Lions Killed in the Maasai Steppe
Two lions were speared to death in the Maasai Steppe Heartland, and two others escaped but were badly injured. Bernard Kissui, AWF’s lion researcher in this part of northern Tanzania, reports:
“While on our routine lion tracking activities in the morning of 29th Dec. 2008 we found the remains of a collared female lion from our study pride called Altipiano. We named this female Jazlin. Jazlin was speared to death the previous day about 3km inside Tarangire Park’s Northwestern border. The remains had multiple spear wounds all over the body.
A research lion killed in retaliation for killing a cow.
“We visited the nearby Minjingu village and got 2 information about a second lion that was speared to death. This was a young male about 3.5 years old from the same pride. Two other lions were fortunate to escape the killing, but they were probably injured, and we have not been able to determine their fate.”
According to reports from Minjingu village, the killings were were prompted after the lions attacked a cow and calf. Both cow and calf survived, but the calf died a few hours after the incident.
A total of 12 lions were killed in retaliation for livestock predation during 2008 alone. The killing of lions resulting from human-wildlife conflict is pummeling the entire lion population. In Bernard’s study area, lions numbers have declined by 15-20% over the past five years.
Bernard writes: “As the human population increases in the Maasai Steppe, migratory lions are forced to navigate through an increasingly complex maze of human settlement and livestock. Under these circumstances livestock predation might be expected to escalate. Concerted effort by all stakeholders in wildlife conservation is therefore needed to resolve this complex problem.”
In response, Bernard is working with livestock keepers to reduce lion predation. Using chain-link fencing to reinforce the enclosures, or bomas, where the livestock is kept at night, has shown to be quiet effective against predators. Bernard says there is great interest among pastoralists to participate in this program.
One of the predator proof bomas to help reduce lion predation on livestock.
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January 23rd, 2009 at 12:39 pm
It was inside a ‘protected’ area, the people involved should be severely punished, perhaps speared to death sounds fair game.
January 23rd, 2009 at 2:53 pm
I can see how important the work of AWF is in trying to help with human/wildlife conflict as the new cattle boma design seems to be a simple and cost effective way to reduce the predation on live stock. However, can’t there be press releases that describe the devastation being caused by the unchecked killing of the great cats and pressure put on the village people to change their habits?
January 26th, 2009 at 4:36 am
I don’t think you will reach this goal by a higher pressure the local population, depending on what you mean by pressure. More cooperation and to build a mutual trust is the way to go I think. If the herders face a resident lion, single or a pack, that attack livestock they must be able to “defend” their cattle. If to put the pressure on them to forbid this kind of permission to remove some “problem” cats it will cause frustration bad cooperation and willingness to report “legal” removal of some individuals. They should receive some compensation for their loss of cattle. If there is no killing of any local predator you might raise the compensation. This must be a give and take agreement, the herders in return must report any killing of a predator and be able to verify beforehand or afterwards that the specific animal was a cattle killer and probably would repeat this action. They must also take every preventing steps suggested to avoid cattle to be killed in fist place. Off course they must reduce killing of wild prey locally to facilitate for the large cats to look elsewhere for food. Later on you might see a shift to a reduction of livestock, especially if they could benefit from the improved numbers and diversity of wildlife in their surrounding, by tourism or maybe a short season of controlled safari hunting. And so on…….
January 31st, 2009 at 9:49 am
I agree that since this happened in a protected area, there shoudl be no excuse and the people who did this should be punished in some way. Otherwise they will keep encroaching the protected areas even further.
February 4th, 2009 at 1:14 am
when it comes to conflicts, of course wild animals like lions will loose every single time. the lion guardian program seems to be working so well in kenya. maybe the lion guardians should spread their wisdom and program to these villagers.
short term controlled trophy hunting will not solve the conflict since such killing might be inflicted on the innocent lions. and what if the guilty predator has cubs to feed? killing her will only leads to more trouble for both livestock and the cubs ( easier for them to take down dumb domestic animals than the wise and fit wild prey ). besides, most profit/high paying jobs generated from hunting safari industry goes to the foreign investors or central government/politicians instead of the local people.
February 26th, 2009 at 8:44 pm
I love lions.I can’t believe people would spear such a beautiful animal!!!
March 2nd, 2009 at 4:00 am
I ALMOST FORGOT TO ADD THIS TO MY PRIOR COMMENT. AFRICA IS A BEAUTIFUL PLACE AND ITS WILDLIFE AND LAND MAKE IT UP. THE PEOPLE OF AFRICA HAVE TO LEARN THAT ITS THEIR HOMELAND AND IT HAS TO BE PROTECTED. AFRICA OVER THE YEARS HAS BEEN DESTROYING ITSELF.
SAL
March 10th, 2009 at 8:48 am
I’m really enjoying seeing the participation of all of you on the blog. Instances such as this lion spearing understandably invoke some passionate responses. I encourage the healthy debate.
I agree when Henrick says, “More cooperation and to build a mutual trust is the way to go I think.” For conservation to work, it can’t be an “us vs. them” attitude. Pastoralist people like the Maasai are not “backwards” people – anyone who knows them would agree. Instead, conservationists need to bring them into conservation plan. At the same time, lions are being killed at an alarming rate so action must be taken swiftly.
AWF is doing just that. Check out Bernard Kissui’s new lion blog at http://awf.org/lionblog for more on his work to reduce lion mortality.
And also check out my latest post, Why Do People Kill Lions? where a Kenyan lion expert talks more about human-lion conflict. She really adds some good perspective.
Keep the comments coming!
-Paul
March 26th, 2009 at 10:30 am
sad!
December 8th, 2009 at 4:03 pm
that is sad very very sad i hate to see that a lion is……..
December 8th, 2009 at 4:05 pm
I LOVE LIONS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
January 20th, 2010 at 2:07 pm
Some people are heartless