This week, Panthera and Senegal’s Department of National Parks (DPN) announced that the lion population in Senegal’s Niokolo Koba National Park has more than doubled from 10 to 15 in 2011 to an estimated 40 today, thanks to concerted anti-poaching and monitoring efforts. In a first for the nation of Senegal, scientists also announced they have successfully GPS-collared six lions, which will provide critical data for the protection of the species.
While collaring the six lions, the scientists also found a lone young skinny female lioness, who had become separated from her pride and was not able to hunt on her own. Upon closer inspection, they discovered she had a face full of porcupine quills preventing her from eating. Recognizing that her chances for survival were low, they decided to dart her with tranquilizers so they could remove the quills from her mouth and face, disinfect her wounds, and give her antibiotics.
See the story in People.
