Protecting Lions

As we move into the new year, we are delighted to share the progress made through our lion conservation programmes and the momentum you have helped build. Your support has enabled our conservation field partners to protect lions, improve coexistence and strengthen the resilience of people living alongside wildlife.

Tanzania

In Tanzania our conservation partners are scaling up a community-led model that turns potential conflict into a culture of coexistence across the Greater Serengeti Ecosystem.

The Guardians: Our Ilchokuti Program

At the heart of the mission are the Ilchokuti—young Maasai and Tatoga warriors who serve as "lion custodians". These local leaders use a blend of traditional knowledge and modern technology to protect both their community’s livestock and the local lion population.

The primary goal for 2026 is to ensure zero retaliatory lion killings, and when conflict occurs, for our partners to respond by treating wounded livestock and reinforcing enclosures (bomas) to prevent further attacks. The teams on the ground are targeting a 95% recovery rate for injured livestock by ensuring a consistent supply of medical materials, which directly reduces the economic pressure on families to retaliate against lions.

2026 Innovation: Digital Tracking and Connectivity

Lions in the Ngorongoro Crater face a "genetic bottleneck" due to isolation. To ensure their long-term survival, our partners are working to restore "corridors of tolerance" that allow lions to move safely between the Crater and the Serengeti.

In 2026, all 32 Ilchokuti will transition to digital data collection using EarthRanger and ArcGIS. This allows for real-time tracking of collared lions, providing herders with early warnings so they can move their cattle out of danger before a conflict starts.

As drought becomes more frequent, livestock become weaker and more vulnerable to lions. Your support helps us maintain a full-time vehicle and extra staff in high-pressure areas like Ndutu during the dry season to manage the increased risk of human-wildlife encounters.

Zambia

Your support is securing a future for the lions of the Greater Kafue Ecosystem (GKE), one of Africa's most vital strongholds for Lions and other apex predators. Through the work of our conservation field partners, we go forward into this year with a mission to build on a decade of historic recovery and ensure these majestic cats continue to thrive across a massive 66,000 km² landscape.

A Historic Recovery in the Heart of Zambia

The story of the lions in the Musekese–Lumbeya region is a powerful testament to what targeted conservation can achieve. Today, thanks to intensive anti-poaching and monitoring, there are 58 known individuals. Scientific surveys show that lion density in the region has nearly doubled in just three years, rising from 1.02 lions per 100 km² in 2022 to 1.90 in 2025. This stability represents a remarkable victory, though we are now seeing signs that further growth may be limited by the availability of prey, making our continued monitoring more critical than ever.

In the year ahead, the focus is on using world-class ecological data to guide protection efforts on the ground.

Our partners are currently monitoring six distinct prides, totalling 45 lions, to track pride composition, cub survival, and territorial movements. This allows us to detect and respond instantly to threats like snaring or conflict. The teams will deploy 100 camera trap stations and conduct rigorous "Search & Encounter" vehicle surveys to generate the most accurate density estimates possible. For the first time, we are significantly expanding our lion monitoring into the Mumbwa Game Management Area. This 3,300 km² buffer zone is a high-risk landscape where lions face increasing pressure from human encroachment and illegal hunting; our research here will establish the baseline data needed to deploy law enforcement where it is most needed.

As the climate becomes more unpredictable, our partners are adapting their technology to ensure the lions are protected year-round. To maintain vigilance during the wet season when remote roads become impassable, they are deploying solar-powered camera traps that collect data without the need for frequent battery changes. Following the severe drought of 2024, tracking data is being used to understand how shifting water sources force lion prides into closer proximity, helping us predict and mitigate potential territorial conflicts and cub mortality. Our partners have collaborated with local tourism lodges to turn every safari guide into a conservationist, collecting real-time sighting data that complements formal research.

We believe that the long-term safety of Zambia’s lions must be led by Zambian experts. Our partners in Musekese–Lumbeya are major local employers, with 150 Zambian nationals making up nearly the entire workforce. This year, your support is funding the professional development of early-career scientists. By training the next generation in advanced telemetry and data management, our partners are ensuring that the expertise to protect these lions remains rooted in the local community.

Thank you for being part of this journey. With your ongoing support, we will continue to foster coexistence, strengthen community partnerships, and ensure that both people and lions can flourish together.

As the year draws to a close, we are delighted to share the progress made through our lion conservation programmes.

Your support has enabled our teams and community partners to protect lions, improve coexistence and strengthen the resilience of people living alongside wildlife. None of this work would be possible without the steady commitment of our GlobalGiving donors.

Ngorongoro Conservation Area, Tanzania

Our field partners in the Ngorongoro Conservation Area have continued to monitor lions closely, with eight active GPS collars providing essential early warning alerts to reduce conflict between lions and pastoralist communities. These collars help families protect their livestock and allow rangers to understand lion movement patterns in real time. Thanks to your generosity, the team also completed a comprehensive lion population survey this year. The data is currently being analysed and will guide conservation planning throughout 2026 and beyond.

The work has not been without challenges. Two GPS collars were lost, and delays in processing research and vehicle permits slowed progress. However, the dedication of our Lion Guardians, known locally as the Ilchokuti, has remained unwavering. Over the past few months they have treated 492 injured livestock, reinforced vulnerable bomas and successfully returned 85 percent of lost animals to their owners. Their efforts reduce retaliation against lions and help families recover more quickly from livestock losses.

We are also delighted to share new developments from the lion population itself. A female named Nemambai was recently fitted with a GPS collar, adding an important individual to the monitoring network. A male lion, Larmasi A, who travelled all the way from the Serengeti, has been observed mating with crater lions, a sign of healthy dispersal and potential genetic exchange.

Community Engagement and Long-Term Coexistence

Your support reaches far beyond field monitoring. This year, our partners hosted a youth festival, six elders and warriors’ meetings and a three-day workshop on animal health and entrepreneurship. These gatherings encourage dialogue, celebrate cultural relationships with wildlife and provide practical skills that diversify livelihoods. When communities feel heard and empowered, coexistence becomes not only possible but sustainable.

Musekese - Zambia

A Remarkable Rescue: A Snared Lion Freed in Time

One of the most powerful moments of the year came when a lion was discovered caught in a snare set by bushmeat poachers. Because of the wide reach of our partner’s monitoring network and the real time location data provided by GPS collars, the team was notified quickly and mobilised an immediate response. The lion was located without delay, freed from the snare and assessed by a veterinarian. Thankfully, the injuries were minor and the animal recovered fully. This success story demonstrates exactly why continuous monitoring and swift intervention save lives.

Emerging Threats: Road Collisions

While the lion population remains stable, the wider ecosystem faces growing threats from road collisions. Recent reports recorded the deaths of one cheetah and three African painted dogs, highlighting the dangers of increasing vehicle traffic. These losses serve as a stark reminder that protecting lions also means addressing the broader environmental pressures that shape their landscape. Our project partners are working with authorities to explore mitigation measures and raise awareness among road users.

Looking Ahead

Thanks to your commitment, lions in both Tanzania and Zambia are safer and communities feel more supported. The year has brought moments of triumph and challenge, but the combined efforts of conservation teams, local people and supporters like you continue to drive meaningful change.

Thank you for walking this journey with us. With your continued support, we will keep strengthening coexistence, deepening community partnerships and ensuring that lions and people can thrive side by side.