Kenya

The Mama Simba

The Mama Simba, Mother’s of Lions  program engages local women in Wildlife Conservation. Samburu women have rarely been actively included yet they spend a significant amount of time in wildlife areas.

We are so inspired by the Mama Simba’s hard work and dedication. This year, the “Mothers of Lions” have added 9 new members to their group, bringing their numbers from 10 to 19. In exchange for weekly educational classes, the Mama Simba have been a watch group for Lion sightings and conflict issues. The group’s support of conservational issues has allowed for a safe environment for the local lion population as well as the opportunity for increased income for the women participating.

Outreach programs like the Mama Simba and the Warriors founded by the Ewaso Lions, have had a positive impact on the lion population around the Samburu National Reserve. In December 2015 alone, the teams have stopped the killing of lions 26 times. The goal is to transform human conflict with Lions into coexistence. This is done through the Ewaso Warriors & Mama Simba programs that teach education in the local community and tracking lion behavior.

It isn’t just the adults that get to have all the fun. The group has held two Lion Kids Camps with a total of 122 Kenyan children learning and practicing conservation. The next generation of lion keepers are being made, and it is beautiful.

Now for the adorable news, new cubs have been found in the study area. They are the most amazing creatures. Jeneria, who found the cubs, had this reaction, “Because of the excitement, I almost threw my camera. I was shaking all over and it took me so long to take the first photo”.

The Mama Simba
The Mama Simba

Elephants, Humans, and Water: The Connection of Life

Water is crucial in this beautiful but arid land. One day we watched elephants digging and drinking from deep holes in the completely dry Ewaso River bed. The babies played like children in the holes, making a mess of their parent’s careful work. The holes are in turn used by many other animals during these dry times. Later I walked up the river to a spot where herds of cattle, donkeys, and goats are brought to drink from holes surrounded by walls of thorn branches to keep out the elephants and other wildlife. Women in beautiful necklaces and men call their animals to come and drink, singing to them as they go. The river bed is the life blood for these people and their animals as much as it is for the elephants. Everyone can’t wait for the rains to come.

While the world seems to verge on chaos, to spend time with these magnificent creatures never fails to help restore my faith in the future. I always come home filled with admiration for the people on the ground who struggle to preserve their unique place in the world and am inspired to do more to help. I know that next year everyone making the journey to Africa will share these profound feelings.

Exciting Updates for 2015-2016

  • New website

  • New project: Community Outreach for Elephants

  • New project: WorldWomenWorks Disposable & Reusable Sanitary Pad Project

  • WWW shows in San Francisco, Sun Valley, New York & Santa Fe

  • 2016 Trip: Elephants & Gorillas Kenya/Rwanda already full!