SARS-CoV-2 Reverse Zoonoses to Pumas and Lions, South Africa

Reverse-zoonotic infections of severe acute respiratory syndrome-related coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) from humans to wildlife species internationally raise concern over the emergence of new variants in animals. A better understanding of the transmission dynamics and pathogenesis in susceptible species will mitigate the risk to humans and wildlife occurring in Africa. Here we report infection of an exotic puma (July 2020) and three African lions (July 2021) in the same private zoo in Johannesburg, South Africa. One Health genomic surveillance identified transmission of a Delta variant from a zookeeper to the three lions, similar to those circulating in humans in South Africa. One lion developed pneumonia while the other cases had mild infection. Both the puma and lions remained positive for SARS-CoV-2 RNA for up to 7 weeks.

Why Should Children Become Familiar with Nature

Until a few years ago, the world of Iranian children was often full of movement, mobility, and experience of nature, a real world in which nature and its landmarks, including soil, water, wind, living beings and tangible trees, and not limited to virtual image frames where even the possibility of experiencing and obtaining a simple and lasting memory such as playing soil is impossible and unattainable. Today, however, the vacancy of many childish games and mischievousness can be easily felt in green and open public spaces. Today's children look more strange and alienated in the face of nature than landlords. It is a fact that Iranian children are more familiar with their country's valuable animal and plant species such as gorasay, siberian dorrena, Asian cheetah, emperor salamander and manus boro alum, and animals such as zebras, African lions and elephants, polar bears, penguins and pandas. Who is this negligence from the other side? Why do not children spend as they should and perhaps in nature? Are limited and closed apartment spaces and the preference of computer games to group uplifting physical activities our children's choice? In this paper we review the importance of acquainting children with nature, with a focus on Iran.

Personality Matters: Exploring the Relationship between Personality and Stress Physiology in Captive African Lions

Background: Considering animals as individuals and not as species is becoming increasingly essential to animal welfare management. Recent studies on big cat personalities and coping strategies suggest personality can help big cats cope in their surroundings. Yet, a large portion of the published literature focuses on understanding either the personality or stress physiology of big cats in isolation. Our research shows how integrating an improved understanding of the personality of big cats with stress physiology may enhance welfare, especially endangered species like African lions. By using a wild cat personality checklist, this study compared African lion personality with its faecal stress glucocorticoids non-invasively. Results: We identified three personality types for individual African lions (Dominance, Agreeableness and Neuroticism) and examined whether these dimensions varied with stress cortisol levels. When controlling for differences in age across lions, we found a strong negative correlation between Agreeableness in lions and their glucocorticoid levels. This suggests that the personality of a lion may help it cope with its surroundings. Conclusions: Our findings can assist with the better management of big cats and it is proposed that ex-situ managers of zoos and rescue centres incorporate the personality data of their animals into the Zoological Information Management Software (ZIMS). This data can be accessed globally and can be useful for caretakers managing their animals according to their needs while undergoing veterinary procedures or in reintroduction programs. Thus, by improving individual welfare, we can improve overall welfare of big cats.

Evaluation of Fecal Glucocorticoid Metabolite Levels in Response to a Change in Social and Handling Conditions in African Lions (Panthera leo bleyenberghi)

Monitoring the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis through determination of fecal cortisol metabolite (FCM) levels is a non-invasive method useful for understanding how handling and social conditions may affect the physiological status of zoo animals. The present study used FCM analysis to evaluate whether the HPA axis activity of a lion pride was modified by a change in social and handling conditions after the death of the dominant male. Five African lions (Panthera leo bleyenberghi), two males and three females, were included in the study. Fecal samples were collected before and after the death of the dominant male. To avoid cohabitation conflicts between males before the dominant male died, subgroups were established and subjected to weekly changes between indoor and outdoor facilities. After the death of the dominant male, these management dynamics ceased, and the remaining four lions were kept together outdoors. Significant lower group FCM concentrations (p < 0.001) were detected after the decease of the dominant male, probably associated with a decrease in daily handling, together with a more stable social environment. Overall, the present study indicates the effect of different management scenarios on the HPA axis activity and differentiated physiological responses to the same situation between individuals.

Flagship Species: Do They Help or Hurt Conservation?

Many of the plants and animals we love, and even more we do not know about, are in serious danger. Species extinctions are occurring at alarming rates. But how do we prevent extinction from happening? One strategy is to first make people aware of what is going on. If people know which plants and animals are in danger, they will be more likely to support measures that protect those species. We can do this by drawing attention to problems facing species that people are familiar with, like African lions, Siberian tigers, and humpback whales. Sadly, this strategy ignores many weird and wonderful creatures most people may know nothing about! More importantly, it prevents us from protecting other important species and the environments in which they live. It is time to re-think our approach so that we can protect as many species and habitats as possible!

A pan-African spatial assessment of human conflicts with lions and elephants

African lions (Panthera leo) and African savanna (Loxodonta africana) and forest (L. cyclotis) elephants pose threats to people, crops, and livestock, and are themselves threatened with extinction. Here, we map these human-wildlife conflicts across Africa. Eighty-two percent of sites containing lions and elephants are adjacent to areas with considerable human pressure. Areas at severe risk of conflict (defined as high densities of humans, crops, and cattle) comprise 9% of the perimeter of these species’ ranges and are found in 18 countries hosting, respectively, ~ 74% and 41% of African lion and elephant populations. Although a variety of alternative conflict-mitigation strategies could be deployed, we focus on assessing the potential of high-quality mitigation fences. Our spatial and economic assessments suggest that investments in the construction and maintenance of strategically located mitigation fences would be a cost-effective strategy to support local communities, protect people from dangerous wildlife, and prevent further declines in lion and elephant populations.