10 Lions Die in Suspected Ngorongoro Poisoning as Tensions Persist in UNESCO Reserve
Updated
Updated · CBS New York · Sep 21
10 Lions Die in Suspected Ngorongoro Poisoning as Tensions Persist in UNESCO Reserve
3 articles · Updated · CBS New York · Sep 21
Summary
Ten lions were found dead on Sept. 18 in the Ndutu area of Tanzania's Ngorongoro Conservation Area, with the reserve authority saying the deaths are suspected to be a poisoning incident.
Preliminary findings indicate the lions ingested poison, and experts are investigating both the exact cause and who may be responsible.
The deaths hit a UNESCO-listed reserve that holds about 25,000 large animals, including what UNESCO describes as the densest known lion population.
Ngorongoro has faced years of friction between authorities and local nomadic communities after a 2022 eviction drive, while conservationists say lions are already under pressure from habitat loss, shrinking prey and human-wildlife conflict.