African Parks has reintroduced the first of several wild lions back into the Liwonde National Park, four years after the last lion was seen there.

In partnership with the Department of National Parks and Wildlife (DNPW), and with support from the Dutch Government and the Lion Recovery Fund, two mature males have been released into enclosed bomas in the park.

They were translocated from Majete Wildlife Reserve, where lions were reintroduced in 2012.

The lions will remain in bomas for several weeks to allow close monitoring of their wellbeing, adjustment, and bonding with two lionesses which have been translocated from South Africa.

All four will then be released in to the wider park.The arrival of these big cats lays the foundation for a secure national opulation of lions, helping to highlight Malawi as an emerging premier wildlife destination.

Just over a century ago, more than 200,000 wild lions were living throughout Africa.

Today, wild lions are extinct in 26 African countries, and there are only about 20,000 lions left in wilderness areas, with the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) classifying lions as "Vulnerable" on the Red List of Threatened Species.

African Parks assumed management of Liwonde in partnership with the DNPW in 2015, and has completely overhauled law enforcement to secure the park.

They have constructed a robust perimeter fence enclosing the entire park, established rigorous ranger patrols, and worked extensively with local communities.

This is making significant progress in revitalising habitat and wildlife populations through the reduction of poaching and mitigation of human-wildlife conflict.

The lions have each been fitted with tracking collars to facilitate daily monitoring.

Useful links

www.african-parks.org