Wildlife – Ewaso Lions

A Game of Coexistence

Across Africa, the roar of the lion is growing fainter. Once spread across vast landscapes, the African lion has disappeared from 92% of its historical range. A century ago, an estimated 200,000 lions roamed the continent; today, that number has dropped to just 20,000–30,000.

In Kenya, fewer than 2,500 lions remain. The reasons are complex: shrinking habitats, conflicts with people when livestock is lost, climate change, disease, and the expansion of infrastructure all play a part. For a species that needs vast territories and abundant prey, survival outside protected parks and reserves is becoming difficult.

Yet, the future of lions lies largely in the hands of the people who share the land with them.

Changing Perceptions, One Child at a Time

In Samburu, where Ewaso Lions works, many children grow up within sight of wildlife reserves but have rarely experienced wildlife in a safe, positive way.

For some, lions are not majestic animals from storybooks, but threats: the predators that killed a family’s livestock, or the reason they run in fear when herding goats.

Recognising that children are new stewards of Kenya’s wildlife, Ewaso Lions launched the Lion Kids Camp (LKC) in 2013. The programme blends wildlife education, guided safaris, and conservation-themed activities to enhance knowledge of nature.

While the camp initially targeted school-going children, the team quickly identified a gap: pastoralist children who herd livestock from an early age. These young herders often have the greatest day-to-day impact on wildlife, yet have the least access to conservation education.

To reach them, Ewaso Lions developed a five-day, hands-on curriculum that relies on tactile and visual experiences, ensuring it works for both literate and non-literate children. One of its most successful activities is an innovative, laughter-filled obstacle course with a serious purpose: the Ewaso Lions Conservation Game.

Ewaso Lions Conservation Game

First introduced in April 2015, the Ewaso Lions Conservation Game transforms complex conservation challenges into an energetic and interactive experience.

Children are divided into teams, each representing a pride of lions. One member, acting as the pride leader, must guide their “lions” (team members) safely through a “community area” (the obstacle course), collecting key resources like water, prey, safe refuges, and protection while avoiding dangers like settlements, livestock, poachers, rabid dogs, bushfires, and highways.

There’s a twist: all “lions” except the leader are blindfolded, meaning teamwork, trust, and clear communication are essential.

Each obstacle and checkpoint represents a real-world survival factor for lions living alongside people. The game ends with a group discussion that connects each part of the course to actual conservation issues and solutions.

: © Lucy Maina

: © Lucy Maina

What the Game Teaches

Through play, participants learn:

The needs of lions living in community lands
The threats lions face, from habitat loss to disease
How human activities can help or harm lion survival
Practical ways people can coexist with large carnivores

And beyond the knowledge, the game builds knowledge and empathy. Children begin to see lions not just as predators, but as fellow creatures navigating a dangerous world.

Ripple Effects in the Community

Although designed for children, the game’s appeal has reached herders, warriors, women, and elders, literate or not. In every group, it ignites conversations about coexistence and inspires positive attitudes toward wildlife.

From Kenya to the World

What began as a local initiative has proven adaptable across countries and species. The Conservation Game has been tailored and played in Mozambique, Ethiopia, Peru, and Botswana, each time contextualised to the local wildlife and challenges.

Why It Matters

Lions are not just icons of Africa; they are vital to healthy ecosystems. Protecting them requires more than safeguarding parks and reserves. It means working with the people who share their landscapes, building understanding, and turning fear into respect.

In Samburu, this work starts with a simple truth: if you want to change the future, start with the children. Sometimes, that change begins with a blindfold, an obstacle course, and the laughter of a “pride” learning to survive together.

Read the full game concept: Download the Conservation Game Guide (PDF)
Share your feedback: If you adapt the game in different contexts, please fill out our short survey. Your input will help us improve and inspire more communities to use the game as a tool for conservation and coexistence.

Watch The Step-by-Step Guide

Written by Victoria Wanjohi

Global Report Reveals Declining Lion Populations — But There’s Hope in Kenya

A new report from the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has delivered a wake-up call for lion conservationists across the world. For the first time, lions (Panthera leo) have been assessed under the IUCN’s Green Status of Species, a tool that measures how close a species is to recovering its full ecological role. The results are sobering.

Globally, lions are now classified as “Largely Depleted”, with a species recovery score of just 30%. This means that across much of their range, lions have lost their historical ecological function and remain highly dependent on active conservation to survive. Even more alarming is the projection that without these conservation actions, lions would likely become Critically Endangered within just two decades.

Once widespread across Africa, the Middle East, and even parts of southern Europe, lions now occupy only 8% of their historical range. Habitat loss, human-wildlife conflict, poaching, and the loss of natural prey have all contributed to this sharp decline.

You can explore the full IUCN report here, which offers a global snapshot of lion recovery.

While the global outlook is bleak, there are bright spots, and Northern Kenya is one of them.

In 2024, Ewaso Lions documented promising signs of recovery within its conservation landscape:

15 lion cubs were born
92 lion sightings were recorded across the landscape

These numbers are not just statistics. They are signs of hope. In a region where lions once faced sharp declines due to conflict and shrinking habitat, these births and regular sightings indicate a stabilising and potentially recovering lion population.

At the heart of this success is a community-led approach to conservation. Through our programmes like Warrior Watch, Kura’s Pride, Lion Kids Camp, and Mama Simba, local people, from Samburu warriors to young livestock herders, are empowered to take the lead in protecting lions. By integrating traditional knowledge, addressing human-lion conflict, and nurturing pride in wildlife stewardship, Ewaso Lions is helping rewrite the story for lions in Kenya.

The IUCN’s Green Status doesn’t just measure how close a species is to extinction; it asks how fully a species is performing its role in the ecosystem. In many parts of Africa, lions no longer shape the environment the way they once did. But where conservation efforts are strong, lions are beginning to bounce back.

The global report makes it clear: recovery is possible, but only with sustained effort, funding, and community leadership. Without it, lions face an uncertain and diminished future.

Here in Kenya, the lions still have a chance, but they need your support.

Whether it is funding vital lion monitoring, supporting community-led initiatives, or helping young people learn to coexist with wildlife, your contribution makes a real difference.

Donate and help protect lions where they still have a chance to thrive.

Using Technology in Lion Conservation

Ewaso Lions has helped to grow and maintain a stable lion population within our conservation landscape since our work began in 2007; however, lions worldwide and in Kenya face a significant decline. In the last two decades, their numbers have plummeted by 43%, leaving only about 20,000 remaining. In Kenya, where lions are culturally and ecologically vital, approximately 2,500 lions persist across protected and communal lands. This decline stems from habitat loss, human-wildlife conflict, prey depletion, among other issues. With lion habitat shrinking by 90%, human-lion encounters increase, necessitating ongoing monitoring for informed conservation measures.

Fortunately, technology has emerged as a powerful tool in lion conservation efforts. Telemetry tracking, camera trapping, remote sensing, and the Spatial Monitoring and Reporting Tool (SMART) have revolutionised the way we monitor and protect lion populations.

At Ewaso Lions, we utilise GPS-enabled collars and the SMART platform to monitor lion movements and mitigate potential human-lion conflicts. SMART provides essential analysis tools for collecting and analysing data. Through SMART, we gather valuable data on patrol efforts, conflict incidents, and lion sightings, enabling us to identify areas requiring additional conservation efforts and create conflict and habitat preference maps.

Naramat with her collar in 2020

We have customised the SMART app to include icons and pictures for our team of Warriors and Lion Governors, making data collection more accessible and efficient. In 2023 alone, we conducted 277 patrols, covering approximately 4,138 km, and identified new critical lion corridors and habitat preferences, enhancing our understanding of lion ecology in the region.

Jeremiah, Letupukwa and Lebasha out tracking lions (c) Alfred Simatwa

Patrol data collected on smart phone (c) Alfred Simatwa

Patrol efforts and wildlife observations in 2023

Moving forward, our goal is to expand our coverage, increasing both distance and awareness of critical lion habitat areas, while striving to mitigate lion-human conflicts. With technology as our ally, we are committed to protecting Kenya’s precious lion populations for generations.

In March 2024, Google published an article on how we use Google Earth to protect lions. Click here to read the article.

Matthew and Toby analyse downloaded lion tracks

Invasive Species: Challenge or Opportunity?

The encroachment of the highly invasive Prosopis julifora, known locally as Mathenge, into our lion territories presents a complex dilemma. Witnessing its rapid proliferation in key lion areas raises significant concerns, given its notorious ability to outcompete indigenous vegetation and transform landscapes into dense, impenetrable thickets. However, amidst these challenges lie unexpected opportunities.

The vast invasive species forests

Mathenge’s swift growth has inadvertently created havens for lions, providing them with secure refuges for raising cubs and seeking shelter from threats. Yet, this comes at a cost – the displacement of vital indigenous cover and the erosion of critical wildlife habitat. In particular, the gradual disappearance of the indigenous toothbrush tree, a cornerstone of lion habitat, underscores the urgency of addressing the invasive species issue.

Kwenia and Narasha walk in front of the “Mathenge” forests

While the vast Mathenge forests seem daunting to tackle, we recognise the imperative to restore lion habitats by reclaiming territory from invasive species. Our efforts, led by Mama Simba through their lion habitat recovery initiative, involves strategic removal of smaller Mathenge bushes and experimenting with the cultivation of toothbrush trees, albeit with the acknowledgment that this process may span years.

Mama Simba ladies remove “Mathenge” (c) Anthony Ochieng

It is clear that Mathenge offers only a transient solution to lion conservation, underscoring the necessity of long-term strategies centered on restoring landscapes with indigenous flora and managing invasive species effectively. By prioritising the preservation of lion habitats and promoting continued harmony between wildlife and communities, we can navigate this intricate landscape towards a sustainable future for both lions and ecosystems alike.

*This work is being done in collaboration with other partners.

Naramat’s Pride: A Thriving Legacy

Naramat, our extraordinary lioness in Westgate Conservancy, was sadly killed by other lions in 2021, but her impact lives on. She gave birth to 3 stunning females in 2019 – Mararoi, Narasha, and Masanduku, who later brought 3 more cubs into the world in 2021. Fast forward to 2023, Narasha gave birth to 3 adorable cubs – and we recently had the privilege of seeing them. Now 6 months old, Naramat’s newest grandcubs were spotted in the thick toothbrush tree bushes with their mother Narasha and all four lions seem to be thriving.

Naramat’s grand-cubs: Narasha’s latest trio of cubs born in 2023

The 3 sub-adults born to Mararoi and Narasha in 2021

Mararoi, Masanduku and Narasha – born in 2019

Naramat, an extraordinary lioness

Naramat was beloved and embraced by many in the Westgate community throughout her 13 years and was a testament to peaceful co-existence between lions and humans. To read more about Naramat, click here. Naramat’s legacy continues to inspire and awe us every day and we look forward to continuing watching her grand-cubs grow and thrive within our conservation landscape.

From Dreams to Reality: Solomon’s Journey to Becoming a Veterinarian

Solomon’s Journey to Becoming a Veterinarian: Click on this video to learn more about his journey.

Solomon’s Journey

“Going to school was not something I had ever dreamed of because no one in my family had gone to school. In the whole family, we are nineteen and I am the only one who went to school. I consider myself as the luckiest one,” Solomon Lenasalia.

Ewaso Lions, through the Jeremy Lucas Education Fund, sponsored Solomon for four years of secondary education. Subsequently, Solomon continued his academic pursuit with Ewaso Lions’ sponsorship, and in 2022, he earned his Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Studies and Resource Conservation at Kenyatta University.

Since 2021, Solomon served as Ewaso Lions’ Kura’s Pride Coordinator, making significant contributions to community engagement in animal welfare and responsible dog ownership. Now he is embarking on the next chapter of his remarkable journey – studying veterinary medicine at Egerton University! We eagerly anticipate witnessing Solomon evolve into the next veterinarian in the Samburu-Isiolo region in the coming years as he completes his education.

Solomon in the village

Solomon assessing an injured donkey

Our Lion Kids Camps – How Do We Know They Work?

How do we know we are having a positive impact on the children that attend our Lion Kids Camps? To evaluate the impact of each of our camps, all attendees complete a pre-camp and a post-camp quiz. The quizzes contain a series of multi-choice questions aimed at assessing changes in attitudes and knowledge. We also conduct a short pre-camp and post-camp questionnaire containing open ended questions. Our education team are highly skilled at conducting the quizzes and questionnaires.

Our Lion Kids Camp team who conduct all evaluations (c) Lucy Maina

To date we have held 35 Lion Kids Camps with almost 1000 children from across 4 counties in northern Kenya. Some of the highlights of our latest Camp held in October 2023 include:

– 96% of the children who attended went on their first ever safari
– The average number of threats that lions face that the children stated post-camp compared to pre-camp increased from 2.3 to 6.6
– 77% of the children said that it was possible for their community to live alongside carnivores peacefully, compared to 58% before the camp
– Before the camp, 76% of children considered themselves as responsible for protecting their livestock from predation. Following the camp, this increased to 100%
– 96% of the children would like to learn more about wildlife and conservation following the camp.

For the full impact report of our last Lion Kids Camp in October 2023, click here. We thank Cheyenne Mountain Zoo and Kampur Safaris for their support in this year’s Camps.

For more information on our Lion Kids Camps, click here.

To help us hold a Lion Kids Camp and increase the impact we are having, click here to make a donation. Each Lion Kids Camp costs us $2500. Thank you so much!

From Solitary Lions to Prides

For over a decade we have been mainly observing solitary lions (check out this article written on the solitary lions of Samburu). Since 2022, we have noticed a transformation and we now have a number of prides!

Nanai’s Pride

This year we have had extraordinary sightings of the Kalama pride – including 2 young cubs. In September, we watched the cubs play, Neiyo the mother hunt, and Ldere and the younger male rest under an Acacia tree. We also have a pride in Shaba, Nanai’s pride and Naramat’s pride.

Ldere in the Kalama Pride

Neiyo’s little cubs

We suspect that the formation of prides in recent times has partially been as a result of last year’s drought and the lions were squeezed in to smaller areas. Large prey was also plentiful and were easier to access, and there was no need to compete for smaller prey. Nanai’s pride in particular comprises a number of sub-adults, who are all supporting each other to adulthood. This is an interesting time for the lion population and our team are all keenly recording the changes!

From Drought to Floods

After 3 years of drought, we finally received some rain in March and April. It was such a relief to see the landscape recover. Mid year we started hearing about El Nino and the upcoming rainy season where we would receive much more rain than usual. These rains began in October and have continued through November.

On the 2nd of November, the Ewaso Nyiro burst its banks, all the dry river beds (luggas) flowed heavily, dams burst and it rained all day. Our communities were heavily impacted and many were forced to flee from their homes at night as roads became rivers and houses were submerged. A few days later, we were able to provide food support for 60 of the most affected families in Learata villages.

Community members from Learata walk on the main road in search for help

Learata village flooded on 2nd November

Food relief arrives for Learata community

60 households receive food support following the floods

Since then, the rains have continued but at a much gentler pace. It has been harder to locate the lions in the rains however our teams continue to remain vigilant and patrol areas that are passable. This tends to be a harder time for lions and other carnivores as prey disperse away from the river and are much more energetic. But for now, we are enjoying all the wildlife sightings in this special green landscape.

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Receiving the Whitley Gold Award

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RECEIVING THE WHITLEY GOLD AWARD

We are thrilled to announce that Ewaso Lions was recognised with the prestigious Whitley Gold Award, presented by HRH Princess Anne at a spectacular ceremony at the Royal Geographical Society in London in April. Sir David Attenborough narrated a short video on Ewaso Lions, which can be watched here.

Seven of our team members took to the stage to address the 500-strong audience of supporters, donors and country Ambassadors to share in the power of community-led conservation, rounding out the milestone 30th Whitley Awards ceremony with a Samburu blessing for all conservationists worldwide. Our keynote speech can be watched here.

We are so honoured to receive this award that celebrates our community-led programmes and all our communities who live alongside wildlife in northern Kenya. Through the Gold Award 2-year project, we will be developing a community-led toolkit that can be applied anywhere around the world. It is separate to our day-to-day Ewaso Lions work but connected in an exciting way. Using our learnings and experiences from the past 15 years, and together with 25 global conservation leaders whom we will bring to Samburu, we will collectively develop this toolkit.

Here are some of our celebratory photos:

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