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The results of our 3 year Conservation Incentive Payments (CIP) trial are out.
KopeLion and the TAWIRI lion research project presented them to stakeholders, including community leaders, NCAA, TANAPA, TAWIRI, MNRT, and tourism operators, in Karatu, and to present them to all the villages that participated.
Largely supported by The Lion Recovery Fund and others, we additionally thank the 6 villages who participated, the NCA Authority, and KopeLion staff, Ingela Jansson, Adam Pekor, William Ole Seki and Ololotu Munka who poured their hearts and time into the project.
95% of respondents reported that they were satisfied with the CIP program, 97% reported that they had a more positive view of lions as a result of the CIP program, and 99% reported that they would like the CIP program to continue in their village.
Human-lion coexistence was greatest where the CIP program was piloted – during the three years of the pilot, there was not a single retaliatory lion killing, hunt, or attempted hunt in the CIP villages, despite 29 such events in KopeLion’s wider area of operations’.
Funding for education elevated the CIP programme, – a conservation intervention can only help promote coexistence if people are aware of the benefits they are earning from wildlife. Here, awareness of the CIP program was extremely high, with over 90% of respondents from CIP villages reporting having heard of the program or the fact that their village was earning money from the lions on their land. Anecdotally, we noticed a substantial uptick in both awareness of and enthusiasm for the program once the participating villages began using their earnings to support students to attend secondary school.
Download the CIP Final Report
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Kope Lion
KopeLion Inc. (short for Korongoro People’s Lion Initiative) is a non-profit NGO registered in USA and in Tanzania. Our mission is to foster human-lion coexistence through participatory research and sustainable community-based conservation.
Monthly Ilchokuti Catch Up!![]()
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Each month, our team meets with the Ilchokuti for an important catch up in the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. These sessions involve collecting GPS and field data, restocking essential supplies such as wound treatment kits, and discussing any challenges faced on the ground.![]()
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It is also a valuable opportunity to connect with the team, offer support, and carry out performance evaluations to ensure every Ilchokuti is well equipped to protect lions and support their communities.![]()
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📷: Bobby-Jo Safaris
Recently, our team members Kimani (Project Coordinator) and Lazaro (Ilchokuti Coordinator) joined a vital safety training session hosted by the SORALO team in Partimaro village near Namanga, Kenya.![]()
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The training focused on practical bush safety protocols and how to administer first aid in case of injuries from wild animals—knowledge that’s essential for teams working on the frontlines of human-wildlife coexistence.![]()
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We’re excited to bring these valuable lessons back to Ngorongoro and tailor them for our own Ilchokuti teams, ensuring they are well-equipped and prepared in the field.
Ngorongoro traffic jam... Maasai style 🐄![]()
Out here, “rush hour” looks a little different. Sharing the road with Maasai herders and their cattle is all part of daily life in Ngorongoro. It’s a beautiful reminder of the harmony between people, livestock, and this wild landscape.![]()
Moments like this connect us to a slower rhythm, one where tradition, coexistence, and community come first.![]()
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📷: @bobbyjosafaris
