Conservation Update - Lion Hunt Stopped!

MWCT's Conservation Program operates several initiatives, but one of the most important is called Wildlife Pays.  This program compensates livestock herders for losses to wildlife predation through a rigorous system of certification and monitoring of best practices; by doing so it prevents the killing of predators that would otherwise be the natural reaction to livestock killings.  Wildlife Pays is fully funded by the Conservation Fees payed by visitors to Campi ya Kanzi, a nearby eco-tourism lodge.

Last Wednesday was an excellent testament to the success of Wildlife Pays, as three lions attacked and killed a cow on Kuku Group Ranch.  Angered by the killing, around 50 morani (Maasai warriors) headed out to pursue and kill the lions.  Fortunately our community rangers reacted and were able to intercept the morani before they succeeded in this goal.  After assuring the Maasai warriors the owner would be compensated, they were able to calm them down and persuade them to return to their normal work.

Following this meeting, MWCT rangers certified the killing and verified that it was done by lions, and that the herder was to be compensated for his loss through the Wildlife Pays fund.  Efforts like this, in which the Trust directly intervened and was able to save three lions and make everyone involved happy, are exactly the type of success the Conservation Program of MWCT aims for.  With continued education, hard work, and your support, these successes can become the norm.