Job Description

• Prepare the soft release of wild-caught lions into PBNP, including the preparation of the release enclosure in the park, the logistics of the transport, the feeding while in the enclosure, and all the paperwork required for the international transport;
• Prepare and coordinate the capture of females in a suitable source population (likely Namibia), as well as the international transport back to Gabon and release in the enclosure in PNBP;
• Assist in the preparation and execution of community meetings to prepare the lion release and restoration, to share information and garner wide support for lion recovery in Batéké;
• Once transferred lions are released, follow their movements and establishment in the park closely using GPS collars, camera traps placed strategically based on collar data, and all secondary information such as spoor and feeding sign, with a particular focus on potential evidence of lion reproduction;
• Intensify lion prey monitoring efforts, using a combination of systematic camera trapping and by participating in aerial wildlife surveys;
• Reconstruct lion diet in the park by walking in on kill sites identified based on clusters of GPS locations;
• Analyse and present findings on lion movements, feeding behaviour and prey population trends for use in technical reports and scientific articles;
• Work with Panthera’s community outreach officers (already recruited for this project) to inform community members about the location of the lions, and to prepare for the potential arrival of individual lions near community areas;
• Develop and supervise community support activities, and collaborate with community members in the fields of wildlife conflict mitigation and potentially intelligence gathering;
• Liaise and establish collaborations with potential project partners in-country, particularly in the context of gathering further support for the restoration project, including media outreach to the wider public and partnerships with the private sector;
• Assist with administrative and logistical tasks where required, such as the importation and maintenance of project equipment;
• Assist ANPN field teams in the park where needed, and provide any relevant information on specific wildlife (including lions) and/or poachers activities to ANPN, as gathered by Panthera camera traps or through other means;
• Produce regular project updates for Panthera and ANPN needs, either in English or in French;
• Liaise directly with project donors to provide updates on project activities, and produce project reports and financial reports specific to lion restoration