Mara Predator Project
March 2009
Serian Camp
Sara Blackburn maralions@gmail.com
Laurence Frank lgfrank@berkeley.edu

BACKGROUND
The Mara Predator Project (MPP) in Kenya was begun in July 2008 with financial support from the Banovich Wildscapes Foundation, in response to concern that lion numbers on Koiyaki Group Ranch north of Masai Mara National Reserve may be declining. Serian Camp has made the project possible by providing housing and meals to Sara Blackburn and access to vehicles, guides and equipment.

The aims of the project are threefold:

1)To assess the lion population in preparation for future conservation efforts
2)To set up an effective and sustainable way for tourists and visitors to take part in lion conservation by involving lodges within the area.
3)To work with the local Masai community and the Masai Mara North Conservancy (MMNC) to reduce human-lion conflict, in ways similar to those implemented by Living With Lions in other areas.

FOCUS
Much of the effort thus far has been in the identification and cataloguing of lions for the database, and establishing the infrastructure necessary for the project to run smoothly. Key to this has been the purchase of a new Suzuki 4x4 vehicle. A guide has also been employed to work as a spotter and to assist in guest participation and further training. To pilot this project, Serian Camp guides have all been trained in lion identification and ageing and are using a standardized reporting system for lion sightings. Once full operational at Serian, the project will be introduced to neighbouring lodges, greatly expanding the area in which all lions are known and monitored.


RESULTS
Lion Numbers
The project has initially been active within the 250 km2 (100 mi2) area east of the Lemek Road, around Serian, Kicheche and neighbouring camps (see map). A total of 86 lions have been positively identified over a period of 7 months, including 33 adult females and 17 adult males (aged three and above). There are a total of 36 cubs, 13 of which are aged 1 year or above. It is likely that most lions have been identified. Some lions residing on the Siria escarpment have been identified but these individuals are approachable only by foot. There are large areas of Koiyaki that are known to contain lions that have not been searched. These will be added as other lodges join the programme.


MORTALITY
We have not learned of any mortalities due to humans. One old male and one mature male have not been sighted for a number of months. A satellite female within the Masai Mara Reserve (Musiara location) was found dead but the cause of death or her identity was not known.
One large cub (>1yr) and two small cubs (<2mo) have been lost. Three sets of cubs have been born, each to the three River pride females (4-5yr). Two litters have not survived. Two currently remain from an initial three cubs, now ages four months.

Apart from an old male (Claude, BBC Big Cat Diary) ranging from Musiara to Serian, all lions appear to be in good condition, with no overt cases of disease or major injuries.


TOURIST PARTICIPATION
To promote tourist participation in lion identification and monitoring, a successful and user- friendly system of identification has been developed based on whisker spots, distinguishing features and photographs.
Complete profiles have been created for 40 adult lions and have been published online and in booklet form. An information booklet and promotional and information leaflets have also been produced to accompany this.
Lodges should be able to host the project in a self-contained way. It is not yet possible to gauge how useful tourist participation will be in lion monitoring, but visitors to Serian and management of neighbouring lodges are enthusiastic. Setup at Serian Camp is relatively complete, and Offbeat Mara has also been supplied with resources. Guests have been accompanied on game drives and have been encouraged to use the identification booklets successfully.


A website has been developed for the project, containing the identification database with profiles of adult lions, information on how to identify and age lions, and a page encouraging participation through reporting sightings and submitting photographs (www.livingwithlions.org/mara).
The MPP also has a project page on the main LWL website outlining the project and explaining how to become involved. A blog has also been started to keep followers up to date on known lions, and following increased interest, a newsletter may also be appropriate (http://marapredatorproject.blogspot.com). Donations can be made through the LWL website via Panthera.


DEPREDATION
Ten cases of livestock predation have been observed, three of which involved lions. Some are concentrated within a small area and it is suspected that the same lions are to blame. Although little work has been done at this stage concerning livestock movements and conflict, there is local interest in developing a compensation scheme and education programme focussing on livestock husbandry. Bomas vary greatly in quality and in some cases have been the cause of livestock predation.


SCHOOLS
We have also initiated work with students at Mararianda School, including an arts workshop focussed on wildlife and the importance of lions. Although this was not an initial part of the project, school education could be an essential factor in encouraging tolerance for wildlife and promoting conservation.


FUTURE DIRECTIONS
The first seven months of this project have been highly productive. Sara has accomplished an enormous amount of work, in spite of the very steep learning curve and all the challenges of establishing a new study in an unfamiliar environment in an unfamiliar country. She has demonstrated the validity of the basic approach, by cataloguing over eighty individual lions, and developing the tourism participation protocol and associated materials.

The area under study and number of lions under long term monitoring will be enlarged dramatically in 2009 with the participation of additional camps and lodges through distribution of booklets and promotional material and training of new guides. Neighbouring camps have shown great interest in the project and it should be possible to begin to expand into other lodges in the near future.

Livestock issues, such as cattle numbers and movements and quality of bomas in the region, need to be addressed through collaboration with other Kenyan institutions (e.g. the International Livestock Research Institute in Nairobi) or addition of staff to the Mara Predator Project, preferably an MSc student from a local university.

We need to further explore the possibility of a Lion Guardians program, modelled on the successful LWL project in the Amboseli region that employs local young warriors as community conservationists and lion monitors. Socioeconomic conditions in the Mara are very different from the Amboseli region, in that tourism is a much better developed as a local source of income. Significant social research among local people will be required in order to tailor a Guardian programme to local circumstances.


ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
This work was made possible by a generous grant from the Banovich Wildscapes Foundation, additional financial help from Panthera, and the wholehearted support of Alex Walker and his staff at Serian Camp.