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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.
Our latest KopeLion newsletter is out now—packed with highlights from the first few months of 2025, inspiring field updates, and powerful stories from the heart of lion conservation in the Ngorongoro. Don’t miss it!![]()
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Check it out here: ![]()
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Celebrating a Strong Start to 2025 🦁
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Thanks to your incredible support, KopeLion began 2025 with renewed energy and meaningful progress. Our dedicated team on the ground—ranging from Ilchokuti field staff to researchers—has been work...
At Kopelion, we’re bringing old GPS units back to life and putting them to work in the field once again!![]()
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These repurposed devices are essential tools that help us track lion movements, monitor territories, and gather critical conservation data — all while reducing waste and maximising resources.![]()
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Every piece of technology has a story, and with a little innovation, it can help write a new chapter in lion conservation.
Meet Joshua Mepalari – KopeLion’s Expert Mechanic! 🛻🦁![]()
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Joshua Mepalari, from Endulen village in Ngorongoro, is a talented vehicle mechanic and experienced driver whose passion and dedication keep our fieldwork running smoothly. Since joining KopeLion in August 2024, Joshua has become a crucial part of the team—maintaining and repairing our vehicles before, during, and after lion monitoring missions across challenging terrain.![]()
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But Joshua’s impact goes beyond just tools and tyres.![]()
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“I enjoy being part of work that promotes harmony between humans, livestock, and lions—living together in peace,” he shares. “This work also brings me closer to my community, as they often ask me where lions are so they can keep their families and herds safe. I’ve also gained new skills—improving my knowledge of vehicles like the Land Rover and even learning to use computers.”![]()
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We’re proud to have Joshua on the team—his skills, curiosity, and connection to the community make him an invaluable part of KopeLion.![]()
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📷: @bobbyjosafaris
