The Simba Project
The Simba Project is a compensation program aimed at decreasing human-predator
conflicts. Cattle mean everything to the Maasai: shelter, food, wealth
and prestige. As the cattle and goat herds increase, there are bound
to be problems when they come in contact with predators. Most often,
it is a lion who has taken a cow or goat and consequently a Maasai has
lost something of great value.
When an incident of a predator injuring or killing livestock is reported,
the game scouts investigate the claim. MWCT reimburses the livestock
owner for legitimate losses.
The 280,000 acres reserve has been divided into 10 different zones.
Every incident of predation is investigated, and in case of a legitimate
loss, a credit note is issued to the livestock owner. Every 90 days
credit notes are paid, only if no predators were killed in retaliation.
Compensation programs, such as the Simba Project, are being used with
success to keep the lions and other predators from being poisoned or
speared. The Maasai are compensated for their loss and are realizing
that the lions have more value alive than dead.
In 2007 Simba Project compensated 1,542 heads of livestock, to more
than a 1,000 Maasai. The value of the compensation was $42,792. Lion
population increased from 15 known individuals, to 25.
The entire cost of the Simba Project was nearly $75,000 (including the
purchasing of equipment to enable the efficient management of the Project).
It means that each lion costs about $8 a day to be protected. A sum
worth investing given the success of the program. Simba Project does
not only protect lions’ lives, but also a strong and growing population
of cheetahs and leopards.
It is the hope of the MWCT that the Simba Project will not need to be
run forever. As our knowledge of the KGR lion population increases (through
the work of Simba Scouts and lion collaring) and as the Maasai continue
to understand the importance of the lion presence in their land, the
population will no longer need to be protected through compensation.
One of the important discoveries in our data collection of the Simba
Project has been the large numbers of livestock that are killed while
lost or not being properly watched after. These “negligence”
cases account for 90% of the cases reported. Although these owners are
only compensated half of the price of their worth, it is important that
we focus our efforts on decreasing these numbers through herding education.
One of the jobs of the Simba Scouts is to help herders properly keep
track of their animals so losses remain at a minimum. If livestock is
properly looked after, a consolation scheme might not be needed at all.
Breakdown
of claims made during the Simba Project from January to December 2007
(click graph to enlarge)
Breakdown of livestock killed from January to December 2007 (click
graph to enlarge)
Breakdown of livestock killed predator specie, January to December 2007
(click graph to enlarge)