Ecology
Wild lions in Kenya send text messages to conservationists when in fact their GPS collars do so. Researchers are thus determining the location of animals. Tracking the movement of lions is important because conflicts between humans and predators have killed so many of these animals in recent years. Text messages are sent every hour to the server and converted into messages that are delivered via email, so conservationists can constantly monitor where lions are and how they came close to the livestock.
Due to the fact that humans have taken part of the land from animals to farm, lions have no place to hunt, so they do not hesitate to attack livestock. To protect livestock, farmers have to kill lions while leaving baits with poison.
According to some reports, wild lions in Kenya could completely disappear within the next twenty years if farmers continue to kill predators. Between 2002 and 2009, about 100 lions were killed each year. Today, there are approximately 2,000 lions in Kenya. In Cameroon and Nigeria, these animals have already been exterminated.
A new predator protection program aims to preserve the population of lions and research these animals in Kenya. Scientists are also trying not only to save lions, but also to protect farm animals from attacks. This way, farmers won't kill lions.
With the help of modern technology, big cats are under surveillance, and now we know about almost every step they take.