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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.
These young males from the Munge Pride are still roaming with their mother, Martian (MG 143), the last female of their pride. But exciting times are ahead—these brothers are on the brink of independence, ready to form a coalition. If all goes well, they’ll join forces with three males from Lake Aare, creating a powerful coalition of five!![]()
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These lions are vital to the balance of the Crater’s ecosystem, and we’re excited to see what the future holds for them as they step into their roles as kings of the Crater. 🦁🌍![]()
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📸 Photo Credit: Dennis Peshut![]()
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Lincoln Park Zoo Lion Recovery Fund PAW Foundation ![]()
#humanwildlifecoexistence #communityconservation #coexistence #livingwithlions #creatingconversations #lionconservation #ngorongorolions #corridortoftolerance #ngorongoro #ngorongoroconservationarea #kopelion #ngorongorocrater #lions #conservation #tanzania
Meet Lazaro, one of our dedicated Ilchokuti from Misigiyo and a true leader in lion monitoring. 🦁 He heads a team of six Ilchokuti, tracking lions to help protect both wildlife and local communities.![]()
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In this photo, he's using a radio antenna on Oltiani Mountain to locate LAG5, the newly collared male lion who had a recent adventure outside the conservation area! Lazaro is tracking to ensure the lion is in a safe area. With no access to computers in the field, these handheld tools are essential for real-time tracking.![]()
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#humanwildlifecoexistence #communityconservation #coexistence #livingwithlions #CreatingConversations #lionconservation #ngorongorolions #corridortoftolerance #ngorongoro #ngorongoroconservationarea #kopelion #ngorongorocrater #Lions #conservation #tanzania
Another large male lion was successfully collared, but not without a bit of drama! After venturing outside the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, he was discovered in a maize field, posing a threat to the local community. Thanks to the swift action of Ngorongoro rangers and vets, he was safely relocated back to the conservation area where he was born.![]()
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Like many male lions, he has been driven away from the pride as he matures and will now lead a nomadic life until he creates his own. It's rare for lions to stray from the conservation area, making this a first for KopeLion.![]()
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He’s now safely nestled in a mountainous area—a stark reminder of the delicate balance between wildlife and the surrounding human communities. 🦁 🐾![]()
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PAW Foundation Lion Recovery Fund Lincoln Park Zoo ![]()
#humanwildlifecoexistence #communityconservation #coexistence #livingwithlions #creatingconversations #lionconservation #ngorongorolions #corridortoftolerance #ngorongoro #ngorongoroconservationarea #kopelion #ngorongorocrater #lions #conservation #tanzania
