WCC 2020 Res 059 - Progress Report

The Leo Foundation has carried out evidence-based research into the drivers of wild lion overexploitation for trade, as well as developing novel methods for the investigation and monitoring of trade in lion parts. This research included a questionnaire sent to members of the African Lion Working Group on the illegal killing of lions.

The work on this resolution has resulted as three published papers, one papers in preparation, a report and presentation. These are referenced below under the two research headings.

Tools and methods for monitoring trade in lion parts:
1) Coals, P., Loveridge, A., Kurian, D., Williams, V. L., Macdonald, D. W., & Ogden, R. (2021). DART mass spectrometry as a potential tool for the differentiation of captive-bred and wild lion bones. Biodiversity and Conservation, 30(6), 1825-1854.
2) Williams, V. L., Coals, P. G., de Bruyn, M., Naude, V. N., Dalton, D. L., & Kotzé, A. (2021). Monitoring compliance of CITES lion bone exports from South Africa. Plos one, 16(4), e0249306.

Understanding cultural use of lion parts in Africa
3) Coals, P.G., Mbongwa, N.S., Naude, V.N. and Williams, V.L., 2022. Contemporary cultural trade of lion body parts. Animals, 12(22)3169.
4) Kennedy Kariuki, Paula White and Hans de Iongh (2021) PEOPLE STEALING MEAT FROM LIONS (PANTHERA LEO). Draft Report African Lion Working Group.
5) Mbongwa N. S., Williams V. L., O’Riain M. J., Needham M. D., Coals P. G. & Naude V. N. (2022) Towards a more complete understanding of cultural values in the South African muthi trade: decolonising conservation through green criminology. Presentation to the South African Wildlife Management Association (SAWMA) conference 2022.
6) Williams V. L., Drouilly M., Dunnink J. A., Lishandu M., & Whittington-Jones G. (in prep) Continuity in the cultural use of carnivores across Africa. Submitted to the Conservation Symposium 2022.