Meet The Ewaso Lion Scouts
Category: Other news | Date: Aug 11 2008 | By: ewasolions
The Ewaso Lion Scouts have been working in the West Gate Community Conservancy since March. The 3 scouts cover daily routes where they record information on lion sightings and tracks, wild prey and livestock locations and also collect any predator scat that they see along the way. They monitor the lion population within the conservancy and keep the local communities informed on predator locations so as to prevent them from grazing their livestock in these areas. They also provide information to the local people about how to improve ways in which to protect their livestock. The scouts work closely with Raphael on all these aspects.
The Ewaso Lion Scouts
The scouts are equipped with hand-held radio sets for communication and security, GPSs, binoculars, waist bags, solar panels for charging their radios and uniforms.
Jeneria Lekilele
Jeneria is a warrior scout who’s home is the Sasaab manyatta near the Echo Lima camp. Jeneria works in the middle of the conservancy and covers all areas near Sasaab such as the Conservation Area, and Lesenteti. He lives at the Echo Lima camp and keeps Joseph company, especially when Lekuraiyo and myself are away.
Jeneria taking a GPS point after seeing hyena tracks
Jeneria in full uniform scanning the river
Jeremiah Letoole
Jeremiah comes from West Gate itself and lives there. He covers the areas around West Gate, Lpus Leluai and Kiltamany. The Letoole manyatta in West Gate has become a small base for us and we are often having meetings and drinking chai in his home.

Jeremiah on his wedding day in July
Francis Lendorop
Francis is from the Ngutuk Ongiron area. He used to live in the Sukuroi area of the Conservancy (far West), however due to the drought moved recently to Namunyak Hill. His manyatta is right in the middle of the group ranch and looks out over the Grevy zebra plains. He often hears lions at night and radios to inform us. Lekuraiyo and I often start our day at Francis’s manyatta, drinking chai and discussing the whereabouts of the lions. He keeps tracks of lions in the Ntabas and Loijuk areas of the conservancy. Francis is often seen with Nagut, his little dog, who follows him on all his travels.
Francis with Nagut
Photo below: Francis (right of photo) in his village





5 Responses to “Meet The Ewaso Lion Scouts”
Paul, on 11 Aug 2008
It’s great to get to know some of the locals. How much is lion interaction a problem for local people? What is the general view of predators in the local communities?
ewasolions, on 12 Aug 2008
Hi Paul,
Thanks for your comment. Lions here are affecting the local people in certain areas of the conservancy. Often camels and donkeys get killed and this has been a recent problem. The Samburu people are remarkably tolerant to losing a few camels and donkeys to lions. However, much of this is what I am researching at the moment. Generally, they appreciate the fact that predators are viewed by tourists in the area, especially in the reserves. Many have not seen predators closely and they love seeing films on them. I am also at present conducting questionnaires to find out their attitudes towards predators. So stay tuned and I will keep you posted!
Thanks again,
Shivani
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