By Amy Baird | Associate Director
As you know, the Maasai Olympics, which you have generously supported, is all about changing the relationship between the Maasai and the lions they’ve historically hunted. The biennial games provide an opportunity for the warriors to compete for medals, not lions. The work in the off-years is ongoing, consisting mostly of outreach, conservation education, and community meetings across our Area of Operation in the Amboseli-Tsavo-Kilimanjaro ecosystem.
Although we are experiencing great success, there is still work to be done. In the second quarter of the year, Big Life rangers worked with local partners to stop two lion hunts. In the dry season, lions and other predators tend to kill more livestock, because there’s generally less food. In fact, lions killed 38 animals during the second quarter as the territory headed into the dry season. The rains have since returned, and we’re still tallying the third quarter numbers. But between the Maasai Olympics and our predator compensation fund, the positive impact is undeniable. There are more lions in the ecosystem than there have been in at least a decade.
Related, we’re excited to share that there is a forthcoming film about the Maasai, their relationship to lions, and the Maasai Olympics. Written and directed by Big Life Board Director, Dereck Joubert, “Tribe versus Pride” recently won the Special Jury Award at the Jackson Hole Wildlife Film Festival. The film addresses how the games provide an opportunity to win “…trophies of a different kind, but are regarded with the same importance and approval within the communities. Bravery can still be tested and expressed, while the lion, friend and foe of the Maasai, may continue to roam the African savannahs.”
We’ll be sure to share with you when the film has a release date, but in the meantime you can check out the trailer linked below.
Thank you for all your support of the Maasai Olympics. Together, we can change the world.
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