Modern Weights and Measurements of Wild Lions

[Pckts]

Uganda Carnivore Program
Lioness Anna
We are sorry to report that Anna was euthanized last Sunday, 28 December, after she attacked a woman in Hamukungu.
When we arrived at the scene, UWA was thankfully already there along with the park’s law enforcement warden. UWA had already darted Anna in the kraal of the woman who was attacked. Apparently it started earlier that morning when the woman and her two grandsons went to the kraal to check on the cows. This is when they encountered Anna. The boys managed to run back into the house, but Anna attacked the woman, injuring her leg.
Anna had become increasingly frail the last several months and her condition was deteriorating rapidly the last week. She had just entered a kraal on Christmas Eve and killed a cow and injured another.
It was clear she was becoming an increasing danger to the entire community of Hamukungu, in her weakening state.
After careful consideration and much discussion about all possible alternatives, a joint decision was made to euthanize Anna.
Anna was 17 years old and was the longest-monitored lion in the park. We have learned a lot about human-lion conflict through our many years of monitoring her movements. Anna was one tough lioness. She somehow managed to survive the poisoning of her close sister and 8 other pride members back in 2009 after they preyed on Hamukungu cattle. We lost track of her for over a year and feared the worst until we found her again in August 2013 and managed to replace her radio collar.
Here is one of the last photos of Anna – taken Christmas Eve afternoon. At the time of her death, she weighed only 90kgs, down from 130kgs in August 2013 when we darted her to replace her collar. We also include a photo of her from that day.
Her one-year-old cubs will be OK with Anna’s 2 adult daughters and their offspring. The cubs spent most of their time with these lionesses anyway as Anna frequently went off on her own the last several months. Fortunately, the rest of her pride was not nearby when this attack happened.
The woman who was attacked remains in hospital in Kasese. We are closely following her recovery, and our thoughts and concerns are with her and her family.



Anna - after recollaring her on 28 August 2013.

*This image is copyright of its original author

Last photo of Anna - 24 Dec 2014.

*This image is copyright of its original author

Reply