Lion Research in the Maasai Steppe

African lions and their continued survival are among today’s major international conservation issues. Scientists believe lion populations have declined from a high of 100,000 two decades ago to just 23,000 today. With intimate knowledge of the Maasai Steppe and its carnivores, Bernard Kissui oversees AWF’s lion research in the Maasai Steppe Heartland. The focus of Bernard’s research is the demography of lions and human-lion conflicts in and around Tarangire National Park.

In response to the seasonal migration of prey, the Tarangire lions move into and out of the park. However, little is known about where the lions go, what they do, and the type of threats they face once they are outside the park. Because there is a growing human population surrounding the park, the lions may encounter pastoralists and hunters in these areas. Bernard hopes to identify the consequences of these interactions for the lion population as well as study the effect of hunting on the social structure of lions.

Bernard has attached radio collars to lions in six study groups in order to obtain detailed data on lion movement patterns. He is also conducting interviews with Maasai villagers living around the park to understand the effect that lions have on pastoral livelihoods.

Findings from this study will provide a basis for understanding the consequences of human-lion interactions to people and to lions. The information will also be useful in assessing possibilities for alternative management strategies to determine the best use of dispersal areas around the park. With a better understanding of the nature and type of lion-human conflict, conservation efforts can be made more focused and effective.