“Extinct” Lion Spotted In Chad National Park For The First Time In Decades

A lion was recently spotted in Sena Oura National Park in Chad where they were believed to be extinct for some 20 years.

The Wildlife Conservation Society talked about the discovery in a press release, noting that it’s the first sighting of a lion in the national park in two decades.

Not only was the lion spotted, but she was photographed as well! WCS explained that the photo was captured using a remote camera trap and shows “A beautiful lioness, in her prime and clearly in great health.”

The camera trap was set as a joint effort between a team of conservationists from the Government of Chad and the Wildlife Conservation Society, which shared the photo on Facebook:

According to a report from the IUCN, lions are considered to be extinct in Sena Oura National Park. WCS reports that lions likely went extinct due to “a period of ruthless, organized poaching.”

However, the governments of Cameroon and Chad committed to conservation efforts and it seems that the wildlife populations are finally starting to recover, including the lion populations.

WCS explained in the press release: “Lion populations in West and Central Africa are particularly small and fragmented and have declined an estimated 66 percent since the early 1990’s; regionally, they are considered Critically Endangered.”

The sighting of a healthy and strong-looking lioness in the national park shows promise and hope for the future of the species in West and Central Africa!