Hidden population of lions discovered in Ethiopia

A hidden population of lions estimated to be at least 100 in number has lived undiscovered until now.

The Alatash National Park in north-western Ethiopia is home to the lions and the discovery was made by researchers from Oxford’s Wildlife Conservation Research Unit during an expedition in the park.

Unknown lion population discovered in NW Ethiopia, near Sudan border https://t.co/A27dZZB4cD BFFoundation pic.twitter.com/YARCT7UI8l

— maggie jonas (mmaggie47) February 1, 2016

“Lions are definitely present in Alatash National Park and in Dinder National Park. Lion presence in Alatash has not previously been confirmed in meetings at national or international level,” said Dr.Hans Bauer who led the expedition.

The Alatash National Park is adjacent to the Dinder National Park in Sudan and Dr. Bauer estimates that the area could host a population of about 200 lions.

The lions are thought to be of the Central African sub-species, of which only about 900 were thought to survive.

The Born Free Foundation confirmed the discovery in a statement

Currently, the continent has an estimated 20,000 lions living in the wild.

The discovery will be good news for wildlife campaigners in Africa, where experts say the number of lions in West and Central parts of the continent is rapidly dropping.