Uncategorized – Ewaso Lions

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!

Losing Nanai

NANAI – A SAMBURU LEGEND

For the past 14 years, we have all been very fortunate to observe and protect Nanai- the most well-known lioness in Samburu. On the 26th of May, Nanai was humanely euthanised at 10:44 am by Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) vet Dr Mutinda and assisted by Dr Sharon Mulindi. Her cancerous growth had returned, and she was unable to survive. She had lost her body condition considerably over the past few weeks and was struggling to move.

In January, our team observed Nanai struggling to eat and hunt because of a large growth in her mouth. Nanai’s three cubs were still months away from being able to survive on their own, and we knew that it was imperative for us to take action to help Nanai and her family. We worked with KWS and on a warm January morning under the shade of an Acacia tree, Nanai was operated on and her growth removed. This was an extraordinary achievement and our concern for her for so many months changed to relief and excitement as we watched her recover. She recovered well and was able to hunt again and raise her cubs for an additional four months until sadly we had to say goodbye. Her cubs have been fending for themselves since April and they recently teamed up other members of their pride. We have been monitoring the cubs closely and are very hopeful about their future.

Nanai lived an amazing life and continued the legacy her mother Nashipai left. We have known Nanai since her birth and she was named by Jeneria meaning “mine” in Samburu. We have watched her grow up as she taught us so much about the lions of the north. She had a huge impact on the landscape and the lion population, and we are all so grateful for every moment we had with her. We are so grateful to all at KWS, Samburu and Buffalo Springs Reserves management and rangers, and all guides who reported sightings and were concerned about her. Thank you all so much.

We are celebrating the life of this special lioness. If you have been to Samburu, the chances are you were lucky to see Nanai. She will always remain a real legend and icon of Samburu. Here are some of our favourite photos:

Photo (c) Michael Laubscher

Photo (c) Michael Laubscher

DONATE HERE TO SUPPORT NANAI’S LEGACY

Kura’s Pride Diaries

Kura’s Pride Diaries

The Kura’s Pride team have been exceptionally busy in these past few months, as they work towards their goal of improving domestic animal welfare. This time has been filled with emotional highs and lows, as the team attends to the animals most in need. To give us a window into their world, we take a look at the ‘entry pages’ of the Kura’s Pride diary, as reported by Dr. Jessicah Kurere and Solomon Lenasalia who run the Mobile Veterinary Unit for domestic animals – a regional partnership between VetinWild and Ewaso Lions Kura’s Pride.

23rd May: This is Nkurnkur, one of the many dogs that recovered from Canine Distemper during the outbreak this year. He was so sick that the owner thought he had already passed on. They thankfully reached out to us and we attended to Nkurnkur then. He is so much now better, still gaining back his strength. His resilience to recover is unmatched!

Nkurnkur slowly regains his strength after being treated for Canine Distemper © Ewaso Lions

2nd July: It’s been a busy week with a number of medical emergency interventions. We treated a sheep attacked by a baboon and a camel attacked by a lion. We had to leave our car behind and cross the Ewaso Nyiro river on foot because it was full of water while attending to the camel. We’ve also spayed two female dogs with Transmissible Venereal Tumor and treated three dogs with suspected Canine Distemper. During ambulatory rounds, we are also progressively vaccinating all healthy dog and cats against Rabies and Canine Distemper and issuing the new vaccination cards that look great!

Mama looks through a new vaccination certificate for her dog © Ewaso Lions

Solomon carries medical supplies across the Ewaso Nyiro river © Ewaso Lions

The team examines the injuries sustained by a sheep who was attacked by a baboon © Ewaso Lions

Mobile Veterinary Unit team treats a camel who was attacked by lions © Ewaso Lions

We joined the Lions Kids Camp and taught a session on ‘dog and conservation’.

Dr Jessicah speaks to children at the Lion Kids Camp about domestic animal welfare © Ewaso Lions

3rd July: This is Pilipili. He was at the Lion Kids Camp and had become a good friend to Solomon and I. She is among the three puppies we treated for suspected Parvo Virus in May. They recovered and even stole Solomon’s shoe that day!

Pilipili and his sibling make off with Solomon’s shoe © Ewaso Lions

The staff at Kid’s Camp noticed when Pilipili became sick suddenly and everyone thought she had contracted Rabies. We are told she came back limping and started wailing, biting things, and vomiting. We considered what everyone said about her, but ruling out rabies, we suspected a scorpion or snake bit her. She was in a lot of pain. But after treating her and staying with her, she is now recovered. She is among our many fighters!

Pilipili sits on a recovery blanket after being treated for the bite © Ewaso Lions

Solomon poses with Pilipili after he recovered © Ewaso Lions

15th September: We’ve been handling a medical emergency today. Mberus from Ngutuk Ongiron was bitten by a puff adder. It is the fourth case of snakebite we have treated in the past three weeks.

We put Mberus on a drip and aggressive treatments to see her out of the woods. We were happy to note Mberus made several attempts to wag her tail before we left; our pup was on the mend.

Mberus winces in pain from the puff adder bite © Ewaso Lions

A few days later, Solomon and Jessicah returned to check on Mberus and posted this:

18th September: Mberus is up and running (literally). All the kids had to help us shout out for her. She had gone out to explore the neighborhood, her much missed adventures!

Today we treated this little puppy. The boys are yet to give him a name. He was infested with cutaneous larval ectoparasites that burrow into the skin, leaving several wounds on his skin. We were however determined to see him recover. We removed all the parasites, treated all his wounds, and gave him medication.

All these healthy dogs are pillars of coexistence. Every healthy dog can warn herders better every day about the presence of wild carnivores, keeping both wildlife and livestock safe. And every cow, camel, and sheep that is saved can keep a family nourished in these trying drought times. An environment free of disease is a more resilient landscape, where coexistence can truly thrive.

Supported by the Wildlife Conservation Network and the Foundation for International Aid to Animals

Monitoring Update: Carnivore News From The Team

Monitoring Update: Carnivore News From The Team

The lion monitoring team has been tremendously busy these past few months. Both in the reserves and on community lands, carnivores are thriving. Our resident lions have been gaining more and more confidence, feeling safe on community lands and in the Samburu and Buffalo Springs National Reserves. We’ve also been lucky to have some visiting lions as well as some rare sightings of other carnivores.

From our calculations, this season marks the highest number of lions in our area of operations since we began the project. While the landscape goes through the toughest of seasons, we can take pride in the coexistence that has been built over the years with the team and community working hard to keep the culture of conservation thriving.

One of the highlights was the entry of three maned males that we had not seen in Samburu National Reserve before. These males have been in Il Ngwesi Conservancy for over a year, after first being sighted in Westgate Conservancy in June 2021 (originally from Loisaba). Our team in Il Ngwesi had been watching over them and then they made their way to Samburu National Reserve. It gives us much hope to see the movement of lions through the landscape as we continue to work to keep critical corridors open. Lpuresi and Letupukwa watched the new arrivals closely to see whether they will head back south or whether Samburu National Reserve will become their new territory. Sure enough, after less than a week in Samburu National Reserve, the 3 males headed back south to Il Ngwesi Conservancy. Their presence in Samburu led to new movement by our resident males who ventured far east and west into areas we had not seen them in before, having been supplanted by the new arrivals. Letupukwa and Lpuresi returned to camp after a week with these lions brimming with stories and experiences of what they saw.

Meanwhile, Naramat’s kin, Mararoi and Narasha successfully hunted a warthog in the Westgate Conservation Area. Seeing them find healthy prey in this area where partners have just concluded the first management plan for a conservation refuge is proof that together, we can help wildlife flourish even during the tough periods.

One of the rarest sightings we’ve had thus far has been of a leopard and her two cubs close to the river in Westgate Conservancy. She is a fantastic mother as she navigates through the complex community landscape.

Our team is keeping track of all these carnivores as they navigate the landscape during this challenging season. We thank all our friends and supporters for ensuring that our work goes on, and our mission is fulfilled.

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