Ewaso Lions

Category: Lions | Date: Mar 26 2009 | By: ewasolions

It was just after 4 pm yesterday when I came across Nabo and Nashipai, the 2 main lionesses from the Koitogor Pride, in the middle of suffocating an adult male impala, in Samburu National Reserve.  Nabo held onto her prey’s throat with her jaws whilst Nashipai started eating.

Two lionesses from Samburu, Nabo and Nashipai, kill an impala

Nashipai only ate for a few minutes, stood up and walked off towards the Ewaso Nyiro River.  She went for a quick drink at a nearby waterhole and then disappeared from sight.  Nabo continued to eat but constantly looked in the direction that Nashipai had disappeared to.

Nashipai leaves to get the cubs

Nabo continues to feed on the impala

About 15 minutes later, I turned around and saw a beautiful scene.  Nashipai had gone to get the 5 cubs (2 cubs are Nashipai’s and 3 are Nabo’s).  They were all walking in the middle of the river heading our way.  They came close and suddenly the cubs saw Nabo eating the impala.  They ran towards her and pounced on top of the impala.

Cubs feast on the impala

All 5 cubs ate and ate together with Nabo whilst Nashipai sat nearby waiting and licking the blood off herself.  They fought over small pieces of meat and played tug-of-war with the bones and legs.

I watched them finish every single piece of the impala for more than 2 hours.  Loirish one of the males eventually showed up. He let them eat for a while before heading to the kill and getting a small share.  Nashipai eventually stood up and picked at some remaining scraps.

Loirish, the resident male in Samburu, watches and waits at a distance

Loirish joins the rest of the pride on the impala kill

Kills are hard to see in Samburu because of the thick bush and the lions here are often hunting at night.  It has been a long time since I have seen a kill.  The lions are doing really well these days.  Most of the other animals are struggling in this drought, but the lions just lay in wait along the river and ambush whatever comes down to drink at the waterhole.

This was a great scene and fantastic to watch the 5 cubs of Samburu tear away at an impala together with Nabo and Loirish.  Nashipai, my favourite lioness, was amazing.  She didn’t each much, left the kill to go and fetch the cubs and even upon return, allowed the cubs to eat.  It was a very special few hours…

Tags: Cubs, drought, Ewaso Nyiro, impala, kill, Lion, Lioness, Samburu

One response so far

Category: Ewaso Lions Camp | Date: Mar 24 2009 | By: ewasolions

We are now desperately in need of small camping tents for the Echo Lima (Ewaso Lions) Camp.  We donated one to the community scouts a few weeks ago as they often work at night in the Conservation Area in West Gate.  Now, our second small tent has succumbed to the intense heat and strong winds we have been experiencing recently in West Gate.

The fly sheet has totally disintegrated and a few days ago the poles broke.  We tried using duct tape to fix the pole, but it didn’t work!  Raphael uses this tent and is now pretty desperate for a new one.  I have had this tent for 18 years now and used it often during camping trips when I was a child.  I think the tent has come to end of its life!

The disintegrated tent with broken poles

Raph trying to hold the tent together

Please consider our appeal for new tents.  Our mess tent also fell apart and now this tent.  We urgently need new tents.  Any amount donated will be put together to purchase 2 new tents costing $150 in total.

Tags: Conservation, Lions, Tents, West Gate Community Conservancy

5 responses so far

Category: West Gate Community Conservancy | Date: Mar 22 2009 | By: ewasolions

A few nights ago I woke up at 3 am to hear hyenas all around my tent at the Echo Lima Camp in West Gate Community Conservancy.  They were whooping and running around everywhere. This went on for about an hour and then suddenly stopped.  I went back to sleep and awoke the next morning to discover that 2 donkeys had been killed by the hyenas just on the other side of the camp.

Raphael and I went to look and investigate the conflict incidence.  Basically the 2 donkeys had strayed and were wandering  the area when the hyenas found and attacked them.

Raphael recording the conflict incidence

Remains of the second donkey

Donkeys are often not looked after or herded properly.  They stray and are killed by predators.  Magilani, the lioness, killed a donkey earlier in the year and I suspect that is not the first time she did that.  Donkeys are useful animals here - they are used to transport goods (especially when people are moving homes) and also to carry water.  But, their value is not really regarded and they are often left alone.  During our community meetings, we emphasize the need for better herding practices and how this will reduce livestock loss to predators.

Tags: conflict, Donkeys, hyenas, Lioness, predators, West Gate Community Conservancy

2 responses so far

Category: Community | Date: Mar 19 2009 | By: ewasolions

I have worked with Lpus Leluai Primary School in West Gate Community Conservancy for many years.  It is a school I believe in greatly which has a lot of potential and some smart kids.  The school struggled for many years with food shortages, strong winds blew the classroom roofs away, lack of teachers and many more problems.

The roofless classrooms

However, over the past year and a half, the school is on its way up!  The new headmaster Johnson is fantastic and has not only revived the school (together with a brilliant volunteer teacher from England, Euan), but he has given it hope once again.  Four new classrooms were built, solar panels put in (this is the only power in the entire area!), and now a new girls dormitory is currently under construction. The children have flooded in from all over the area and unfortunately some have to be turned away because the school has exceeded the maximum number of children they can have.

I have always liked this school and have helped in small ways such as giving posters for their classrooms, donating desks and mattresses (through my previous work with Save the Elephants) and more recently, teaching the students about wildlife and taking them out on game drives.  I am focusing all my efforts on this school now and want to help it as much as possible.

Thanks to a donation from my mum and her friends, Ksh 40,000 was raised (USD 530) for school books for Lpus Leluai.  With the influx of new students, Johnson the headmaster was struggling with the few books they had and often 4 or 5 children would share one book.

But not any more! We have donated enough books for the entire school; Science, Maths, Geography and more.  We visited the school a few weeks ago and donated the books to the school together with some brown wrapping paper to cover and protect them from wear and tear.

Johnson the Headmaster receiving the donated books

Johnson doing an inventory of the books with the deputy headmaster, Raphael

The students and teachers were thrilled!  They said this was the first time that they have ever seen so many books and now the children will be able to study in their own time.

Happy students with their new books

Head boy Edward with his new Science book

Students with their new books

Here is short excerpt of Johnson’s letter to my mum:

“Your support came at a time when our school is experiencing a lot of problems.  Madam, your support is of great importance to us as we try to ensure that the students of Lpus Leluai get enough instructional materials to improve their academic standards.  I once again thank you for the donation of the books and promise we shall take good care of the books to last longer and benefit many children in the future. ” Johnson Lenasalia - Headmaster Lpus Leluai Primary School.  

The school continues to need our help.  The new girls dormitory needs to be furnished, they need more classrooms, more books and stationary for the large number of students and much more!   If you would like to help this school, please do make a donation!

Tags: Community, Conservancy, Lions, School, Students

4 responses so far

Category: Lions, West Gate Community Conservancy | Date: Mar 17 2009 | By: ewasolions

Magilani.  She is a beautiful lioness surviving by herself in the Conservation Area in West Gate Community Conservancy.  Here is her story…

Last year I was fortunate to see my first group of “Real Lions“.  These lions are community lions. They live in community areas and struggle to survive surrounded by people and livestock.  The first 3 “Real Lions” I identified moved over to Samburu National Reserve in September 2008, but one female stayed.

And this is Magilani.  Magilani is a 4 year old female.  Her name means “The clever one” in the local Samburu language.  The community scouts named her during a recent workshop I held with them.  The name suits her perfectly.

Magilani lives alone in the Conservation Area.  I have never seen her with other lions and for a long time I thought she may have cubs that she has hidden in the area which is why she never leaves.  I used to only see her tracks for days, but then finally got a sighting of her in January when she killed a donkey that had strayed into the Conservation Area.  Over weeks, we could only get a glimpse of her coming out of the thick Salvadora persica (toothbrush tree) bushes.  There is a certain gap that she normally emerges through between 6:30 pm and 7:00pm.  It is as if she is almost remote controlled!  I would sit and wait at the gap and sure enough, between that time, her head would pop out.

We would not move.  I would try and balance my camera and be ready for her to get an ID photograph.  Any movement or sound in the car would scare her off.  Often because the light was so poor at this time, I would change the ISO speed on my camera to the maximum, try to be steady (although I’ve always been so excited to see her, my hands would be a bit shaky!) and take some photos, whilst trying to look at her whisker spots at the same time with binoculars - all without moving much!

The first full view we had of Magilani - taken a few weeks ago.  Photo is a bit blurry because of the time of day and I did not want to use a flash to scare her away. 

We figured out in the end that she does not have cubs.  However, she still stays pretty much in the same area.  She feels safe here. But I do wonder how this 4 year old female in her prime is surviving out here by herself.  I have seen tracks of males in the same area a few times but they disappear for days and she stays behind.  She comes out of the thick bushes to hunt in the evening and returns late at night to the same place.

Magilani hiding in the bushes - Photo: Steve Kendrot (USDA)

Recently, we have worried about her because of the livestock pressure in the area.  Although I have not seen her in 2 weeks, I have seen her tracks. We are dedicating a lot of time and effort to the Conservation Area, together with the West Gate Community scouts, to try and ensure that the wildlife continue to feel safe here.

Magilani is really hiding now; coming out very briefly to look for food and then returning.  I hope that I see her soon. By watching her over the next few months, I can learn more about what makes her stay where she is and how she survives alone.  However, I am leaving West Gate within the next week to return to Samburu National Reserve and then to Nairobi. I hope she is still around when I return.

I will keep you posted on this very special female.  She is a community lion and a real survivor…

Tags: Community, Conservancy, Conservation, Lioness, Lions, Samburu, West Gate, wildlife

5 responses so far

Category: West Gate Community Conservancy | Date: Mar 15 2009 | By: ewasolions

I moved to West Gate from Samburu National Reserve in May 2008, and set up the Echo Lima (Ewaso Lions) Camp here.  West Gate is a community owned and managed group ranch, where local communities, their livestock and wildlife all live together.  It is a stunning area and is adjacent to Samburu.

View of West Gate

The goal of West Gate is to “… develop a platform for the Samburu pastoralist community living within the Group Ranch to reduce poverty levels through integrated eco-friendly tourist activities and conservation” (taken from the Northern Rangelands Trust website).

Within the conservancy, there is a small Conservation Area.  Every morning and evening I  drive in the area, recording all wildlife that I see along set routes along the river.  The Conservation Area is only 2 years old but wildlife numbers have increased as a result of the dedicated West Gate scouts who put so much time and effort into working here.  It is a small area - but there is much to see.  Over the past few months I have been delighted to record lions, leopard (this is where we saw leopard cannibalism), hyenas and even a caracal!

Scanning the Conservation Area 

More views of the Conservation Area

There are many challenges here though…the area surrounding the Conservation Area has a lot of livestock especially across the river in Isiolo District.  The Conservation Area is under intense pressure from the livestock and local communities who are seeking new pastures especially now with the drought.  The area is a small paradise for wildlife…the bush is thick, there is wild prey, there are plenty of places to hide and it is a place where animals now feel safe.

The West Gate community scouts and the Ewaso Lions team are working hard to ensure that animals continue to feel safe here and are well protected.

There is a special animal who calls this little Conservation Area her home.  Do read my next blog to find out who she is…

Tags: Community, Conservation, hyenas, Leopard, Lions, Livestock, Samburu, West Gate, wildlife

5 responses so far

Category: Donors | Date: Mar 13 2009 | By: ewasolions

Sauwah, thank you so much for your donation and your continued support!

Uni’s 4 little cubs are definitely very cute and the photo in my previous blog entry was a male cub.  Two of the cubs are male and 2 are female.   When they are very young, they do have blue/grey eyes.

To answer your question Sauwah, my project relies on funding from private donors such as what comes through WildlifeDirect.  I also have a few grants from zoos in the US who fund my fieldwork for a limited period. For example, I was given funds for fuel for lion monitoring for 6 months. When the 6 months are over, I need to write another grant for funds to cover the next period.  I sometimes receive the funds, but also get turned down and I need to try again!  I spend a lot of time writing funding applications as I am sure my other fellow bloggers do.

Below are a few more photos of Uni’s cubs  -taken last week in Samburu National Reserve.

Tags: Cubs, Lions, Samburu

2 responses so far

Category: Other news | Date: Mar 12 2009 | By: ewasolions

A few weeks ago, whilst we were in camp we heard that a bull elephant had died about 1 km away.  This big bull is a known individual, called Esidai, and has been studied for many years by the Save the Elephants researchers.

I used to see him often here in West Gate, hanging out with other big bulls.  The bulls like this area; there is plenty of shade, food and water.  When the bulls come into musth, they leave the area and head for the reserves, where they look for females to mate with.

Esidai fell on the river bank and died a few hours later.  We went to see him, together with the researchers from Save the Elephants.  The cause of death could not be established and to this date, we do not know what happened to him.  There were no visible wounds on him.  This is now the second elephant to have died in the area for unknown reasons.

Esidai’s death attracted a lot of interest from the local people

Researchers from Save the Elephants measure his tusks and take various samples

I have gone back a few times to see Esidai after his tusks were removed by the Kenya Wildlife Service.  The hyenas have eaten a small part of him and dragged his trunk to the middle of the river.  But he is pretty much still there, sloped on the river bank…

Esidai - A great loss to West Gate

These are tough times for the residents of Samburu. The local communities, their livestock and the wildlife are struggling now.  The area is terribly dry and there is not much food remaining.  The Ewaso Nyiro river has been dry for months now and elephants are digging into the dry river bed for water, helping the other animals too.

We are all hoping for rain soon.  We did have a huge thunderstorm last night.  I hope this is the beginning of the much awaited for and desperately needed rains…

Tags: elephants, Ewaso Nyiro, hyenas, Samburu, Save the Elephants, West Gate Community Conservancy

3 responses so far

Category: Donors | Date: Mar 11 2009 | By: ewasolions

Dear Kevin and Brenton,

Thank you for your donations towards a new camp mess tent after reading our appeal.   We hope to receive more funds over the next 2-3 months and this will enable us to erect a new thatched mess tent in May or June.

Every penny helps and goes a long way in allowing us to continue with our work in conserving lions in this part of Northern Kenya.

Thank you again and I hope to post photos of our new mess tent in a few months time.

With my best wishes,

 Shivani and the rest of the Ewaso Lions team

Photo of Uni’s cub - taken a week ago in Samburu National Reserve

Tags: Camp, Conserve, Cub, Lions, Samburu

2 responses so far

Category: Lions | Date: Mar 09 2009 | By: ewasolions

A few days ago I was tracking Lguret, the lion we radio-collared a month ago, when I found him walking in some saltbush plains watching a buffalo in Samburu National Reserve.  He was with his brother Loirish.  They came across a giraffe and showed no interest in him, but then appeared to be very wary of a buffalo that was in the vicinity of the area.

Lguret, the radio-collared lion, ignoring a giraffe and watching a buffalo

Lguret suddenly started moving off quickly and I turned around to see why.  The buffalo was running towards him and Loirish!  The buffalo sped past me and the lions scampered up into Koitogor Hill for safety.  Lguret went one way and Loirish the other.  The buffalo did not give up  -he chased Loirish up some rocks and I lost sight of Lguret as he fled in fear.  The photos below show what happened.

Buffalo chases Lguret

Buffalo gives up on Lguret and looks for Loirish

Buffalo comes back for Lguret after chasing Loirish

The chase continues

Loirish jumps to safety high up on some rocks

This is the second time I have witnessed a serious buffalo-lion chase here in Samburu.  The first was in September when 3 buffalo chased Uni and these very same males.

Tags: Buffalo, Collaring, Giraffe, Lions, Samburu

2 responses so far