Paola Bouley
Lion Researcher
I was born and grew up in South Africa and am an ecologist and project director committed to science-based restoration and endangered species recovery.
At the age of 10 I knew I wanted to dedicate myself to wild cat conservation. Of course back then I never imagined I'd see the day when the African lion would be sliding towards extinction. Working towards the protection and recovery of lions is a call of duty and a passion for me, one which I don't for a second take for granted.
I received an M.S. in Ecology and Systematic Biology from the Romberg Tiburon Center for Environmental Studies & San Francisco State University (2005) and a B.S. with honors in Biology from University of California at Santa Cruz (2001). Plans are underway to begin my PhD in Gorongosa. My permanent home-base is with my husband on the coast of North-Central California.
I first heard about Gorongosa National Park from a colleague in a small bush airport in the Luangwa Valley on my way home after a season researching large carnivores. I was moved so deeply by what I heard and subsequently learned that just a few months later I found myself on the ground in GNP launching Projecto Leões da Gorongosa – Gorongosa's first lion research and recovery effort in more than 4 decades. I've been captivated ever since.
The decade ahead will be pivotal for the future of lions – whether we save them or whether we lose them in the wild forever will depend on what we can collectively achieve. And Gorongosa – and Mozambique overall - will for sure play a role and be part of this story.
In May of 2012 I founded Projecto Leões da Gorongosa and currently serve as its Senior Researcher. The work I undertake on behalf of lions is also supported by Princeton University where I am a Research Associate in Dr. Rob Pringle's lab.
I oversee all monitoring, capacity-building and strategic conservation efforts focused on lions in partnership with GNP's scientific, conservation and senior management teams. I also work closely with the media team to document and share the story of Gorongosa's lions with the world.
Gorongosa – its beauty, its resilience, its lions, and its people - inspires me with tremendous hope. This Park is a living, breathing example of what great things can be achieved when people join forces for the benefit and well-being of future generations of wildlife and people. It's a privilege to be part of such a historic conservation effort.
Lions feature prominently in the local folklore of Gorongosa. According to legend, powerful men turn into lions when they die. One such man was Chief Chitengo, who lived during the early 1900s. Chitengo was believed to be a magician, and during combat he could transform himself into a termite mound, a partridge, or other natural forms. It was believed that he transformed himself into a white lion when he died. To this day, the main camp in Gorongosa bears his name. Here's his story: