The Ewaso Lion Scouts have been working in the West Gate Community Conservancy since March. The 3 scouts cover daily routes where they record information on lion sightings and tracks, wild prey and livestock locations and also collect any predator scat that they see along the way. They monitor the lion population within the conservancy and keep the local communities informed on predator locations so as to prevent them from grazing their livestock in these areas. They also provide information to the local people about how to improve ways in which to protect their livestock. The scouts work closely with Raphael on all these aspects.
The Ewaso Lion Scouts
The scouts are equipped with hand-held radio sets for communication and security, GPSs, binoculars, waist bags, solar panels for charging their radios and uniforms.
Jeneria Lekilele
Jeneria is a warrior scout who’s home is the Sasaab manyatta near the Echo Lima camp. Jeneria works in the middle of the conservancy and covers all areas near Sasaab such as the Conservation Area, and Lesenteti. He lives at the Echo Lima camp and keeps Joseph company, especially when Lekuraiyo and myself are away.
Jeneria taking a GPS point after seeing hyena tracks
Jeneria in full uniform scanning the river
Jeremiah Letoole
Jeremiah comes from West Gate itself and lives there. He covers the areas around West Gate, Lpus Leluai and Kiltamany. The Letoole manyatta in West Gate has become a small base for us and we are often having meetings and drinking chai in his home.
Jeremiah on his wedding day in July
Francis Lendorop
Francis is from the Ngutuk Ongiron area. He used to live in the Sukuroi area of the Conservancy (far West), however due to the drought moved recently to Namunyak Hill. His manyatta is right in the middle of the group ranch and looks out over the Grevy zebra plains. He often hears lions at night and radios to inform us. Lekuraiyo and I often start our day at Francis’s manyatta, drinking chai and discussing the whereabouts of the lions. He keeps tracks of lions in the Ntabas and Loijuk areas of the conservancy. Francis is often seen with Nagut, his little dog, who follows him on all his travels.
Francis with Nagut
Photo below: Francis (right of photo) in his village
