Long‐distance swimming by African lions in Uganda
Abstract Earth's most imperiled and iconic wildlife are facing tough decisions under increasing human pressure and limited resources. Swimming across rivers and water bodies filled with high densities of predators may be one such example. In African lions Panthera leo, previous water crossings...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Wiley
2024-07-01
|
| Series: | Ecology and Evolution |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.11597 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1849420617171861504 |
|---|---|
| author | A. Braczkowski L. Ochse B. Atukwatse O. Cornille C. O'Bryan P. Lindsey R. Kotze L. Gibson D. Biggs |
| author_facet | A. Braczkowski L. Ochse B. Atukwatse O. Cornille C. O'Bryan P. Lindsey R. Kotze L. Gibson D. Biggs |
| author_sort | A. Braczkowski |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Earth's most imperiled and iconic wildlife are facing tough decisions under increasing human pressure and limited resources. Swimming across rivers and water bodies filled with high densities of predators may be one such example. In African lions Panthera leo, previous water crossings (recorded in the peer‐reviewed and gray literature, on film, and found using Google Search, and YouTube) have recorded distances ranging from <10 to 100 m, with some resulting in mortality by Nile Crocodiles Crocodylis niloticus. However, we observed a coalition of male lions swimming >1 km across Uganda's Kazinga channel located in the Queen Elizabeth National Park six times, and recorded this behavior on film on February 1st 2024. We speculate that three factors could be driving these lions to take long‐distance swims with a high density of crocodiles and hippos Hippopotamus amphibius, namely (1) the lack of lionesses in this ecosystem, (2) intraspecific fights over territory with other male coalitions, and (3) the only other land connection giving lions access to the peninsula is a small road bridge with a strong human presence. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-ea226d99fb4d4204844fbf4c364c3d8a |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2045-7758 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-07-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Ecology and Evolution |
| spelling | doaj-art-ea226d99fb4d4204844fbf4c364c3d8a2025-08-20T03:31:42ZengWileyEcology and Evolution2045-77582024-07-01147n/an/a10.1002/ece3.11597Long‐distance swimming by African lions in UgandaA. Braczkowski0L. Ochse1B. Atukwatse2O. Cornille3C. O'Bryan4P. Lindsey5R. Kotze6L. Gibson7D. Biggs8Centre for Planetary Health and Food Security, School of Environment and Science Griffith University Nathan Queensland AustraliaRolling Label, Le Petit Provence Estate Franschhoek South AfricaVolcanoes Safaris Partnership Trust, Kyambura Lion Project Kampala UgandaVolcanoes Safaris Partnership Trust, Kyambura Lion Project Kampala UgandaSystem Earth Science Maastricht University Venlo The NetherlandsWildlife Conservation Network San Francisco California USAWildlife Conservation Research Unit University of Oxford Oxfordshire UKSchool of Environmental Science and Engineering Southern University of Science and Technology Shenzhen ChinaSchool of Earth and Sustainability Northern Arizona University Flagstaff Arizona USAAbstract Earth's most imperiled and iconic wildlife are facing tough decisions under increasing human pressure and limited resources. Swimming across rivers and water bodies filled with high densities of predators may be one such example. In African lions Panthera leo, previous water crossings (recorded in the peer‐reviewed and gray literature, on film, and found using Google Search, and YouTube) have recorded distances ranging from <10 to 100 m, with some resulting in mortality by Nile Crocodiles Crocodylis niloticus. However, we observed a coalition of male lions swimming >1 km across Uganda's Kazinga channel located in the Queen Elizabeth National Park six times, and recorded this behavior on film on February 1st 2024. We speculate that three factors could be driving these lions to take long‐distance swims with a high density of crocodiles and hippos Hippopotamus amphibius, namely (1) the lack of lionesses in this ecosystem, (2) intraspecific fights over territory with other male coalitions, and (3) the only other land connection giving lions access to the peninsula is a small road bridge with a strong human presence.https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.11597African lionUgandaAlbertine riftcarnivorefelidPanthera leoQueen Elizabeth National Park |
| spellingShingle | A. Braczkowski L. Ochse B. Atukwatse O. Cornille C. O'Bryan P. Lindsey R. Kotze L. Gibson D. Biggs Long‐distance swimming by African lions in Uganda Ecology and Evolution African lionUganda Albertine rift carnivore felid Panthera leo Queen Elizabeth National Park |
| title | Long‐distance swimming by African lions in Uganda |
| title_full | Long‐distance swimming by African lions in Uganda |
| title_fullStr | Long‐distance swimming by African lions in Uganda |
| title_full_unstemmed | Long‐distance swimming by African lions in Uganda |
| title_short | Long‐distance swimming by African lions in Uganda |
| title_sort | long distance swimming by african lions in uganda |
| topic | African lionUganda Albertine rift carnivore felid Panthera leo Queen Elizabeth National Park |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.11597 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT abraczkowski longdistanceswimmingbyafricanlionsinuganda AT lochse longdistanceswimmingbyafricanlionsinuganda AT batukwatse longdistanceswimmingbyafricanlionsinuganda AT ocornille longdistanceswimmingbyafricanlionsinuganda AT cobryan longdistanceswimmingbyafricanlionsinuganda AT plindsey longdistanceswimmingbyafricanlionsinuganda AT rkotze longdistanceswimmingbyafricanlionsinuganda AT lgibson longdistanceswimmingbyafricanlionsinuganda AT dbiggs longdistanceswimmingbyafricanlionsinuganda |