Uganda to Investigate Death of Three Lions Found Dead in Queen Elizabeth Park
The Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) has opened a full investigation into the deaths of three sub-adult lions discovered early Thursday inside Queen Elizabeth National Park, in what officials describe as a “deeply troubling incident” with signs pointing toward possible poisoning.
According to a statement issued on December 11th, 2025, the carcasses—two males and one female—were located in the Akabale area of Nyamugasani after UWA monitoring teams detected abnormal movement patterns from a collared lion. The detection was made through EarthRanger, a real-time wildlife protection system that integrates satellite and field data to track animal activity.
Responding to the unusual signals, UWA rangers moved into the area and found the three young lions dead at the scene. Follow-up searches within the same vicinity revealed a cow carcass that appears to be central to the case. Officials reported that part of the cow’s remains had been stuffed in a bag containing unidentified substances, while the rest was left exposed. Items including a panga and a pair of slippers were also discovered nearby—objects now considered key evidence.
While the exact cause of death remains unconfirmed, the placement of the cow remains, and the presence of unknown materials have raised suspicions of poisoning, a recurring threat to big cats in the region where human–wildlife conflict sometimes escalates to retaliatory attacks.
UWA immediately informed the Police in Kasese, and the two agencies have launched a joint investigation to determine what happened and who may have been involved. Forensic teams are analysing samples from the site, and investigators are following leads that could result in criminal prosecution under Uganda’s wildlife protection laws.
In recent years, Queen Elizabeth National Park has seen several incidents of wildlife killings linked to tensions between local communities and predators that prey on livestock. Conservationists fear that each loss has long-term implications for the lion population in Uganda national parks, already categorized as endangered.
UWA urged the public to remain vigilant and to report any suspicious activity that could threaten wildlife. “Protecting Uganda’s natural heritage requires collective responsibility,” the authority noted, calling for cooperation as inquiries continue.
The deaths mark the latest setback for one of the country’s most iconic species, and authorities say they are determined to bring those responsible to justice as the investigation unfolds.