As a young herder in rural Kenya, Jeneria Lekilelei viewed lions as his enemy. His Samburu tribe, dependent on livestock for meat, milk and income, showed no mercy in defending their animals or exacting revenge on the predators who killed them.
As the number of lions in Kenya has fallen dramatically, however, many killed in retaliatory attacks, Mr Lekilelei, 31, has emerged as one of their biggest champions.
A decade after starting Warrior Watch, a campaign to build tolerance towards lions in his semi-nomadic community, Mr Lekilelei’s efforts have finally been rewarded. The past 12 months represent the first year in which no lions were killed in revenge attacks.