Maasailand Lion Conservation Program

Lion Cub

Based in the great Maasai Steppe, this program focuses on the conservation of one of Tanzania’s most threatened lion populations. Because lions range widely outside of the narrow Tarangire National Park, conflict with Maasai pastoralists and their livestock is frequent and hostile. APW’s early lion conservation efforts focused on understanding the nature of lion-livestock conflict with the Maasai by developing a simple, community-led monitoring system for verifying and recording lion (and other large carnivore) attacks on livestock.

Today, monitoring data produced by these local teams directs our lion conservation efforts and the installation of APW’s highly successful Living Walls. Together with the Maasai, we developed a simple solution to nighttime lion attacks on corralled livestock. Using a unique combination of chain link fencing and fast growing trees as fence posts, these special enclosures protect livestock and reduce the retaliatory killing of lions. Local herdsmen contribute one quarter of the cost of the chain link fencing. With 50 Living Walls currently in place, we are protecting more than 100 livestock enclosures (for cattle, goats and sheep), safely securing more than 12,000 head of livestock nightly and positively impacting more than 1000 adults and children. Local monitoring shows lion attacks on livestock dropped precipitously and the Maasai kill fewer lions each year.

By the end of 2011, we aim to reach more than 100 Living Walls installed within the Maasai Steppe.