Supplemental materials for
The size of savannah Africa: a lion’s view
Attached to this supplement is an Excel database of lion population locations and numbers. This is a single, concise database that compiles all of the studies of lion population and distribution since Chardonnet (2002). Matching the database is an extra distribution map. We created the lion’s distribution using a process we detail in the Methods. We used a hierarchical, rule-based system to modify, and sometimes maintain, existing distributional boundaries (lion conservation units).
There are two additional supplemental materials. Lion_areas zip file contains the lion area shapefile for ArcGIS (made in ArcGIS 10). UILC_Dakar2E16 zip file contains the user identified land conversion dataset. Both files have ReadMe files for additional help.
Table S1. Population estimates and associated details for all lion areas. If a source gives a range for the lion population of an area, we use the mean value as our population estimate. Each lion area is associated with a lion conservation unit, if relevant. We identify lion areas that qualify as either a potential stronghold or stronghold. The IUCN population trend is given for strongholds and potential strongholds; however, this information is a minimum of 5 years old and conditions may have changed.
Abbreviations: CAR & RCA = Central African Republic, DRC = Democratic Republic of Congo, Pop’n = Population, PAs = Protected Areas.
Lion Area / ID / Pop’n size / Area (km²) / Stronghold / Pop’n size in PAs / IUCN Trend (2006a, b) / Country / Associated IUCN LCU (2006a, b) / SourceWestern Africa
Niokolo-Guinea / 1 / <50 / 90,384 / Senegal, Mali, Guinea-Bissau, Guinea / Niokolo-Guinea / Henschel pers. comm.
Haut Niger / 2 / 6 / 613 / Guinea / Niokolo-Guinea / Brugiere and Magassouba 2003
W-Arly-Pendjari / 3 / 350 / 29,403 / Potential / 350 / Stable / Benin, Burkina Faso, Niger / W-Arly-Pendjari / De Iongh pers. comm.
Mt Kouffe-Wari Maro / 4 / 3 / 3,152 / Benin / Mt Kouffe/Wari Maro / Pellerin et al. 2009
Alibori Superieur / 5 / 18 / 1,742 / Benin / N/A / Pellerin et al. 2009
Trois Rivieres / 6 / 19 / 1,939 / Benin / N/A / Pellerin et al. 2009
Kainji Lake / 7 / 32 / 4,171 / Nigeria / Kainji Lake / Nyanganji et al. 2012
Yankari / 8 / 2 / 2,380 / Nigeria / Yankari / Nyanganji et al. 2012
W. Africa Totals: / 480 / 133,784
Central Africa
Waza / 9 / 17 / 1,452 / Cameroon / Waza / Tumenta et al. 2010
Benoue Complex / 10 / 200 / 14,682 / Cameroon / Benoue Complex-Gashaka Gumti / Croes et al. 2011
Bozoum / 11 / 4 / 8,383 / CAR / N/A / Mesochina et al. 2010a
Nana-Barya / 12 / 4 / 2,314 / CAR / N/A / Mesochina et al. 2010a
SE Chad / 13 / 400 / 133,408 / Potential* / 140 / Stable / Chad / Chad-RCA / Our interpretationˠ, Vanherle 2006
E Central African Republic / 14 / 1,244 / 328,721 / Potential* / 148 / Stable / CAR / Chad-RCA / Mesochina et al. 2010a
Garamba-Bili Uere Complex / 15 / 175 / 115,671 / DRC / Garamba-Bili Uere Complex / IUCN 2006b
SW Sudan / 16 / 375 / 331,834 / South Sudan, Sudan / SW Sudan / IUCN 2006b
C. Africa Totals: / 2,419 / 936,465
Totals without SE Chad, Sudan, South Sudan: / 1,784 / 472,723
ˠ Used density estimate of 0.2 per 100 km²
* Two lion areas make up a single Chad-RCA potential stronghold
Eastern Africa
Boma-Gambella / 17 / 500 / 106,941 / Potential / ~500 / Unknown / Ethiopia, South Sudan / Boma-Gambella / Gebresenbet et al. 2009
South Omo / 18 / 200 / 22,483 / Ethiopia / South Omo / Gebresenbet et al. 2009
Nechisar / 19 / 10 / 1,030 / Ethiopia / N/A / Bauer and Fikerte pers. comm.
Bale / 20 / 50 / 2,373 / Ethiopia / Bale / Gebresenbet et al. 2009
Welmel-Genale / 21 / 100 / 6,649 / Ethiopia / Welmel-Genale / Gebresenbet et al. 2009
Awash / 22 / 50 / 25,302 / Ethiopia / Awash / Gebresenbet et al. 2009
Ogaden / 23 / 100 / 35,405 / Ethiopia / Ogaden / Gebresenbet et al. 2009
Greater Virunga / 24 / 210 / 5,583 / DRC, Uganda / Albertine South / Treves et al. 2009; Mudumba et al. 2010;
Toro-Semiliki / 25 / 5 / 538 / Uganda / Albertine North / Mudumba et al. 2010
Lake Mburo / 26 / 3 / 373 / Uganda / N/A / Mudumba et al. 2010
Murchison Falls / 27 / 132 / 3,889 / Uganda / Murchison Falls / Mudumba et al. 2010
Kidepo Valley / 28 / <182 / 11,064 / South Sudan, Uganda / Kidepo Valley - Sudan, Kidpeo Valley - Uganda / IUCN 2006a; Mudumba et al. 2010;
Laikipia-Samburu / 29 / 271 / 35,511 / Potential / 46 / Stable / Kenya / Laikipia-Samburu / Bhalla and Cotterill pers. comm.
Meru / 30 / 40 / 7,365 / Kenya / Meru / KWS 2009
Arawale-Bush Bush / 31 / 750 / 22,540 / Kenya, Somalia / Bush Bush / IUCN 2006a
Arboweerow-Alafuuto / 32 / 175 / 24,527 / Somalia / Arboweerow-Alafuuto / IUCN 2006a
Luama / 33 / <50 / 5,197 / DRC / Luama Hunting Reserve / IUCN 2006a
Itombwe Massif Savanna / 34 / <50 / 3,244 / DRC / Itombwe Massif Savanna / IUCN 2006a
NW Tanzania / 35 / 105 / 4,703 / Tanzania / Dar-Biharamulo / Mesochina et al. 2010b
Ruaha-Rungwa / 36 / 3,779 / 195,993 / Stronghold / 2,235 / Stable / Tanzania / Ruaha-Rungwa / Mesochina et al. 2010b
Mpanga Kipengere / 37 / 14 / 958 / Tanzania / N/A / Mesochina et al. 2010b
Swaga Swaga / 38 / 102 / 7,242 / Tanzania / Dar-Biharamulo / Mesochina et al. 2010b
Serengeti-Mara / 39 / 3,673 / 35,852 / Stronghold / 3,516 / Increasing / Kenya, Tanzania / Serengeti-Mara / KWS 2009; Mesochina et al. 2010b
Nairobi / 40 / <30 / 830 / Kenya / Maasai Steppe / Mbithi unpub. data
Tsavo-Mkomazi / 41 / 880 / 39,216 / Stronghold / 820 / Decreasingᶧ / Kenya, Tanzania / Maasai Steppe / KWS 2009; Mesochina et al. 2010b
Tarangire / 42 / 731 / 28,771 / Potential / 208 / Decreasing / Tanzania / Maasai Steppe / Mesochina et al. 2010b
Wami Mbiki-Saadani / 43 / 136 / 8,787 / Tanzania / Dar-Biharamulo / Mesochina et al. 2010b
Selous / 44 / 7,644 / 138,035 / Stronghold / 4,953 / Stable / Tanzania / Selous / Mesochina et al. 2010b
E. Africa Totals: / 19,972 / 780,401
without Somalia: / 19,047 / 733,334
ᶧ The trend within Tsavo NP is believed to be stable, but lions are killed outside the protected area
Southern Africa
Kissama-Mumbondo / 45 / <10 / 4,593 / Angola / Kissama-Mumbondo / IUCN 2006a
Bocoio-Camucuio / 46 / 55 / 22,005 / Angola / Bocoio-Camucuio / IUCN 2006a
SE Angola / 47 / 1905 / 386,962 / Angola / Bicuar, Mupa Cubati, Cuando Cubango, Luchazes, Cameia Lucusse, Alto Zambezi / IUCN 2006a
Liuwa Plains / 48 / 4 / 3,866 / Zambia / Liuwa Plains / Becker pers. comm.
Sioma Ngwezi / 49 / <50 / 4,155 / Zambia / Sioma Ngwezi / IUCN 2006a
Kafue / 50 / 386 / 58,898 / Potential / 386 / Stable / Zambia / Kafue / Becker et al. 2012
Nsumbu / 51 / <50 / 5,650 / Zambia / Sumbu Complex / Becker pers. comm.
Luangwa / 52 / 574 / 72,992 / Stronghold / 574 / Stable / Malawi, Zambia / Vwaza, North Luangwa, South Luangwa, Petauke Corridor / Becker et al. 2012; Mesochina et al. 2010c
Kasungu / 53 / 6 / 2,341 / Malawi / Kasungu / Mesochina et al. 2010c
Nkhota Kota / 54 / 18 / 1,846 / Malawi / Nkotakota / Mesochina et al. 2010c
Etosha-Kunene / 55 / 455 / 123,800 / Potential / ~315-595 / Increasing / Angola, Namibia / Etosha-Kunene / IUCN 2006a
Khaudom-Caprivi / 56 / 150 / 92,372 / Namibia / Khaudom-Caprivi / IUCN 2006a
Xaixai / 57 / 75 / 12,484 / Botswana / Xaixai / IUCN 2006a
Kgalagadi / 58 / 800 / 163,329 / Stronghold / ~800 / Stable / Botswana, South Africa / Kgalagadi / Funston pers. comm.
Okavango-Hwange / 59 / 2,300 / 99,552 / Stronghold / ~2300 / Stable / Botswana, Zimbabwe / Okavango-Hwange / IUCN 2006a
Greater Mapungubwe / 60 / 25 / 5,158 / Botswana, Zimbabwe, South Africa / Shashe-Limpopo / Shashe Limpopo Predator Research Group 2010
Bubye / 61 / 200 / 4,875 / Zimbabwe / Trethowan pers. comm.
Mid-Zambezi / 62 / 755 / 64,672 / Stronghold / ~350-650 / Stable / Mozambique, Zambia, Zimbabwe / Mid-Zambezi, MOZ South of Labannakass, Omay, Matusadona / IUCN 2006a; Chardonnet et al. 2009; Jacobson et al. unpub. data
Tete South of Cahora Bassa / 63 / 59 / 13,612 / Mozambique / MOZ South of Labannakass / Chardonnet et al. 2009
Niassa / 64 / 1,573 / 177,559 / Stronghold / 1,080 / Increasing / Mozambique, Tanzania / Niassa Reserve, Greater Niassa / Chardonnet et al. 2009; Begg and Begg 2010; Mesochina et al. 2010b
Gile / 65 / 45 / 22,322 / Mozambique / Gile / Chardonnet et al. 2009
Gorongosa-Marromeu / 66 / 229 / 46,781 / Mozambique / Gorongosa/ Marromeu / Chardonnet et al. 2009
Great Limpopo / 67 / 2,311 / 150,347 / Stronghold / 2,179 / Increasing / Mozambique, South Africa, Zimbabwe / Greater Limpopo / Chardonnet et al. 2009; Ferreira and Funston 2010; Funston et al. 2011; Groom and Brand 2011
S. Africa Totals: / 12,036 / 1,540,171
without Angola: / 10,066 / 1,126,611
Potential Strongholds (7): / 4,337 / 845,453 / ~2,233
Strongholds (10): / 24,289 / 1,137,547 / ~18,957
Grand Total: / 34,907 / 3,390,821
Totals without Angola, SE Chad, Somalia, Sudan, South Sudan: / 31,377 / 2,466,452
Table S2. Within the four focus areas, we compare the user-identified land conversion layer with existing datasets — human population density CIESEN (CIESEN and CIAT 2005) and ESA GlobCover (ESA and UCLouvain 2010). We calculated areas of overlap at four different human population density levels and for land classified as developed by ESA GlobCover for five comparisons per focus area.
Table S3. Lion conservation units (IUCN 2006a, b) that no longer have permanent lions and are not included as lion areas.
Boucle Baoule / 30-50 / 5,029 / West / Mali / Henschel pers. comm.
Comoe-Leraba / <50 / 22,880 / West / Burkina Faso, Ivory Coast / Henschel et al. (2010)
Gbele Ecosystem / <50 / 1,510 / West / Ghana / Henschel et al. (2010)
Nazinga-Sissili / <50 / 2,510 / West / Burkina Faso, Ghana / Henschel et al. (2010)
Mole / <50 / 6,790 / West / Ghana / Henschel et al. (2010)
Bui-White Volta Ecosystem / 10-20 / 5,230 / West / Ghana / Henschel et al. (2010)
Digya / <50 / 3,180 / West / Ghana / Henschel et al. (2010)
Oti-Mandouri / <50 / 990 / West / Togo / Chardonnet (2002), Bauer and Van Der Merwe (2004)
Old Oyo / <5 / 1,700 / West / Nigeria / Henschel et al. (2010)
Kamuku/ Kwiambana / 25-35 / 3,220 / West / Nigeria / Henschel et al. (2010)
Lame-Burra/ Falgore / 25-35 / 4,390 / West / Nigeria / Henschel et al. (2010)
Odzala / <50 / 1,890 / Central / Congo / Henschel et al. (2010)
Upemba / <50 / 1,430 / Southern / DRC / Henschel et al. (2010)
Kundelungu / <50 / 410 / Southern / DRC / Henschel et al. (2010)
Namizimu / <10 / 280 / Southern / Malawi / Mesochina et al. (2010c)
Mangochi / <10 / 430 / Southern / Malawi / Mesochina et al. (2010c)
Nyika – MW / <10 / 2,770 / Southern / Malawi / Mesochina et al. (2010c)
Liwonde / <10 / 400 / Southern / Malawi / Mesochina et al. (2010c)
Totals: / <610 / 65,039
Table S4. New lion areas that are not contained within lion conservation units from IUCN (2006a, b).
Alibori Superieur / 18 / 1,742 / West / Benin / Pellerin et al. (2009)
Trois Rivieres / 19 / 1,939 / West / Benin / Pellerin et al. (2009)
Nana-Barya / 4 / 2,314 / Central / Central African Republic / Mesochina et al. (2010a)
Bozoum / 4 / 8,383 / Central / Central African Republic / Mesochina et al. (2010a)
Nechisar / 10 / 1,030 / East / Ethiopia / Bauer and Fikerte pers. comm.
Lake Mburo / 3 / 373 / East / Uganda / Mudumba et al. (2010)
Mpanga Kipengere / 14 / 958 / East / Tanzania / Mesochina et al. (2010b)
Bubye Valley / 200 / 6,140 / Southern / Zimbabwe / Trethowan pers. comm.
Totals: / 272 / 22,879
Table S5. Comparison of the population size of several lion areas to highlight differences in population estimates across the three primary continent-wide assessments and to updated information. The updated data are either from national or site-specific population assessments.
Comoe / West / 100 / 30 / <50 / 0 / Henschel et al. (2010)
Alibori Superieur & Trois Rivieres / West / 35 / N/A / N/A / 37 / Pellerin et al. (2009)
Mt. Kouffe & Wari Maro / West / N/A / 20 / <50 / 3 / Pellerin et al. (2009)
Laikipia-Samburu / East / 362 / 220 / 350 / 330 / KWS (2009)
Meru / East / 64 / 120 / 175 / 40 / KWS (2009)
Ruaha-Rungwa / East / 4,878 / N/A / 4,500 / 3,779 / Mesochina et al. (2010b)
Selous / East / 4,940 / 4,500 / 5,500 / 7,268 / Mesochina et al. (2010b)
Niassa (just Mozambique) / Southern / 650 / 175 / 1,025 / 1,553 / Chardonnet et al. (2009)
Upemba & Kundelungu / Southern / 50 / N/A / <100 / 0 / Henschel et al. (2010)
Kasungu / Southern / 5 / N/A / <10 / 6 / Mesochina et al. (2010c)
Figure S1. Four focus areas used to compare and contrast the user-identified land conversion layer with other proxies for land conversion. Shown here is the comparison to human population density at 25 people per km2 (CIESIN and CIAT 2005) .
References (This contains only literature cited in the Supplemental Materials and not in the main body of the paper.)