Greetings!
I am writing to share an urgent update from the Victoria Falls landscape, where the lion populations are facing escalating and interconnected threats that require immediate, sustained intervention.
At Victoria Falls Wildlife Trust, our field teams are documenting a concerning rise in lion mortality and injury rates in early 2026. While fluctuations are expected in any wild population, the current pattern exceeds what we would consider sustainable for a relatively small, interconnected population.
Our data and field investigations point to four primary and intensifying drivers of the current mortalities:
1) Illegal Wildlife Trade
Demand for lion parts and live animals continues to expand geographically, placing additional pressure on wild populations that have historically been less affected.
2) Poisoning Events
Poisoning remains one of the most destructive threats. A single recent incident eliminated multiple lions and disrupted the entire pride structure, with long-term ecological consequences.
3) Human–Lion Conflict
As lions increasingly come into contact with livestock, retaliatory killings are becoming more frequent. Without effective mitigation, this cycle can escalate quickly.
4) Snaring
Wire snares – set indiscriminately for bushmeat – continue to cause severe injury and death. Lions are particularly vulnerable due to their wide-ranging movements.
Why this Matters Now:
Even moderate increases in lion mortality can lead to population decline over time. Last year, together with a range of stakeholders, we were involved in a population survey. While the results are still being analysed, we are already observing an increase in local lion mortalities. The loss of pride females and dominant males is disrupting pride dynamics, often resulting in the loss of cubs.
Matched Funding at a Critical Moment
We have wonderful news. A donor has generously committed to matching contributions up to $2,000, and we are aiming to leverage this to unlock at least $10,000 in total support through this appeal. Your gift at this moment will have an immediate and amplified impact on our ability to respond to urgent threats facing lions in the Victoria Falls landscape.
With matched funding available, your support can go even further at this critical time.
With your support, VFWT will:
> Work with transboundary stakeholders to identify illegal wildlife trade network partners, sources and routes
> Expand our database of genetic samples from lions to strengthen forensic capacity in wildlife crime casework, building on our Lion DNA Project
> Collaborate with a larger network of regional partners to identify individual lions through photographic records and digital mapping, improving understanding of pride composition.
> Strengthen long-term monitoring by tracking collared individuals, assessing spatial movements, and mitigating when animals move into high-risk areas
> Support disease prevention efforts for rabies and distemper to reduce spillover between domestic dogs and wildlife
Our work to understand and protect lions is also gaining wider recognition.In February, our Lion DNA Project was featured by the BBC, highlighting how genetic analysis is strengthening wildlife crime investigations and improving our understanding of lion populations across the region. This work is a critical component of our long-term conservation strategy.
You can view the short BBC feature here
VFWT were also recently featured in a BBC news article on Lion DNA.
Your contribution today will directly enable us to manage risks to the population, respond rapidly to life-threatening incidents such as poisoning and snaring, enhance protection for high-risk prides and individuals, and strengthen efforts to counter wildlife crime.
Thank you for your support in protecting the lions of this iconic landscape.
Roger Parry
Wildlife Manager
Victoria Falls Wildlife Trust
VICTORIA FALLS WILDLIFE TRUST
PO Box 159, Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe | +263 782 799 006
PO Box 23183, San Diego, CA 92193 | +1 6198 665 592
9 The Clock Tower, Redlers Waterside, Dudbridge Rd., Stroud GL5 3LH, UK
+44 (0)74 76 227 684
Victoria Falls Wildlife Trust | PO Box 23183 | San Diego, CA 92193 US |
