Research overview: conservation genomics of African lion populations

As lion numbers decline and ranges fragment, conservation genomics has become central to managing the species across protected areas and fenced reserves. This overview surveys how genome-wide data are used to define management units, detect inbreeding in small or enclosed populations, guide translocations that mimic natural gene flow, and monitor the genetic consequences of trophy hunting and isolation. It discusses the tension between maintaining adaptive diversity and managing intensively bred reserve populations, the role of genetic data in distinguishing northern and southern lineages for breeding programs, and how genomics supports evidence-based decisions for one of the world's most iconic but threatened carnivores.