa) through:

Conservation Science – Research and monitoring play a fundamental role in identifying, describing, and evaluating dynamics, limiting factors and threats to species and ecosystems.

Conservation Action - Eminent threats identified by research ensures snared or wounded wildlife receive life-saving medical attention.

Conservation Capacity - ZCP assures programs are sustainable by working with Zambian organizations and individuals to successfully research and manage carnivores and their habitats, and build community support. 

Today after more than 20 years of ZCP’s hard work, the Luangwa Valley contains the country’s largest lion population and second-largest wild dog population; Greater Kafue contains Zambia’s largest populations of wild dogs and cheetah and second-largest lion populations, and Greater Liuwa contains recovering populations of all carnivores and important populations of cheetah and wild dog.

Healthy carnivore populations are critical to the ecological balance. Carnivores like leopards, lions, cheetahs, and wild dogs help keep herbivore herds at healthy sizes and weed out the less fit. Scavengers like hyenas eat what the carnivores leave, including bones, and their scat releases calcium into the soil.

ZCP does all this while making every dollar count. The rugged bush terrain is hard on vehicles, and they desperately need to replace a vehicle older than most of the team they’ve used for more than a decade.

With so much going on in the world we feel helpless to fix or help, this is one area where you can make a big difference immediately with a donation to help purchase and/or ship a vehicle for ZCP, so lions like Lady Liuwa and her offspring thrive, and ZCP is safe and secure as they endure heat, heavy rain, boring rations, and months of research and rescue operations to protect Zambia’s ecosystem and ultimately, our global climate by protecting a healthy balance of nature. Donations can be made Here.

Written by Patricia Cole

An Africa Hope Fund board member for 7 years, Pat is a writer and a conservation activist. After traveling to Zambia, she became dedicated to helping Africa Hope Fund provide education to the next generation of Africans and ensure their future by protecting wildlife. Find Patricia on Facebook and Twitter, or on her websites www.writepatwrite.com and www.patmcole.com.

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