- The money would also be spent on policing the cubs and sensitizing the communities around the national parks, on the dangers of poaching lions.
Image: Courtesy
The Uganda Wildlife Conservation Centre (UWEC) says the public misunderstood them and received unjust criticism over the proposal to spend Shs10 Billion on the breeding of lions.
David Musingo, Head, Lion Recovery Programme, at UWEC, while appearing before Parliament’s Committee of Commissions, Statutory Authorities and State Enterprises (COSASE), says their concept was misconceived by the public, because the money would also be spent on policing the cubs and sensitizing the communities around the national parks, on the dangers of poaching lions.
This while responding to questions from MPs on what strategies are being put in place to increase the population of lions in Uganda.
However, the Chairperson of the committee, Medard Sseggona (Busiro East) is blaming the Entebbe Zoo for not clearly explaining what the lion breeding program would entail, saying had their concept been clearly articulated, Ugandans would have understood the rationale of the lion breeding program and there wouldn't have been backlash over the proposal.
“What is wrong with breeding lions? The problem is that you are scared because you can’t explain. If I tell someone we are going to breed lions and I explain the purpose, for those who probably don’t understand, when you go to those national parks, actually the rarest animals to be seen are lions.”
“If you want to see them, you have to wake up at a particular time and you drive 100Kms and they appear at a particular place. I mean, I have come to rest, you want me to wake up at 4am simply because animals are few. Why would you feel sorry to say you want to breed lions? That you feel bashed, that isn’t a problem,” Ssegona adds.
UWEC attributes the drop in lion population on human wildlife conflict, where residents snare other animals like Kobs and antelopes, but the lions end up falling victim to the traps as well as a disease outbreak that occurred in Kidepo that claimed many lions.
“But also, what is challenging Kidepo National Park is that, it is neighboring countries like South Sudan. So, when these animals cross to neighboring countries like South Sudan where there is no order, they are killed,” adds Musingo.