The Simba Project
In 1997 the lion population in Africa was estimated to be about 100,000. Today, the lion population is estimated to be between 14,000-16,000, with half of the lion population living in protected areas.
“Simba” is Kiswahili for lion. The MWCT’s Wildlife Protection and Compensation Program strives to protect lions in Southern Kenya from the threat of extinction. Losses caused by predators are compensated by MWCT to the Maasai landlords, only if the predators themselves were not hunted, thereby assuring a measure of protection to the lions roaming the reserve. The presence of lions encourages tourism, and as the Maasai learn to co-exist with the lions, they see them as an extension of their lifestyle rather than as a threat. In 2006, Cartier, together with Edward Norton, promoted its Love Charity Bracelet program to generously provide the MWCT with a substantial contribution in order to commence funding for this important project. (www.love.cartier.com)
PROJECT GOALS:
- Fund a compensation program aimed at addressing conflict between the Maasai and the predators of their livestock
- Fund local Maasai game scouts to monitor and protect the wildlife
When an incident of a predator injuring or killing livestock is reported, MWCT game scouts who work as verification officers investigate the claim and determine the cause of the loss, the species and number of livestock lost, and the predator. In the case of a legitimate loss, a credit note is issued to the livestock owner, who will be then be compensated for the loss of livestock. Pay outs for livestock loss are made on a quarterly basis each year only if there were no predators were killed in retaliation.
The Maasai are compensated for their loss and are realizing that the lions have more value alive than dead. In 2008 Simba Project compensated about 3,100 heads of livestock, to more than 1,500 Maasai. The value of the compensation was $89,000; the project has resulted in the lion population increasing from 15 known to over 37, in just 26 months.
With these expenses it means that each lion costs less than $7 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, leopards, wild dog and hyena.
Simba Scouts:
In the past, Maasai warriors had to demonstrate their manhood by spearing a lion. We decided to give a different brave task to our Maasai warriors: becoming the guardian of the lions! We have employed eight Maasai “Simba” Scouts to monitor the lion populations using their traditional skills of tracking and their indigenous understanding of the local landscape in order to keep track of the behavior and movements of the lions. Lion groups are given names and monitored daily by the scouts. The Simba Scouts, who are based at alternating areas within the Ranch, report to the Trust office to provide data on sightings and lion activity on a weekly basis.