ISSUE FOUR/NOVEMBER 2014

KARIBU FROM LION GUARDIANS!

 


 
Sopa , Hujambo, Hello! 

 

The last six months have been an incredible ride for all of us at Lion Guardians; with the official launch of our Training Program, Leela being selected as a 2014 Top Ten CNN Hero and with substantial progress made in our expansion efforts into Tanzania, there certainly has not been a dull moment to speak of. 

 

We are not the only ones who have been busy though, and we want to thank all of you for your ongoing support - for spreading the word about Lion Guardians and for your generous donations. Your Facebook posts and Tweets, as well as the emails you are sending to your friends and family, are helping us get the votes we need to make Leela this year's CNN Hero of the Year. Your donations have given a boost to our LINC matching funds campaign, which will make lion conservation and our efforts even stronger. Thank you! 

 

We hope that you find this newsletter interesting and informative and will share it with friends and family so we can continue to grow our community. It takes a community to conserve lions and preserve cultures, we are grateful that you are a part of ours. 

 

 Ashe Oleng ('Thank you' in Maasai)


 null    

 Dr. Leela Hazzah & Dr. Stephanie Dolrenry

Executive Director and Director of Science

FEATURED PHOTO: RUAHA GUARDIANS BEING TRAINED BY AMBOSELI GUARDIAN

Our training transcends borders and cultures. Here Kutata, a Maasai warrior from Kenya, trains a group of Barabaig warriors from Ruaha, Tanzania.

NEWS FROM THE FIELD & BEYOND
New Faces 

The Lion Guardians family is growing! Over the last six months, we have added eight new Guardians in Kenya, and three new senior staff.

 

The Young Brigade: Eight of these young iltuati 
 became Lion Guardians this year


 

We are also proud to officially launch the new Lion Guardians logo.


 

Over the last six months, we have held several training courses at our camp. We held a Guardians Training in June, a Community Visit in August and a Project Managers training in September - we are pleased to be getting such great use out of our new training center. 

 


 "The small class size allows for easy interaction and in-depth conversations with trainers, participants and Lion Guardians' senior management." 

-Alex Chang'a - WAP Mikumi National Park, Tanzania

 

Zero Lions Killed in Our Areas of Operation 

We are happy to report that there have been no lions killed in our areas of operation since we last reported in May. It seems the measures we put in place after losing Len'gan'ga in April are working.  

FEATURE STORY

Why we want to "Make the LINC"

The mystery of the two lions who appeared in our coverage areas in 2013 continues to intrigue Guardian Kamunu. "Do you know where Loosinkiron and Lorngojiyne came from? Have you figured it out yet?" he asks when we accompany him on reports. 

We are baffled too. For almost two years now, we have wondered where these two male lions came from. Loosinkiron and Lorgojiyne arrived in Eselenkei in early 2013 and since then have managed to oust the resident male lion, Ndelie, and mated with all the females of Eselenkei Group Ranch (Selenkay, Nenkii, Meoshi, Noldupai, and now Nanu).

MEET A LION GUARDIAN
Introducing Lion Guardian: Olamayiani Saitoti
Meet Sakita Ole Saitoti, better known by his lion name - Olamayiani. Olamayiani is the younger brother of Kamunu, one of our most respected Lion Guardians, and is already following strongly in his footsteps. In his first week of volunteering early this year, he stopped a lion hunt! Enjoy the video below which tracks Olamayiani's training days and gives you a glimpse of his effervescent character.

   

THANK YOU
A healthy ecosystem requires diversity, with each species playing a different but key role to ensure the sustainability of the ecosystem. A successful organization needs the same.  The impact of Lion Guardians is the result of many, and each role is critical to our success. 
It takes a community to conserve lions and preserve cultures 
we are grateful you are a part of ours.
In This Issue
Featured Photo
News From The Field & Beyond
Feature Story
Meet a Lion Guardian
Did You Know
Support Us
Take Action
VOTE FOR LEELA 



MAKE THE LINC



 
Did You Know?
Lions in non-protected areas have to "grow-up" much quicker than those in protected areas. 

For instance, a male lion (in a non-protected area) will disperse from its natal territory on average at the age of two. However, in protected areas, lions stay on in their natal territories for much longer dispersing only after the ages of three to four and half.
 In The News
2014 Events Calendar
November: CNN Hero of The Year announcement

December: Launch of new website & Giving Tuesday
Support Us
 
East Africa's lions and the communities that live with them need our support. 
 
Please consider bolstering our efforts in the field today with a donation. 
There are several ways to support the Lion Guardians program:
Our U.S. fiscal sponsor is now officially called "Lion Guardians U.S.
 
 


Quick Links
  
Like us on Facebook
  
Follow us on Twitter
  
View our videos on YouTube
  
View our photos on flickr
  
Visit our blog

 
Issue Number

4