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)