White Lion Conservation Project

Global White Lion
Protection Trust
White Lion Conservation Project
A Solution Based Approach
- Linda Tucker
“No-one in their right mind would ever travel to Siam
and there murder the rare White Elephants that we
find in that country. But people come to South Africa
to brutally murder the White Lions of Timbavati in the
name of manliness and in the name of sport. The
sacred icons of other races and nations in this world
are respected, revered and protected. But the icons of
Africa are massacred with cold impunity”
- Credo Mutwa
Engaging the South African Government, Communities, Parks and Tourism 2003 - 2008
WLT Representatives
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Linda Tucker:
– MA CANTAB from Cambridge University (1987)
– Author “Mystery of the White Lions” ( 2001)
– Founder Global White Lion Protection Trust (2002)
Jason Turner:
– MSc Wildlife Management - University of Pretoria (2005)
– White Lion Ecologist and Scientific Advisor – Head of White Lion
Reintroduction
– Professional Memberships:
• Member Cat Specialist Group
• Member African Lion Working Group
• Member Conservation Breeding Specialist Group
• Member SA Veterinary Association
Wendy Strauss:
– BA (Hons) – University of the Witwatersrand (1992)
– MA Mass Communication – Leicester University (2000)
– Senior Communications Partner
– Head of White Lion Community Development and Heritage
Mission Statement
The protection of the White Lions, their
endemic land and their cultural
heritage in perpetuity through science
and sacred science.
International Congresses
• World Wilderness Congress(2001),
• World Summit of Sustainable Utilization
(2002),
• World Parks Congress ( 2003),
• World Carnivore Congress Sante Fe (2004)
• World Wilderness Congress Alaska (2005)
• Desert Soul Festival Namibia (2007)
Current Zoological Partnerships
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Canada: Park Safari
Belgium: Olmense Zoo
Canada: Toronto Metropolitan Zoo
Italy: Safari Park Pombia
South Africa: East London Queens Park Zoo
South Africa: Johannesburg Zoo
United Kingdom: West Midland Safari and Leisure
Park
• United Kingdom: Paradise Wildlife Park
• Denmark: Naestved Zoo
Zoological Facilities: Expressed
Interest
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South Africa: National Zoological Gardens of South Africa
Canada: Papanack Park Zoo
China: Shangai Wild Animal park
China: Guangzhou Panyu Xiangjiang Safari Park
France: Jurques Zoo
France: Beauval Zoo
France: Le parc des félins
Tenerife Island: Las aguilas Jungle Park
Germany: Fritz Wurms Hollywood & Safari park
Greece: Attica Zoological Park
Japan: Tohoku Safari Park
Netherlands: Ouwehands Dierenpark
United States: Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden
United States: Philadelphia Zoo
United States: Siegfreid & Roy's Secret Garden
United States: Toledo Zoo
United States: Zoological Animal Reproduction Centre
Finland: Korkeasaari Eläintarha
Sweden: Junsele Zoo
United States: San Diego Zoo (Conservation and Research for Endangered
Species)
United States: Columbus Zoo & Aquarium
White Lion Reintroduction
- Jason Turner
“The Reintroduction of White Lions
back in their endemic habitat
represents a critical landmark in
conservation history”
- Dr Ian Player (2004): world renowned for his work in
protecting the White Rhino. Dr Player is on the WLT Advisory
Panel
Conservation Paradigm
The overall objectives of the Global White Lion
Protection Trust align with the conservation
paradigm of today – conservation through
sustainable utilization, with particular
emphasis on community participation,
education and cultural upliftment
Holistic Approach
APEX
PREDATOR
PEOPLE
PREY
HABITAT
White Lion Facts
• Genetic rarity of Panthera leo (African
lion)
• Not albinos – but the result of a
recessive gene (as in blue-eyed
humans)
• Not classified as a subspecies although morphologically unique and
geographically limited in distribution
White Lion Facts (cont.)
• Classified as Panthera leo, therefore listed
on CITES Appendix II and can be traded
or hunted
• Lack of objectivity in lion classification
- no legislation protecting lions e.g. lions in
west and central Africa (Barnett et al.
2006) & White Lions in Timbavati region
• The lions in the Sabie Sands region
(Greater KNP) are 1 of 4 uniquely
defined lion groups (Dubach et al. 2005)
- Timbavati region?
White Lion Facts (cont.)
• No white lions in the wild; < 300 world
wide
• Founder white lions in the reintroduction
are of the highest genetic integrity
• Occurred naturally in one region on the
globe – the TIMBAVATI and southern
KNP
Global Map: Natural Distribution of
the White Lion
White Lion Endemic Range
Kruger to Canyon’s Biosphere
White Lion Project
History of White Lions
• First sighted in Timbavati in 1938
• Frequency of occurrence increased - 12
births in 9 different prides in Timbavati &
KNP between 1975 and 1980
• Artificially removed from Timbavati in 1981
- another 16 known lion removals (one of
which I witnessed)
History of White Lions (cont.)
• Timbavati made 2 attempts to reintroduce
white lions in the late 1980’s and in 1993
• SA Government statement: white lions
should not leave South African soil
(McBride 1981)
Wild White Lioness in Timbavati
© Jamie Rankin
Status of White Lions
• No sightings in the wild for 13 years (1994 to
2006)
• Two sets of white cubs born in Timbavati
in 2006
• Pride male trophy hunted - no cubs
survived
• Status of white gene unknown - gene pool
needs to be protected
Reintroduction Objectives
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The objectives of the white lion reintroduction
program are in accordance with those
outlined by the IUCN:
to maintain and/or restore natural
biodiversity
to enhance the long-term survival of a
species
to provide long-term economic benefits to the
local and/or national economy
to re-establish a keystone species (in the
ecological or cultural sense) in an ecosystem
to promote conservation awareness
Biodiversity Conservation
Biodiversity conservation aims to avoid the loss
of nature’s exceptional diversity within
species, between species and of ecosystems.
Given the endangered state of many felid
species and subspecies, reintroductions are
being increasingly proposed and practiced as
a conservation strategy and method to return
extirpated populations to their former range
(Miller et al. 1999; Fischer & Lindenmayer
2000; Ray 2005, Johnsingh et al. 2007).
White Lion Reintroduction
• 7 years of research and input from experts
• 1st White Lions being reintroduced to the wild in
natural distribution range
• Founder white lions have the highest genetic
integrity – lineage of the adult lioness from tawny
carriers in Timbavati itself
• Hunting self-sufficiently after only 5 weeks in the
wild
• Establish sub-population(s) in wild within endemic
range
• Future wild-born offspring of founder white lions
may be considered for reintroduction to Timbavati
Genetic Lineage of Founder White Lions
(Global White Lion Protection Trust)
Sub-Adult White Lioness
Kills an Adult Wildebeest
© Jason Turner
Sub-Adult Males Kill an Adult
Wildebeest
© Jason Turner
White Lion Hunting Success
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APNR Sohbhele pride average annual kill rate: 3.000
Kill rate (days / kills)
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APNR Matamani pride average annual kill rate: 2.500
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APNR Caroline pride average annual kill rate: 2.385
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White lion group kill rate:
Jul. - Mar. 3.209;
2
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ar
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eb
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an
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ec
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ov
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5
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ct
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ep
t.
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ug
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ul
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Aug.-Mar. 3.038
Madjuma Lion Reserve pride
average annual kill rate:
(Source: Power 2002)
Welgevonden Private Game Reserve pride:
average annual kill rate:
(Source: Kilian 2003)
Month (number and calendar) of white lion
food self-sufficiency post-release
Fig. 1. Hunting success of the White Lions vs wild tawny lion
prides in the Limpopo province, South Africa. (Turner & Vasicek
2008, in prep.)
4.400
2.960
White Lion Protection Plan™
1. Identify genetic marker for the white phenotype
2. Identify & protect gene carriers of highest
genetic integrity
3. Re-establish White Lions in their natural
endemic habitat
4. Establish > 1 sub-population within endemic
range (Meta-population approach)
5. National protection: National Biodiversity
Management Plan
6. National protection: List on the IUCN Red Data
List
7. Listed for international protection by CITES
Meta-Population Approach
• In accordance with current strategies for lion
conservation, the present lion reintroduction aims to
contribute to the meta-population management
approach which has already been put into place in
southern Africa (Nowell & Jackson 1996).
• As lions have become increasingly confined to
protected areas individuals are moved over large
distances between protected areas (Barnett et al.
2006).
• In order to completely re-wild the White Lions and
ensure genetic diversity, our aim is to establish and
manage a number of separate subpopulations
before ultimately integrating wild-born white lions with
a resident pride/s in the Timbavati Private Nature
Reserve itself.
White Lion Captive Breeding
THE DELETERIOUS EFFECTS OF INBREEDING
Legislation
• No legislation protecting white lions
• White Lions can be hunted into extinction
• Need to be listed as critically endangered
variant / regional polymorphism of
Panthera leo - (i) locally, (ii) nationally,
and (iii) internationally
National Protection
•Unique contribution to Biodiversity - National
Biodiversity Management Plan for Species
•Need to be listed on the Schedule of threatened and
protected animals of National Importance
•GLOBAL PRECEDENT: Kermode (‘Spirit’)
Bear protected by law in British Columbia
(Canada) and 220 000 ha land set aside for
their protection
•Like the White Lion, the white coat of the
Spirit Bear is believed to be the result of a
double recessive allele. The Spirit Bear has
been classified as a ‘sub-species’
Conservation: The “Hands-Off” /
“Purist” Approach
As much as we would like to “let Nature take its
course”, the reality is that there are very few
ecosystems today that are not ‘managed’.
The Kruger National Park (KNP), in spite of its
large size (> 20 000 km2), is not a self-contained
system and is ‘managed’ (Mills 1992). Vegetation
is burnt on a rotational basis, species are translocated to and from KNP, and an elephant culling
program is imminent.
“The wildlife of today is not ours to
dispose of as we please. We have
it in trust. We must account for it to
those that come after.”
Motto
Motto of
of the
the Timbavati
Timbavati Private
Private Nature
Nature Reserve
Reserve (1977)
(1977)
White Lion Heritage Value
- Wendy Strauss
“ It is our firm belief that our communities can prosper
economically and socially from the eco-cultural
conservation and development programmes of the White
Lion Trust and their partners in industry. Rather than
having small groupings of citizens benefit through
practices of lion hunting – and specifically canned lion
hunting in the area – we believe the economic
development through tourism and conservation and
broad-based community empowerment will strengthen
and support the sustainable growth of our region.”
- Mr MJ Mafogo, Mayor of Maruleng Municipality
Comparisons: Revenue Potential
Hunting
Courtesy: Africa Geographic
Vol. 10, No. 9 – October 2002
By Ian Michler
Photo-Safari / Eco Tourism
White Lion Associates
Open Africa White Lion EcoTourism Route
A National “Living” Heritage
• White Lions are a valuable and
irreplaceable natural heritage
• Our Generation is the trustee of this cultural
and natural legacy for future generations
• Their preservation is in the interest of all
South Africans
• Recover the cultural interest associated
with the White Lions in the region
A National “Living” Heritage
(cont.)
• White Lion conservation efforts are
underpinned by ongoing scientific and
cultural research
• Strong links with the history of local
indigenous cultural groups
• Historical value: natural, cultural, social and
spiritual understanding
• Much documented evidence of the special
cultural significance of the White Lions to
the peoples of the region
White Lion Community
Conservation and Heritage
White Lion Heritage Centre and
Sanctuary
White Lion Eco-Education
A Solution Based Approach
- Linda Tucker
“Since the scientific community has not yet determined the
'genetic markers' of the White Lions it is both premature
and unscientific for any scientist to declare that White
Lions have no conservation value.
Indeed, preliminary indications provide a sound basis for a
theory that the White Lions of Timbavati are, at the very
least, a subspecies of Panthera leo in the same way that
the Kermode bear of British Columbia has been declared a
subspecies of Ursus americanus and are now classified as
Ursus americanus kermodei”.
- Dr Atleo, indigenous elder of the Canadian Nuu-chah-nul people, is an
Associate Professor at the University of Victoria, who served as Co-chair of
the Scientific Panel for Sustainable Forest Practices:
Government Support for a
Solution Based Approach
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Immediate Moratorium on the hunting of White Lions - in
captivity as well as in their natural habitat in the wild.
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Immediate Moratorium on all lion hunting in the White
Lions’ endemic area of the Greater Timbavati region - to
ensure the survival of the gene-pool.
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Prohibition of captive breeding of White Lions, unless
under strict scientific supervision - and only for the purposes of
reintroduction to the wild.
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Listing of the White Lions on the Schedule of Threatened
and Protected Animals of National Importance, even if it is
on a provisional and interim basis until their status is
determined scientifically through CITES listing.
Government Support for a
Solution Based Approach
The Trust’s Pledge
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Establishment of a Cultural Heritage Site in
collaboration with local, regional and national
government.
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The ongoing dedication of our skills, competencies,
financial resources and professional networks to
establish an eco-cultural route through Open Africa.
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The ongoing establishment of programs and
projects to develop skills and competencies in the
region through integrated craft and development
programs.
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Establishment of a sanctuary and facilities to assist
the Government in placing White Lions that have
been removed due to illegal activity.
Government Support for a
Solution Based Approach
The Trust’s Pledge
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Ongoing commitment to a long-term scientifically
monitored reintroduction program in which the White
Lions are reintroduced to their endemic range.
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Ongoing commitment to protect the White Lions’
genetics, and pursuance of international CITES and
IUCN Red Data Listing.
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Provision of our scientific and genetic expertise to
assist captive breeding institutions that are
functioning as part of a reintroduction program to the
wild.
Government Support for a
Solution Based Approach
The Trust’s Pledge
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Ongoing international awareness campaigns on the
importance of South Africa’s White Lion heritage.
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Ongoing eco-educational programs within South
Africa, using the White Lions to promote conservation
awareness.
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Acquisition of land in the White Lion’s natural
distribution range, with the purpose of protecting this
genetic rarity as part of the biodiversity of the region.
Government Support for a
Solution Based Approach
The Trust’s Pledge
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Creating procedures towards establishing a national
and world heritage status.
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Assisting the Government with placing currentlycaptive White Lions with reputable institutions
worldwide, which are committed to supporting the
Government with cultural and conservation programs.
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Ongoing implementation of the White Lion Protection
Plan™
• Thank you