|
|
Project Outline: Due to conflict with livestock, lions have been in steep decline in most of Africa, threatening them with extinction in all but the largest protected areas. In southern Kenya, the Kilimanjaro Lion Conservation Project is working to reverse the recent decimation of lion numbers due to spearing by Masai warriors.
The work of the Laikipia Predator Project has shown that Living with Lions is not difficult – the ancient livestock management methods developed by African herding tribes millennia ago still work well if properly implemented.
However, these are being lost to modernization, and predators are being exterminated as a result. With biologically sound management, we can reverse this trend wherever trophy hunting or tourism gives lions financial value. However, there has never been any attempt at scientific management of lion populations.
The Kenya Wildlife Service and the landowners of Laikipia District have asked us to develop and coordinate lion management in this region, which is Kenya`s great conservation success story. Based on our research over the last eight years, the LPP has developed comprehensive plans for managing lions in livestock-producing rangelands with the intention of increasing lion numbers while decreasing their impact on livestock. We are working to reintroduce sustainable use as a way to create economic value to the wildlife of Kenya. Because many Laikipia lions are shot as problem animals every year, management principles we develop can be broadly applied throughout Africa, including hunting blocks.
To effectively manage the Laikipia lion population and reverse the current lion slaughter in Masailand, we need more personnel, more radio collars, another vehicle, a light plane for radio tracking and transport between projects, and lion hounds for use in research and Problem Animal Control.
The work of the Laikipia Predator Project has shown that Living with Lions is not difficult – the ancient livestock management methods developed by African herding tribes millennia ago still work well if properly implemented.
However, these are being lost to modernization, and predators are being exterminated as a result. With biologically sound management, we can reverse this trend wherever trophy hunting or tourism gives lions financial value. However, there has never been any attempt at scientific management of lion populations.
The Kenya Wildlife Service and the landowners of Laikipia District have asked us to develop and coordinate lion management in this region, which is Kenya`s great conservation success story. Based on our research over the last eight years, the LPP has developed comprehensive plans for managing lions in livestock-producing rangelands with the intention of increasing lion numbers while decreasing their impact on livestock. We are working to reintroduce sustainable use as a way to create economic value to the wildlife of Kenya. Because many Laikipia lions are shot as problem animals every year, management principles we develop can be broadly applied throughout Africa, including hunting blocks.
To effectively manage the Laikipia lion population and reverse the current lion slaughter in Masailand, we need more personnel, more radio collars, another vehicle, a light plane for radio tracking and transport between projects, and lion hounds for use in research and Problem Animal Control.