https://ewasolions.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Evaluating-the-impact-of-Warrior-Watch-Behaviour-change-to-promote-human-lion-coexistence.pdf
Bringing Back Wildlife to Women: Mama Simba New Vision and Strategy
Bringing Back Wildlife to Women: Mama Simba New Vision and Strategy
Mama Simba, meaning “mother of lions” in Kiswahili, started in 2013 and was the brainchild of two Samburu women – Mparasaroi Lemantaan and Munteli Lalparasaroi. Ewaso Lions engaged the Mama Simba women in conservation, education, and beadwork activities for a number of years.
In September 2022, Mama Simba ladies gathered to take stock of how their work was evolving and decide how to re-weight various programmes and activities. This programme now provides a platform for Samburu women to reclaim their place as the owners and protectors of wildlife. Through environmental literacy, lion habitat recovery activities, engagement and awareness work on coexistence and culture, and providing support during droughts, women are re-engaging in conservation in northern Kenya. Mama Simba now holds firmly to the historically held belief that wildlife belongs to women.
Over the past quarter, the Mama Simba ladies have been very active in their work. Helped by the arrival of a new vehicle sponsored by World Women Work, our Mama Simba ladies have worked in recovering lion habitat by controlling the spread of invasive species, managing the Sasaab Lokere (grass enclosure) by digging bunds, planting seeds and watering them, and managing a pilot tree project in the Conservation Area in Westgate. These activities are in support of partner efforts within the Conservancy.
New Mama Simba vehicle sponsored by World Women Work © Anthony Ochieng
Watch the Mama Simba Vehicle Arrival video here
Planting trees in a new trial experiment © Anthony Ochieng
Watering their trees © Anthony Ochieng
Removal of invasive species “Mathenge” © Anthony Ochieng
In addition to their lion habitat recovery activities, the Mama Simba have been extremely active during the drought and provided much-needed support for wildlife through digging of waterholes.
“A few weeks ago, we saw Loingopa walk inside the dry Ewaso Nyiro River- from hole to hole searching for water. He eventually found a small hole and dug for water an occurrence we had not seen in the past. The next day, Mama Simba ladies went to where the lions were and dug a few holes in the vicinity, and that night lions drank from the dug water holes. The following morning, my team and I found the lions resting nearby the water holes”, Jeneria Lekilelei.
Mama Simba ladies dig waterholes for wildlife © Anthony Ochieng
Here are our Mama Simba highlights for this past quarter:
- Successfully acquired a vehicle to aid them in their conservation efforts.
- Dug 20 waterholes for wildlife.
- Uprooted 70 invasive plant species.
- Held a total of 26 environmental literacy classes every Wednesday and Sunday.
- Planted and monitored the growth of tree seedlings – so far 15 seeds have germinated.
- Supported efforts in Kura’s Pride by reporting cases of sick or injured animals, brought dogs and cats for surgical procedures and vaccinations, reported livestock attacked by wildlife, and helped created awareness on improved animal welfare.
- Held 2 exposure trips to Reteti Elephant Sanctuary and Samburu National Reserve creating positive interactions between women and wildlife.
- Held 1 meeting with women on culture, conservation, and coexisting with wildlife.
- Supported each of the 4 Lion Kids Camps held this year.
- Assisted in Nanai’s operation and monitored her journey to recovery.
Banner Photo © Anthony Ochieng
Our 2023 Lion Kids Camps are underway
Our 2023 Lion Kids Camps are underway
Children are the new custodians of Kenya’s wildlife and the attitudes they form at an early age about wildlife tend to last a lifetime. Recognising this, our Lion Kids Camp (LKC) programme is well-tailored to engage children in environmental education ultimately fostering long-term conservation values. We also offer culturally relevant information including identifying which carnivore killed their livestock, disease spread and domestic animal welfare.
Lion Kids playing the Conservation Game © Lucy Maina
We target students and livestock herding children from the landscape based on the critical role they play in wildlife conservation. Each five-day Camp follows a carefully designed curriculum that teaches children about the value and importance of lions, large carnivores and other wildlife species, the threats to their survival and techniques communities can adopt to promote peaceful coexistence.
Lion Kids playing the Conservation Game © Lucy Maina
We are excited to have so far held a total of 4 Camps this year -2 Camps for students and 2 Camps for herding children. A total of 97 children from 4 conservancies – Meibae, Nakuprat Gotu, Westgate and Nanapisho – attended our Camps.
Each day was special for the children, from introductions and getting to know each other, to learning about wildlife and their identification, and finally to a safari into Samburu National Reserve (SNR) using Ewaso Lions’ Simba Safari bus.
Many of the children mentioned the safari as their biggest highlight as it gave them a chance to observe wildlife close-up which brought what they had learnt to life.
Boarding the bus to head on Safari © Lucy Maina
Susan Ekiru said, “We woke up so early on the third day and went to the Reserve. We were overjoyed to see Lions, Elephants, Baboons, Warthog, Elephants, Giraffes and Zebras among other animals. I was saddened to learn that the Grevy’s Zebra is facing extinction if nothing is done.”
Painoti our Education Assistant shows the children Nanai close-up © Lucy Maina
Samburu National Reserve Warden, Moses Lolmodooni, speaks to the children © Lucy Maina
Acknowledging the importance of conservation engagement and awareness, Lion Kids Camp is expanding to include warriors and youth. In this spirit, we had an exposure trip to the Reserve dubbed “Transform Samburu” with an environmental youth group from Lorubae. 25 youth had an opportunity to appreciate and interact positively with wildlife.
“I hope to come back, I have learnt a lot about wildlife and I am teaching my family and friends too. I aspire to be a wildlife veterinarian like Dr. Jessicah of Kura’s Pride so I can be able to save Grevy’s Zebra from extinction. Thank you so much Ewaso Lions for according this opportunity to me, ” Susan Ekiru, Nakupurat – Gotu Conservancy.
Banner Photo © Lucy Maina