ALERT

African Lion & Environmental Research Trust

If we act now we can ensure the survival of this iconic species

Welcome to ALERT

Lions are currently listed as “Vulnerable” on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species. In West Africa, the species is now classified as “Critically Endangered”.

Just over one hundred years ago, there were once more than 200,000 wild lions living in Africa. Today, there are only about 20,000 wild lions taking the plains of Africa. Lions are now extinct in 26 different African countries and 95 per cent of their historic range has disappeared.

Neither lions nor humans can survive in isolation; both are reliant on functional ecosystems.  As such, we seek to engage in activities that conserve all of Africa’s wild species, as well as the ecosystems within which they live and on which we rely.

ALERT collaborates with communities and policymakers, with non-governmental organizations, researchers and business leaders, to implement locally conceived and relevant solutions that aim to create sustainable motivation in these stakeholder groups to conserve lions. 

Our Destinations

Chizarira National Park

Chizarira National Park

ALERT is working to rehabilitate the national park and restore the landscape and wildlife to become one of the leading parks in Zimbabwe.

Antelope Park

Antelope Park

Antelope Park is a private game reserve set in the heart of Zimbabwe. This is where ALERT began and where a large portion of the research is done.

Victoria Falls

Victoria Falls

Victoria Falls is the leading tourist destination of Zimbabwe/Africa where a majority of the animal research is done by the team and volunteers. 

Our Work

The loss of lions has a negative effect on Africa’s fragile ecosystems.  Lions play an important role in the food chain, helping to regulate numbers of the more dominant herbivore species, such as zebra and buffalo. 

Lion Release Program

ALERT recognizes that programs directed towards protecting habitat for the remaining wild lions must continue to be the mainstay of conservation efforts and that new multi-disciplinary and collaborative approaches are necessary to achieve this.

Wildlife Research

ALERT is working directly with local communities to gain valuable knowledge on a variety of wildlife projects that will benefit everyone involved.

Wildlife Research Projects

Giraffe Research

Location: Victoria Falls

Elephant Research

Location: Chizarira National Park

Hyena Research

Location: Victoria Falls

Volunteering with ALERT

Are you looking to make a real difference for the wildlife of Africa for your generation as well as future generations?

ALERT offers many opportunities where you are able to work directly in the wildlife projects as well as the local communities in and around Africa.

Travel the world while having the adventure of a lifetime and making a difference with ALERT!

ALERT Internships

The ALERT Internship Program has been created to provide current students, graduates and skilled individuals with unrivalled opportunities to experience the complexities and challenges involved in working for a non-governmental organisation in Africa.

The Program has been designed to incorporate individuals from all walks of life.  Whether you are a graduate looking to gain behind-the-scenes experience in conservation fieldwork; a teacher seeking an opportunity to use your skills to help under-privileged children or a vet nurse who wants a chance to work with some of Africa’s iconic wildlife, then ALERT can give you the chance to fulfil your dreams of working in Africa.

Meet our lion prides

Currently, we have two sets of prides that are in phase 2 of the lion release program. Click on the link to learn more about each of the prides and how they are progressing.

Dambwa Pride

Ngamo Pride

Lion Stud Book

Latest Updates from ALERT

African Lion Database Annual Project Report April 2020

African Lion Database Annual Project Report April 2020

About the ProjectIt is generally understood that our knowledge of the status and trends in African Lion (Panthera leo) numbers is quite poor, and the collective ability of governments and the wider conservation community to identify priorities or to assess the impacts...

What do lions eat?

What do lions eat?

Lions are carnivores, this means they like meat They eat many different kinds of animals, known as prey.  Lions can eat a LOT!  Male lions will eat an average of 7kgs of food a day and lionesses 4.5kgs.  Both are capable of eating up to 15% of their body weight during...

Zambezi National Park: February 2020

Zambezi National Park: February 2020

Zambezi National Park Report on Wildlife Monitoring & Research January - February 2020 This report has been compiled by Miss Angela Ferguson (Conservation Research Manager - ALERT), Tafadzwa Shumba (Elephant Research Officer) and students on attachment with ALERT...

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