Current projects: Moroccan Royal Lions: a potential flagship for regeneration of the Atlas Mountain Ecosystem
Principal Investigator - Dr Simon Black
Project Dates - 2007-2009
Collaboration & Support – Howletts Wild Animal Trust
Introduction
Recent decades have seen a several initiatives aimed at investigating the possibility that descendents of the now extinct Barbary Lion (Panthera leo leo) still exist in zoo collections. Our approach examines this possibility using a combination of established scientific and conservation methodologies. We aim to support zoos in preserving the population whilst scientific work establishes whether a case for conserving these animals remains.
Which animals are of interest?
Initially we have focussed on the Moroccan Royal lions, the captive population thought to be descended from the now extinct North African lion population. The Sultans of Morocco traditionally kept lions taken from the Atlas Mountains. When the newly installed King of Morocco returned in 1953 most of this collection, then temporarily held in two zoos, was moved back to the Royal Palace at Rabat. In the early 1970s the lions were moved to a new facility at Temara Zoo, Rabat. Since then some have been transferred to other zoos for captive breeding as well as to circuses and private collections.
Mapping out the population
 Our work has reviewed the status of Moroccan Royal Lions in European Zoos, for which good records exist. A draft studbook for the animals has been developed for use in managing breeding effort. Additionally, a detailed analysis of extensive data originally collected from handwritten breeding records at Rabat zoo has enabled us to track and identify the predecessors of today’s animals in European zoos as far back as 1974 when the records were first documented. This work was presented to the 2009 EAZA conference in Copenhagen.
Breeding performance and breeding exchanges
Our research has identified the breeding performance (fertility and fecundity of current breeding animals, to identify whether current or future breeding pairs would be viable and if exchanges between zoos are necessary. Also the relatedness of parental lines in each zoo collection has been identified. Zoos now have the challenge of seeking out partner institutions and identifying whether there is capacity to engage in a captive breeding programme. In 2009 two animals were transferred from the UK to the Czech Republic as a result of the findings from this analysis.
Longer term objectives
Evolutionary genetics
Previous research has identified regions of mitochondrial DNA which might serve as indicators which differentiate evolutionary distinct populations of lions. We are investigating whether Moroccan Royal Lions and other captive lions show these distinctions relative to today’s wild animals and museum specimens taken from the wild.
Conservation genetics
Various genetic traits can be identified in lions and comparisons can be made between populations in the wild and in captivity. We are identifying these and using them to identify the fittest and most authentic representatives from the Moroccan Royal Lion population and other zoo lions as a basis for future, meaningful conservation of these animals.
 Ecosystems
The Mediterranean North Africa biome includes the original range of the barbary lion. It is an area with a number of unique features but, since the lion population declined drastically between the 18th and early 20th century, their original role in this ecosystem is not well understood. Knowledge that would aid the recovery of the region would benefit many unique and endangered species including barbary sheep, macaques and deer.
Publications
Black, S, Yamaguchi, N, Harland A and Groombridge J (2009) Maintaining the genetic health of putative Barbary lions in captivity: an analysis of Moroccan Royal Lions, Eur J Wildl Res.
Dr Nobuyuki Yamaguchi's Barbary Lion Research Gallery
News Links
BBC website - Return of the royal Barbary lion
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