On the early morning of June 8th, 2026, a heartwarming moment was discovered in the deep savannah grasslands of the Ishasha sector of Queen Elizabeth National Park: a newborn lion cub. The news of this unique discovery spread across the country and the entire region like wildfire. What makes this news very important and memorable is that it shows that, finally, the conservation efforts of lions in Queen Elizabeth National Park are starting to pay off. A newborn lion cub represents years of continued protection and conservation efforts. It shows a turning point in the growth of the lion population in Uganda.
Many times, the mountain gorillas of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park are the most treasured endangered species and highly protected. Therefore, less attention is given to other animals, such as the cats, especially the lions. Queen Elizabeth National Park is not entirely closed off or fenced from the community.
This is why there are many cases of human-wildlife conflict. Often this results in disastrous consequences for both the lions and humans. There have been cases where lions have hunted for easy prey like domestic livestock, and in rare cases, humans. This, in turn, leads to retaliation from the local communities, which target these lions and kill them.
A few years ago, a pride of over 11 lions was poisoned in Queen Elizabeth, and this sent shock waves across the country and the world. This unfortunate incident led to the boosting of the conservation efforts of lions and also the tightening of the wildlife laws. Therefore, receiving the news of a newborn lion cub is a great addition to Queen Elizabeth National Park.
The significance of the location of the born lion cub in the Ishasha sector sets the bar even higher because this is the introduction of a new tree-climbing lion. However, with the birth of this cub, more conservation efforts need to be put in place. This is because about 70% of lion cubs don’t make it to adulthood due to different factors like human-wildlife conflict and territorial fights from adult males, among others.
What does this mean for the Ishasha sector?
The Ishasha sector of Queen Elizabeth National Park is known for the tree-climbing lions. A newborn cub in this sector means that Ishasha’s population of tree-climbing lions has gained an important addition. In a few years or even months, when this cub is older, it will be introduced to the tree-climbing circle. The lion population of Ishasha had been reducing as some lions would cross to the Virunga in the Democratic Republic of Congo. However, this discovery of the newborn cub sets and rewrites the story of tree-climbing lions in this sector.
Why do lions in the Ishasha sector climb trees?
There is no distinctive explanation of why lions in the Ishasha sector climb trees. However, there are mythical findings that are not tested or proven to be factual. These present the reasons for the climbing behavior in the lions of Ishasha on different factors, as shown below.
- To escape the irritating bites from the ground insects. The Ishasha wilderness is a complex of diverse wildlife, including insects. The safari ants and termites deliver incredible bites that are irritating. Lions are a lazy species that spend most of the day resting, and with such insects, their rest is interrupted. It is believed that the lions developed the ability to climb trees to escape these insects and have a comfortable rest.
- To spot prey in the tall grasslands of Ishasha. The Ishasha sector has some of the tallest grassland savannahs. This makes it hard for the lions to spot prey at a distance to set traps for the hunt. Many animals, like antelopes, use this grassland as camouflage to hide from the lions. Therefore, the lions came up with an idea to climb trees and gain a high ground to spot prey.
- To escape the hot temperatures on the ground. As the slogan goes, the higher you go, the cooler it becomes; the Ishasha lions took it personal. Queen Elizabeth is crossed by the equator, and Ishasha’s closeness to this imaginary line means it receives the sun directly overhead in the dry season. This hot season makes the Ishasha ground very hot and uncomfortable for the lions to rest. This is where it is believed that the lions of Ishasha learnt the skill of climbing trees to escape the heat.
- The presence of many fig trees in the Ishasha sector of Queen Elizabeth. There are several fig trees in this sector scattered across. Fig trees have smooth bark and very big branches that support the massive weight of the lions.
How to spot the newborn lion cub in Ishasha?
Lions are apex predators, and the best way to encounter and have a chance to spot the newborn cub is by game drive. The game drive experience is the major tourist activity in Ishasha, and the safest adventure to encounter lions. The Ishasha lions are not tamed or trained, so they can be encountered on foot. These lions freely roam the savannah wilderness in this sector, and a game drive is the best alternative to safely spot them.
What are the other activities to do in Queen Elizabeth National Park?
Queen Elizabeth National Park is the top and most popular destination in Uganda. It hosts a variety of attractions that range from wildlife, birds, and the ecological systems, among others. Exploring this giant destination, visitors can participate in different activities as follows.
Chimpanzee trekking
Queen Elizabeth National Park, as a diverse destination, doesn’t just have savannah wildlife species but also chimpanzee primates in the Kyambura Gorge. These chimpanzee primates can be encountered on a chimpanzee trekking experience. This experience brings visitors into a one-on-one interaction with chimpanzees for an hour. Visitors can obtain the chimp permits from the Uganda Wildlife Authority through a trusted company like Monteero Safaris.
Boat cruise
The boat cruise experience is famously done on the Kazinga Channel. This channel is located in the heart of Queen Elizabeth and is one of the main water sources in the park. This channel connects Lake Edward to Lake George and harbors the largest population of hippos in the country. A boat cruise is the best way to spot the aquatic life of Queen Elizabeth, such as hippos, crocodiles, monitor lizards, etc.
Birding
The birdlife scale of Queen Elizabeth National Park is massive, with over 500 bird species recorded. These bird species can be spotted on a birding experience along designated birding trails and also target common birding sights in the park.