Sopa, Hujambo, Hello!
After many months of hot sun and baked earth, we are now beginning to enjoy the pitter-patter of raindrops and birdsong that are filling the air around the Lion Guardians Training Center. Despite the heat that generally renders one lackadaisical, much has been accomplished over the last six months. Most notably, the Ngorongoro Lion Guardians project is up and running and we now have ten Guardians monitoring close to 1000 sq. kms in the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, Tanzania. We also bolstered our team in Amboseli by adding four new Guardians, who have been critical to keeping lions safe as conflicts in this area have been extremely high.
Having grown rapidly over the last couple of years, we are dedicating time to reflection in 2015, absorbing the lessons we have learned and evolving our model as the world around us continues to change. In particular, we are evaluating and developing new strategies for conflict mitigation. There are also some big milestones we are looking forward to in the coming months, including the annual Lion Guardians Games, our first ever joint-partnered project site certification and the launch of Lion Identification Network of Collaborators (LINC).
Before the rest of 2015 unfolds, we invite you to read our 2014 Annual Report (if you haven't already).
As always, none of this would be possible without your support and commitment to the Lion Guardians program.
It takes a community to conserve lions and preserve cultures, we are grateful that you are a part of ours.
Ashe Oleng, Asante, Thank You!