The Ewaso Lions Project was founded in 2007 for the protection of
lion
The lion (''Panthera leo'') is a large Felidae, cat of the genus ''Panthera'', native to Sub-Saharan Africa and India. It has a muscular, broad-chested body (biology), body; a short, rounded head; round ears; and a dark, hairy tuft at the ...
s (''Panthera leo'') and their habitat in Northern
Kenya
Kenya, officially the Republic of Kenya, is a country located in East Africa. With an estimated population of more than 52.4 million as of mid-2024, Kenya is the 27th-most-populous country in the world and the 7th most populous in Africa. ...
. The project works to study and incorporate local communities in helping to protect the lions in the
Samburu National Reserve,
Buffalo Springs National Reserve and
Shaba National Reserve of the
Ewaso Nyiro ecosystem in Northern
Kenya
Kenya, officially the Republic of Kenya, is a country located in East Africa. With an estimated population of more than 52.4 million as of mid-2024, Kenya is the 27th-most-populous country in the world and the 7th most populous in Africa. ...
.
The
lion
The lion (''Panthera leo'') is a large Felidae, cat of the genus ''Panthera'', native to Sub-Saharan Africa and India. It has a muscular, broad-chested body (biology), body; a short, rounded head; round ears; and a dark, hairy tuft at the ...
is a
vulnerable species
A vulnerable species is a species which has been Conservation status, categorized by the International Union for Conservation of Nature as being threatened species, threatened with extinction unless the circumstances that are threatened species, ...
, having seen a major population decline of 30–50% over the past two decades.
Currently there are less than 2,000 lions in Kenya.
The Ewaso Lions Project research camp sits within the Westgate Community Conservancy, west of
Samburu National Reserve. Shivani Bhalla, representing the Ewaso Lions is a regular featured guest speaker at the annual
Wildlife Conservation Network Expo.
Programs
Scientific research
The Ewaso Lions Project core research focuses on discovering the factors that drive lion pride locations and movements and the extent of conflict with humans, as well as the effect of habitat loss. Methods include a lion census to estimate population, size and trends; surveys of local communities to gauge extent of human-lion conflict and its impact; camera traps are set to document lion activity; fitting lions with radio and GPS collars to map movements in and out of reserves; scat analysis to understand feeding patterns.
Community outreach
The Ewaso Lions Project works with local communities to find ways that people can coexist with lions. Community Outreach programs include: "Warrior Watch" which recruits and trains Samburu warriors to collect data and respond to community issues like livestock depredation; primary school education on wildlife and wildlife clubs in schools along with scholarships for students interested in conservation as well as taking children on safaris to see the animals first hand; a mobile film project that shows wildlife films in rural villages gives local people an opportunity to see the animals up close; a book compiling poems, stories, myths and drawings about lions from the local community; and a race each year to bring the community together and bring awareness to lion conservation.
See also
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Conservation movement
The conservation movement, also known as nature conservation, is a political, environmental, and social movement that seeks to manage and protect natural resources, including animal, fungus, and plant species as well as their habitat for the ...
*
Natural environment
The natural environment or natural world encompasses all life, biotic and abiotic component, abiotic things occurring nature, naturally, meaning in this case not artificiality, artificial. The term is most often applied to Earth or some parts ...
References
External links
ewasolions.org Ewaso Lions Project Website
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ewaso Lions Project
Conservation projects
Endangered species
International environmental organizations
Animal welfare organisations based in Kenya
Organizations established in 2007
Cat conservation organizations