Although many people come to spend and visit a significant amount of time in Maasai land, many do not understand the
importance and
value of livestock herds as well as the value of living in the traditional Maasai way.
Recently, our Conservation Program became aware of a scenario in which
5 grown cow calves were killed near Olpukai swamp by
lions in the daylight, with the herders present and nearby. Two lions were involved in the killing (one of the male collared lions and his companions), and the herders were standing very nearby, but unfortunately could
not herd the calves away quickly enough to save them.
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| Olpukai Swamp - location of the incident |
Historically and traditionally, the reaction would have resulted in a direct
killing in
retaliation, or a pursue of a
lion hunt of these two lions. However, it is very clear that there is some major
success to report in this story. The Wildlife Pays program with MWCT seeks to teach the Maasai that by not killing lions, by saving them in the ecosystem, that they will receive benefits. Through this program, with any loss of livestock due to predation with no negligence on the side of the herder and the boma (boma being a certain size, and herder acting appropriately) a compensation is paid to the owner of the affected livestock.
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| Livestock and wildlife grazing and living simultaneously at the swamp |
To many Maasai, livestock is the
sole source of income for the entire family. In this scenario, 5 cows is worth a compensation payment of 100 000 KSH. For this family to have a loss of five animals it was a very large
detriment, despite the repayment. It is a large success for the Wildlife Pays program to know that the Maasai are
compliant in not killing these lions, as they are aware of the negative consequences of a lion killing on themselves and their community, as well as the potential economic compensation they may receive.
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