Introducing the Lions of Tarangire
The conservation of large carnivores poses a significant challenge worldwide. In Africa, the African lion was once widely distributed across the continent, but populations have dramatically declined and in some areas disappeared due to human population increases, fragmentation of habitat and human-lion conflict has reached extraordinary levels in many ecosystems.
The remaining populations of the African lion are restricted to small and isolated protected areas, where, despite concerted protection, they are subject to unusually high mortality due to close interactions with an ever increasing human population outside protected areas. The long-term conservation prospects for lions in migratory ecosystems will depend on resolving conflicts with humans.
Some of the lions of Tarangire.
Tanzania holds immense potential for long-term lion conservation prospects. Although it is difficult to obtain accurate numbers of total lions, the most recent estimates by experts suggest that less than 50,000 lions remain across the entire African continent, of which 25-50% is found in Tanzania.
I would like to introduce you to my lion research and conservation project in the Maasai steppe that I have been involved with over the past five years. The Maasai Steppe in northern Tanzania is one of East Africa’s important ecosystems with large numbers of migratory ungulates, elephants (Loxodonta africana), lions (Panthera leo), leopards (Panthera pardus), cheetahs (Acinonyx jubatus), Spotted hyenas (Crocuta crocuta) and wild dogs (Lycaon pictus), to name just a few.
Maasai steppe is a complex social-ecological system with high levels of interactions between wildlife and humans. The average human population growth in the Maasai steppe has been 4-8% since 1988. The Maasai Steppe is a highly migratory system in which wildlife move seasonally across a 30,000 sq km area utilizing core protected areas as well as communal village lands. This dynamics create conditions for human-wildlife conflicts of unprecedented magnitude and complex challenges for wildlife conservation in the Maasai steppe.
AWF's Maasai Steppe Heartland, which includes Tarangire National Park and surrounding ecosystem.
In this blog you will learn about the ecology of the Maasai steppe lions, including their seasonal range use patterns and demography. On the human dimension of our research, you will learn about human-lion conflicts especially retaliatory killing of predators due to livestock predation, and how we work with pastoralist communities to mitigate the conflict and promote human-lion coexistence.
The most recent incident of retaliatory killing of lions due to livestock predation occurred in the western border of Tarangire National Park. A collared lioness and a male lion from one of our study pride called Altipiano were speared to death by pastoralists following an attack on livestock.
Read more details in my next post. For now, welcome to my blog!
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February 9th, 2009 at 11:50 am
I love these blogs. Cool to see this new lion one. I wish I could come see your work in person. Human-wildlife conflict is fascinating and urgent. I hope to hear lots about your work to mitigate it.
February 9th, 2009 at 12:59 pm
Thanks for blogging! I can’t wait to check back to hear what’s new with your lions!
February 10th, 2009 at 1:12 am
Lions are so interesting, more effort is needed for there conservation. Keep up Kissui.
February 11th, 2009 at 8:42 am
Hi Bernard,
Thanks for the great introduction.
I really look forward to reading more of your blogs in the future.
Shivani
February 17th, 2009 at 3:36 pm
This is so cool! Bernard I can’t wait to read all about the lions you’ve been researching. And to hear about you and your trackers’ adventures. About how many prides do you follow? Kate
February 17th, 2009 at 3:38 pm
P.S. Bernard, thanks for including this map with your first blog. Knowing the geography helps me understand your opportunities and challenges!
Kate
February 19th, 2009 at 10:22 am
I love these blogs. Read them every week. Welcome and thanks.
February 20th, 2009 at 6:30 pm
Dr. Kissui, thank you so much for taking the time to post this information regarding your project. As a supporter of Lion Conservation and Research and a lover of lions and Africa, I cannot express my excitement in seeing you started a blog. Thank you again and best wishes in your work! I look forward to reading about it!
February 28th, 2009 at 6:12 pm
so sorry for the death of the collared lioness and the male lion by the livestock owners. Most of the livestock that are taken by predators like lions are often lost or wondering off without any adult persons in charge from what i have read on the blogs by lion guardians and the predator aware ( both are made up by the Maasai warriors who were once lion hunters ). now these brave and dedicated warriors are working day and night to spread the value of predators and also saving livestock at the same time. I assume the boma in which the livestock were in could have been built stronger. It seems like a lion guardian program is in need here for the sake of the lions as well as the owners of livestock.
March 1st, 2009 at 10:10 am
Glad to read the new blog. I will be promoting it here in the States through my photographs and writings. Your work is so important. Everyone needs to understand the situation. During my brief stay in Tarangeri I witnessed several encounters with lions and they will remain in in my thoughts and works forever.
March 17th, 2009 at 11:03 am
Last June I was actually in Tarangire National Park and saw one of your prides. There were about 4 females with cubs about 6 months old. They had made a kill, feasted on it and were just “sleeping” it off. We made our guide sit there for a while so we could watch. So interesting. Thank you for providing this blog so I can keep up with what is going on in Tarangire.
March 17th, 2009 at 12:14 pm
Thanks for blogging about the lions. It’s very interesting to read current information in the fight to save Africa’s wildlife.
November 12th, 2009 at 11:57 am
I liked what you put on this Blog and i’d be interested in you sending me some Information on the lion….also the cheetah
Thank-You