Stichting Leeuw, in collaboration with the Department of National Parks in Senegal and Antwerp University, supports the conservation of West African lions and large carnivores in Niokolo-Koba National Park. This initiative combines scientific research, local leadership, and efforts to mitigate human-wildlife conflict. The project is funded by the Great Plains Foundation through the Big Cats Initiative grant programme.
Great Plains speaks with Hans de Iongh, Scientist and Project Coordinator of Stichting Leeuw, about BCI’s support for the monitoring and data collection fieldwork training for rangers and eco-guards in support of a large carnivore diet monitoring programme and recent project developments in Niokolo Koba National Park. This initiative aims to protect West African lions and large carnivores in Senegal.
Since 2024 the Big Cats Initiative has supported two training on large carnivore survey techniques for local rangers and eco-guards in Niokolo-Koba National Park in the southeast of Senegal. The national park was established in 1954 and is one of three major large carnivore strongholds in West Africa, providing important habitat for regionally critically endangered large carnivores including the West African lion. The training has focused on ecological research and survey methods, the use of solar-powered camera traps and software for analysis and recognition of individual animals, sampling and analysis of carnivore scat and the application of DISTANCE software to calculate carnivore densities in the park. The training has bolstered the rangers’ and eco-guards’ skills and improved their capacity to monitor and protect this essential habitat for West African lions.
West African lions: Conservation Impact
What has been the most meaningful conservation success you’ve seen since the project began?
Since 2019, we’ve supported the PhD research of Malle Gueye and conducted multiple field visits to Niokolo Koba National Park in 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2024. Over this period, we’ve seen several key achievements come together—most notably, the establishment of robust monitoring methods, the training of rangers and eco-guards, and the introduction of new tools such as solar-powered camera traps and scat DNA analysis.
Perhaps the most meaningful success has been seeing local capacity grow year after year: rangers are now independently carrying out surveys, collecting valuable data on big cats, and directly contributing to conservation decisions in the park. This shift toward local ownership represents a lasting impact that goes beyond any single milestone.
A total of three training workshops have been organised for 24 Rangers and eco-guards of Niokolo Koba National Park, focusing on the use of solar-powered camera traps, drones, West African lions and large carnivore diet monitoring through DNA metabarcoding of scat, and data management and analysis using DISTANCE software. These workshops were conducted in 2023 in collaboration with Amersfoort Zoo and Antwerp University, and in 2024 and 2025 with the Great Plains Foundation.
We have successfully implemented a large carnivore diet monitoring program based on microscopic hair analysis and DNA metabarcoding of scat. The results of this monitoring program will be presented to rangers and management of Niokolo Koba National Park during a one-day workshop on 3 February 2026. This is part of Maller Gueye PhD research at Antwerp University.
Based on this experience, we intend to establish a long-term monitoring program to study the diets of large carnivores in the park. Our findings to date have highlighted significant conflicts with livestock owners in the surrounding areas, particularly due to attacks by spotted hyenas, and to a lesser extent by lions and leopards.
This has been recorded in one of the scientific articles published by Malle Gueye. As a result, we have discussed with Malle Gueye and park management the potential introduction of ‘lion lights’ which are solar-powered flashing lights that have been developed in Kenya. In February 2026, we plan to bring the first set of these lion lights to distribute among selected livestock owners as part of a pilot test.
The project has resulted in a first phase of preparing a documentary film on the threatened population of the Northern subspecies of lion, which may attract international attention and conservation funding
How has your approach helped reduce conflict between communities and big cats?
We are optimistic that solar-powered Lion Lights will help deter nighttime predator attacks on livestock. Ongoing monitoring around the park has revealed significant conflict between local livestock owners and predators.
After discussions with Malle Gueye and park management, we plan to launch a pilot program in February 2026. The initial Lion Lights will be given to select livestock owners to assess their impact on nighttime predator attacks.
In addition, a DJI Mini Pro 4 drone with RC311 smart controller will be purchased and deployed in Niokolo Koba National Park during the same period to support monitoring and documentation of the program’s impact.
Can you describe a moment that reminded you why this work is so important?
During the training courses in 2023, 2024, and 2025, we received an incredible amount of enthusiastic feedback from rangers and eco-guards. Their response made it clear how much this training supports their daily work in the field and strengthens their ability to protect both wildlife and local communities.
One moment that stood out was during fieldwork in Meru National Park, Kenya, in 2025. We saw firsthand how valuable the Lion Lights are in deterring cattle attacks. Nomadic livestock owners were overwhelmingly positive—over 2,000 Lion Lights had already been installed across Kenya during 2024 and 2025, and the impact on reducing conflict was undeniable. In February 2026 I will bring the first lion lights ever to Senegal for a pilot field test with local livestock owners and community engagement. We expect this will have a significant positive impact on local communities.
How has your work changed the way communities view big cats in the landscape?
So far, the impact on local communities has been limited, as our efforts have primarily focused on capacity-building for rangers and eco-guards and supporting the PhD research of Malle Gueye. However, the effect on this group has been substantial. The training has introduced new tools and skills—such as solar-powered camera traps, drones, and carnivore diet surveys using scat analysis—leading to stronger monitoring and more robust data collection within the park.
Technology & Innovation
What recent new tools or methods has your team introduced, and what have you learned from them?
We have successfully implemented a large carnivore diet survey program using two complementary techniques: microscopic hair analysis and DNA metabarcoding of scat. The results of this survey will be presented to both rangers and park management in February 2026. Rangers, trained through this program are now regularly collecting carnivore scat in Niokolo Koba National Park as part of Malle Gueye’s PhD research with Antwerp University.
Building on this work, we plan to launch a long-term monitoring program in 2026 to study large carnivore diets using DNA metabarcoding. This method will offer deeper insight into predator–prey dynamics and inform conservation strategies within the park.
In addition, we have introduced the use of solar powered camera traps, and we will introduce a new drone for monitoring purpose (DJ mini-Pro 4 drones with RC311 smart controller). The solar powered camera trap Wild camera Pie 1060 is an advanced camera trap, which works on solar power. Pictures can be downloaded from 20-meter distance through blue tooth. The built-in battery lasts a long time, even in dark, more than 50% after more than a week. In the open air the camera trap can function longer times with battery replacement thanks to the solar panel. This is scheduled for purchase in February 2026 and will be brought to Niokolo Koba National Park for usage.
During training courses attention was given on the proper sampling for genetic analysis of scat samples of large carnivores and scat recognition based on DNA analysis. For this purpose, the use of a nanopore analyzer and Regular Illumina sequencer from Antwerp university has been demonstrated and explained during the training.
Nanopore sequencing is a unique, scalable technology that enables direct, real-time analysis of long DNA or RNA fragments. It works by monitoring changes to an electrical current as nucleic acids are passed through a protein nanopore. The resulting signal is decoded to provide the specific DNA or RNA sequence.
How has camera trapping benefited your work, and what lessons could other conservationists learn from the technology you’re using?
Our experience shows that when instructions are clear, rangers and eco-guards can use solar-powered camera traps effectively and carry out proper sampling of carnivore scat. This has improved the quality and consistency of data collection in the park and strengthened ranger engagement in the research process.
The next step will be to combine these methods with new tools, such as Lion Lights and drone monitoring. Results from these pilots, scheduled for 2026, will help determine how these technologies can work together to further reduce human–wildlife conflict and improve long-term monitoring efforts.
Education & Capacity Building
What impact has training and education had on the long-term success of your efforts?
Since 2019, we have supported Malle Gueye’s PhD research, with field visits conducted in 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2024. This work has been made possible through funding from the Great Plains Foundation, Amersfoort Zoo, and the University of Antwerp. Malle Gueye is expected to defend his PhD thesis on lion ecology in 2026, potentially becoming the first Senegalese scientist to earn a PhD in this field.
To strengthen local capacity, we organised three training workshops between 2023 and 2025 for 24 rangers and eco-guards of Niokolo Koba National Park. These workshops covered:
- The use of solar-powered camera traps and drones
- DNA metabarcoding and microscopic hair analysis of carnivore scat
- Data management and analysis using DISTANCE software
This training has already led to significant progress, including the successful implementation of a large carnivore diet survey programme. Rangers are now routinely collecting and analysing scat as part of Malle Gueye’s PhD research. The results will be presented to park management in February 2026 and will form the basis of a long-term diet monitoring program planned to begin later that year.
By building technical expertise among local rangers and supporting advanced academic research, these efforts are laying the groundwork for sustainable, locally led conservation of West African lions and other large carnivores in Niokolo Koba National Park.
What advice would you give to the next generation of ‘big cat’ conservationists?
Invest in local talent. There’s an urgent need to support academic education and training for emerging conservationists from West and Central Africa. Building local expertise ensures that conservation is informed by regional knowledge and can be sustained for generations. Keep the bigger picture in focus. Protecting big cats isn’t just about saving one species: it’s about safeguarding entire ecosystems. As apex predators, they maintain balance; without them, ecosystems may persist for a time, but eventually their integrity unravels.
What gives you hope for the future of West African lions?
Senegal is a good example of a successful conservation project for lion protection in Niokolo Koba National Park. The lion population has increased from around 15 lions to 30-40 lions over the past decade. Much of the credit for this goes to the Department des Parcs Nationaux and Panthera, while Stichting Leeuw, University of Antwerp, and partners are supporting the construction of the park.
A final message to the world about lion conservation?
Successful lion conservation is possible with good partnerships.
