Bubye Valley Conservation Research

Lion Conservation Research - since lions were re-introduced to Bubye Valley conservancy (bvc) in 1999 the population has grown rapidly. Today bvc is home to approximately 20% of zimbabwes lions. This is not just the largest continuous population of lion in zimbabwe but also the densest. Due to the importance of this population for the species Conservation, and the unique management challenges associated with a large fenced population of lion, a long-term Conservation Research project was established in 2009. Seventeen lions were initially introduced to bvc in 1999. Ten years later, in 2009, when carnivore population surveys were initiated, the lion abundance was estimated to be at around 280 individuals. It has continued to grow. Today there are estimated to be in excess of 400 lions on bvc, which is the largest population in the country. Rhino Conservation - black rhinos were first introduced to bvc in 2002, and the population growth rate was accelerated by continual translocations from other areas that were unable to protect their rhino populations as poaching escalated during the mid 2000s. In the face of the renewed rhino-poaching onslaught in zimbabwe, only the big privately owned conservancies are able to maintain positive rhino population growth rates.