2019 Annual Report Ewaso Lions Is Dedicated to Conserving Lions About Lions
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2019 ANNUAL REPORT EWASO LIONS IS DEDICATED TO CONSERVING LIONS ABOUT LIONS AND OTHER LARGE CARNIVORES BY PROMOTING The African lion population has disappeared from 92% of their historical range*. It is CO-EXISTENCE BETWEEN PEOPLE AND WILDLIFE. estimated that there are between 20,000 to Ewaso Lions is an independent 100% African wildlife conservation organisation 30,000 lions remaining across the continent - which engages and builds the capacity of key demographic groups in the down from perhaps 200,000 lions a hundred area (warriors, women, and children) to reduce human-carnivore conflict by years ago. developing strategies for preventing livestock predation. We raise awareness In Kenya, the national population now of ecological problems to spur solutions from within the communities, and numbers less than 2,000 individuals although conduct research and educational initiatives that reinforce traditionally held estimated numbers will be provided in 2020 beliefs and the evolving culture of wildlife conservation across the landscape. following a National Large Carnivore Survey. The reduction in lion numbers in Kenya is primarily due to habitat loss and conflict with humans, typically when lions kill people’s livestock. More recent threats now include the development of large scale infrastructure projects, and climate change leading to loss of prey. Lions and other large carnivores are wide-ranging species and designated protected areas are often not large enough to ensure their long-term survival. Therefore, it is crucial that conservation of these species, as well as their prey, is addressed throughout the landscape, which not only incorporates protected areas but also the surrounding areas where local people live. *Stolton, S. and Dudley, N. 2019. The New Lion Economy. Unlocking the value of lions and their landscapes, Equilibrium Research, Bristol, UK. LEADERSHIP TEAM Dr Shivani Bhalla FOUNDER & EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Resson Kantai Duff DEPUTY DIRECTOR Jeneria Lekilelei DIRECTOR OF COMMUNITY CONSERVATION Tobias Otieno RESEARCH MANAGER Arzina Bhanjee FINANCE MANAGER Francis Lendorop SECURITY MANAGER Cover photo: The lions in Samburu National Reserve have been spotted doing the most unusual things! Twice now, the team have watched the Koitogor pride hunting baboons. Though we knew it happened, we had never filmed lions chasing baboons up trees until now. Their prey appears to be diversifying as the rains fatten and strengthen other herbivores, perhaps making them harder to catch © Ewaso Lions Above photo: Nanai and Lolotu in Buffalo Springs National Reserve © Ewaso Lions 1 LETTERS FROM DIRECTORS Are we stranded in camp Despite the constant winds of 12 years ago I was just a young boy because of the floods? change, 2019 was our year of looking after my family’s Will they kill the lions? brave innovation. livestock in the bush - hating lions. Have we lost wild dogs From putting on our first To me, lions were just the killers to distemper and will the university symposium on wildlife of my camels and cows. I could disease spread? conservation, to launching a new never imagine liking lions and I Will the river dry up and literacy curriculum for Mama never imagined that the animals communities struggle for water? Simba ladies and Warriors, that caused me so much trouble How do we keep our project there were many moments that were actually in trouble. It has going - financially & physically? made me brim with pride. And been a long time since those Is my team safe? just as the lions made brave early days. I know lions better journeys across the landscape, than my cows now! And just like These are some of the questions so too did our very own Mama my cows, I know they just need that often keep me up at night - Simba pioneers, travelling across space, food and safety. As I have especially towards the end of 2019. the world to tell their story of understood lions, they have helped lion conservation. These are me understand people. The people This year, our landscape’s the big innovations of the year, who live alongside lions - my resilience has been tested to its but what we don’t talk about people - do not always want to be limit, with our team constantly enough are the quiet efforts to blamed for doing the wrong thing. having to adapt to the changes. keep everything going so we can They also need understanding, We responded quickly to a canine innovate. Behind the scenes, to be consulted, to be change distemper outbreak. Our team Arzina and Evelyn worked makers, to be recognised. This remained for days in the field tirelessly all year to dispatch is what the warriors I work with saving lions, as lion conflict money and supplies to ensure the always wanted, and now they are escalated due to prolonged, heavy team didn’t miss a beat and our leaders in conservation - their rains. I am especially proud this camp was fully functioning. In rightful place. They work hard year of how we have continued to times of crisis, each person passed every day to keep livestock safe, empower our team and watching on a little hope and laughter to to inform other herders of lion them become the leaders they are. the next person. In the face of any presence, to remind people of The ownership they have over storm, I take comfort in the fact our responsibility to our wildlife, Ewaso Lions, is what keeps me that this incredible team has the and where necessary, to save going. Thank you so much to all courage to make the world a little lion’s lives. I am so grateful to our friends and supporters - it is wider and better for both people the Kenya Wildlife Service, all thanks to you that Ewaso Lions and wildlife. the community conservancies keeps going. where were work and the reserves managements for all their support. Resson Kantai Duff Dr Shivani Bhalla Jeneria Lekilelei 2 Photos from left to right: Shivani © Jacques van der Westhuizen, Resson © Ewaso Lions and Jeneria © Jacques van der Westhuizen THE BEST OF 2019 0 56 120 LIONS KILLED AS A ADDITIONAL WOMEN CHILDREN ATTEND 5 RESULT OF CONFLICT IN LITERACY SCHOOL LION KIDS CAMPS IN 2019 250 50 2,441 UNIVERSITY STUDENTS PARTICIPANTS ATTEND OF DIRECT SIGHTINGS ATTEND UNIVERSITY COUNTIES WORKSHOP OF WILDLIFE BY OUR WILDLIFE SYMPOSIUM ON RABIES & DISTEMPER SCOUTS & WARRIORS 11,230 km 320 5 COVERED BY EWASO LIONS DOMESTIC ANIMALS WERE NEW JEREMY LUCAS VEHICLES IN NATIONAL VACCINATED TO CONTROL DISEASE EDUCATION FUND LARGE CARNIVORE SURVEY SPREAD AMONGST WILDLIFE SCHOLARS Naramat’s cub in Westgate’s Conservation Area in October © Ewaso Lions 3 Namunyak Hunts THE EWASO LIONS Namunyak gave birth to 3 cubs in July this year, however, for many weeks Naramat Returns she struggled to hunt and her cubs After taking residence in Il Ngwesi were getting weaker by the day. At the Conservancy for over a year, peak of the dry season in September, Naramat took the 106 kilometre trek Namunyak was out hunting alone in back to Westgate Conservancy. Samburu at midday and came across But she did not come alone. a herd of Grevy’s zebra who were Naramat brought with her three coming down to the river to drink. new cubs! The team were overjoyed She surprised them and focused on at having her back with her new a young foal who she brought down cubs, but even more elated with within minutes. Her cubs were over 5 the community’s reaction: they kilometres away and after she had a celebrated her reappearance, spoke meal herself, she went and brought about her at meetings and discussed them to the kill, where they stayed for safeguarding the Conservation Area a few days. Thankfully the small family for her. All this is proof of growing became stronger over time. tolerance for lions. © Ewaso Lions © Ewaso Lions Ldarlei Named Nanai Advances People from all walks of life in Nanai lost one of her cubs in April this northern Kenya continue to accept, year after she was attacked severely by and even revel in lion presence. We one of the male lions. Her remaining cub took the opportunity to invite local united with Namunyak’s eldest cubs and people, government officials, tour soon after, Nanai started mating with both guides and rangers to name their Lolotu and Ldarlei. We are hoping to see lions in November. It sparked great new cubs in early 2020! discussions as people debated which local names best embodied the character of the lions many of them had seen and followed, reinforcing local ownership for years to come. During this Lion Naming Ceremony, 5 lions were named - including Ldarlei photographed here, meaning “light coloured” as a result of his mane! 4 © Ewaso Lions © Julie Scardina 5 WARRIOR WATCH For the first time in several years, we can report that not a single lion was killed in a retaliatory attack that our warriors responded to. Not one! This marks a turning point for us, and a hope that in future, we will not measure success by the number of conflict incidents we attend to, but by how much tolerance we are building. While the world faces an attrition of culture, we are using our project to cement the cultural structures that keep tolerance for lions. Our metrics this year reflect our hope: 19 200 WARRIORS TRAINED IN PARTICIPANTS ATTEND WORLD WILDLIFE MONITORING LION DAY IN NAISUNYAI VILLAGE DATA COLLECTION LED BY OUR WARRIORS 0 2 71 /0 COORDINATORS ATTEND ATTENDANCE RATE OF OUR CONFLICT TRANSFORMATION WARRIORS DURING 42 CLASSES WORKSHOP HELD AT LITERACY SCHOOL 8 4224 KM ANNUAL GENERAL MEETINGS COVERED ON FOOT BY OUR ATTENDED IN THE CONSERVANCIES WARRIORS ON PATROL 10 LIONS VISIT WESTGATE CONSERVANCY IN ONE MONTH 6 Lemeen on patrol in Westgate Conservancy © Danni Parks MAMA SIMBA It is safe to say that our Mama Simba “I am very happy that all coordinators Munteli and Mparasoroi had their most epic adventure in 2019: a tour my efforts to protect lions of the United States of America! gave me a chance to go to These pioneers decided they wanted to tell their own stories and help with fundraising efforts that they’ve America - to tell my story.” heard about year after year.