Ep14: The Maasai Leader Protecting His People and Lions

It’s a brutal catch-22 in conservation: what happens when lion numbers start to grow? The conflict with the local community often grows with them. Tragically, in Ngorongoro, a recent increase in lions attacking livestock has led to more retaliation killings, and it’s an incredibly challenging time on the ground.

In this episode, I’m back at Mama Simba’s and I get to introduce you to someone very special. Ololotu Munka is the Executive Director of Kope Lion, and he also happens to be my new boss! His story is genuinely inspiring. He applied for a job with the organisation years ago and wasn’t successful, but his passion for conservation and his community drove him to try again, and now he’s leading the entire team!

Ololotu talks us through the huge challenges the Kope Lion team is facing right now. He explains how they get information when a lion is killed, how they use GPS collars on ‘problem’ lions to prevent attacks, and the incredible work the Ilchokuti do on the ground to find and treat hundreds of livestock attacked by predators.

It’s a raw and honest look at the front line of human-wildlife conflict.

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