As the lion population in our operating area grows, so do conflicts arising from lion attacks on livestock—posing a serious threat to both community livelihoods and lion survival. Our mobile conflict mitigation program blends rigorous science with traditional Maasai knowledge and skills to resolve conflicts in real time and prevent future incidents. By proactively steering lions away from conflict hotspots and reducing community anxiety, we create lasting solutions that protect both lions and the people who share their land.
CONFLICT CAMPS
When we respond to a conflict, the mobile team sets up a camp nearby to reassure the community of our presence and to stage our suite of efforts.
COMMUNITY LIAISON
During the conflict, we stay in close contact with communities, gathering information and ensuring that we are helping meet their needs.
LION IDENTIFICATION
Our monitoring and tracking team identifies the problem lion to determine a strategy to resolve the conflict - is it a young mother struggling to feed her family? A trouble-maker that we should collar and keep an eye on?
MOCK HUNTS
Mock hunts, which are based on traditional Maasai hunts, work to push the lion away from the community into a safer area, as well as deter them from attacking livestock in the future.
BOMA REINFORCEMENT
Guardians reinforce fencing in communities experiencing conflict in order to deter future depredations.
NIGHT PATROLS
During conflicts, the team patrols nightly to safeguard livestock and keep an eye on the situation.
MASTER HERDERS
We currently have seven master herders on call to help communities employ better herding practices and protect their livestock from attack.
CONTINUED MONITORING
After conflicts cool down, we continue to monitor the area to ensure that tensions do not flare up again.
“Lion Guardians has supported me, and so many others, in countless ways. During a time when lion attacks were high, Guardian Orumoi stayed vigilant night after night. Because of that, we could sleep, go to work the next day, and provide for our families.”
“The community hugely appreciated our efforts. They saw us moving around all the bomas and chasing the lions away tirelessly until dawn, and they made it clear that if it was not for the respect they had for Lion Guardians, then they would have gone to hunt the lion first thing Monday morning.”
“Lion Guardians has become a shield, protecting lions and people in this area. I deeply appreciate the swiftness with which the organization responds to community issues.”
“Our dedication to conflict mitigation turned the tide. Lions stopped killing livestock, families slept peacefully again, and what was once anger in the community shifted to appreciation.”
