Lion Landscapes

🌟 Rare Sight in Ruaha! 🌟 A village in the Ruaha landscape recently captured something extraordinary on a camera trap—a Temminck's Ground Pangolin! 🌿 These elusive, scaly mammals are steeped in local legend, with villagers believing their presence predicts future events. For example, if a pangolin touches stored grains, it’s thought to bring a bountiful harvest 🌾. This remarkable sighting was recorded through our Community Camera Trap + Programme, which rewards villages with conservation points for wildlife detected in their area. Because the Temminck's Ground Pangolin is a threatened species, its presence means the village will earn a higher number of points, directly supporting local conservation efforts. Did you know? Pangolins are the only mammals covered in protective scales, and these scales are made from keratin, the same material as human hair and nails!

📸 First Glimpses from Our Largest Camera Trap Survey in Eastern Selous! We've just reviewed the first images from our biggest camera trap survey yet in the eastern Selous Game Reserve! With 232 cameras deployed, this survey has captured extraordinary shots of large carnivores, as well as unique images of elusive species like servals, side-striped jackals, and miombo genets. 🐾 The field team is now set to analyse the data to gain deeper insights into species densities across Selous. Stay tuned for more incredible images! #WildlifeConservation #SelousGameReserve #CameraTrapSurvey #CarnivoreConservation

🌍 Field work can often lead to exciting discoveries! During routine fieldwork in Laikipia, our team spotted vultures circling in the distance and decided to investigate. As they drew closer, they discovered a large wake of Rüppell's and white-backed vultures feeding on a camel carcass. Vultures are crucial to ecosystems, serving as nature’s cleanup crew by scavenging carcasses and helping prevent the spread of diseases. Witnessing this was an incredible reminder of the essential roles these birds play in keeping ecosystems healthy! #FieldworkFinds #Vultures #Laikipia

📸 First African wild dogs spotted on community camera traps in Selous-Nyerere! A village participating in our Community Camera Trapping+ programme just made an incredible discovery! Since launching CCT+ here in 2023, villagers have captured amazing sightings of lions, leopards, buffalo, servals, and elephants on their community camera traps. But recently, they recorded something truly special—the first-ever community camera trap sighting of wild dogs in the Selous-Nyerere landscape! 🐾 The discovery brought a wave of excitement (and even some disbelief!) among the villagers, CCT+ Officers, and our Lion Landscapes team. This is a wonderful reminder of the rich biodiversity that communities are helping to monitor and protect. #WildDogDiscovery #CommunityConservation #LionLandscapes #SelousNyerere

🎉 Celebrating 60 Years of Ruaha National Park! 🎉 This October, Ruaha National Park commemorated its 60th anniversary, marking six decades since its establishment in 1964, shortly after Tanzania’s independence. At over 19,000 square kilometres, Ruaha stands as Tanzania’s second-largest national park, rich in biodiversity and natural beauty. Our team was honoured to attend the celebration upon invitation from the Chief Park Warden and was deeply proud to receive a certificate of appreciation. During the ceremony, he expressed his gratitude to our directors and team, sharing, “In this way, we will be able to work well and succeed in many aspects of our conservation efforts and beyond.” This recognition brings enthusiasm and energy to the performance of our work. As we celebrate Ruaha’s legacy, we remain committed to supporting the park’s conservation journey and uplifting local communities in the process. 🌍🦁 #RuahaNationalPark

In Laikipia, our Lion Extension Officers (LEOs) recently visited a livestock owner who, after losing several goats and sheep to predators like hyenas, lions, and leopards, had added snares to her traditional enclosure in an attempt to protect her animals. Understanding the challenges faced by livestock owners without secure enclosures, our LEOs explained why snares, though sometimes used as a last resort, pose serious risks—not only to predators but to a wide range of wildlife due to their indiscriminate nature. Together, they worked with her to remove the snares and provided support and guidance on ways to reinforce her enclosure more effectively. Our team shared advice on practical reinforcements that have been shown to reduce livestock losses by up to 95%, including information on predator-proof enclosures (PPBs) designed to keep livestock safe while protecting wildlife. This visit reflects our commitment to helping communities find lasting, humane solutions for living alongside predators, building trust and coexistence one step at a time. 🦁

A pastoralist in the Selous-Nyerere landscape faced a tough challenge this dry season. In search of water and better pasture for his livestock, he moved his cattle across the Rufiji River. To protect them from predators, he built traditional enclosures and installed predator deterrent lights. Unfortunately, when six of his eight lights stopped working, three of his livestock fell victim to hyaena attacks in just three weeks. Determined to protect his cattle, he reached out to our team, and we provided him with six new predator deterrent lights to help protect his enclosures once again. His experience shows that these lights can be effective in reducing depredation incidents, helping him coexist with wildlife. #ConservationInAction #HumanWildlifeCoexistence #LivestockProtection #PredatorDeterrents #SelousNyerere #LionLandscapes

The Uganda Conservation Foundation (UCF) recently joined our team in Ruaha to learn about Lion Landscapes’ work and explore ways we can collaborate to strengthen local communities. During their visit, UCF, which partners with the Uganda Wildlife Authority to provide essential conservation resources, experienced our initiatives to reduce human-wildlife conflict firsthand. They observed reinforced livestock enclosures equipped with predator deterrent lights that help protect community livelihoods and reduce the risk of livestock losses. UCF also joined our Lion Defenders as they tracked recent carnivore activity—a vital part of assessing potential conflict zones and guiding targeted mitigation efforts. They gained insights into how our Community Camera Trapping+ programme works, observing cameras that monitor wildlife patterns and provide crucial data for both conservation and community safety. The team had meaningful conversations with our Lion Defenders, learning how they play a vital role in safeguarding lions while fostering co-existence by helping communities benefit from wildlife. UCF also attended discussions with local village members and government officials to see how we build long-term cooperation and trust, ensuring that communities are empowered and engaged as essential partners in conservation.

New Blog Post: Tracking Cats, Cows, & Coexistence Lions aren’t just wandering through wild landscapes – they’re navigating shared spaces with people and livestock. In our latest blog, Tracking Cats, Cows, & Coexistence, Harvard University PhD student Lucrecia K. Aguilar delves into how cutting-edge tech, like lion “Fitbits” and GPS ear tags for cattle, is helping us better understand human-lion interactions. Curious about how lions and livestock live side by side? Read the blog here: https://lnkd.in/epxYqUBB

🌍✨ Park trips have been a powerful way to help local communities appreciate the value of our national parks. That’s why we continue investing in taking people from nearby villages to Ruaha National Park, so they can experience firsthand the beauty of their country and its wildlife. 🦁 We’re also dedicated to inspiring the next generation by including students from our Wildlife Club programme. These trips give them a chance to see the real-life application of what they learn in class, deepening their understanding and connection to nature. 🌱 This year, 354 people from the villages we work with visited Ruaha National Park! They saw a wide variety of animals, with favourites like ostriches and vultures. #ConservationInAction #RuahaNationalPark #WildlifeConservation #YouthInConservation