KENYA – Africa is as beautiful as it is vast.
With some of the world’s greatest resources, the continent is naturally abundant and known for its wildlife. One of its most iconic animals is the lion, the so-called “King of the Jungle.” However the king has been in jeopardy in Africa for quite some time.
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Across the continent there are only 20,000 lions left in the wild. In the east African nation of Kenya there are only 2500. Thankfully, incredible work is taking place to restore the lion population there.
This past summer I, along with executive producer Dawn Campbell and photojournalist Roger Franco, traveled to northern Kenya with the Houston Zoo, part of our 10-year collaboration with the zoo to highlight work it engages in with its conservation partners. We will take you along for the journey in our special, Saving Lions: The Pride of Kenya. It airs this evening at 8:00 on KPRC2 and KPRC2+.
This trip took us to the Samburu National Reserve and Westgate Community Conservancy to witness the work of Ewaso Lions, a wildlife conservation organization consisting completely of Kenyans working to restore the lion population. It is truly a team effort involving the community, women, warriors, children, and elders.
Ewaso Lions consists of its Warrior Watch Program, its anchor project. The program engages Samburu warriors in conservation decision-making. Young warriors are instrumental in raising awareness about conservation and advocating for peaceful co-existence with lions and wildlife.
The Mama Simbas are also a vital part of the organization. The program, which started in 2013, means “Mothers of Lions” in Kiswahili. Samburu women are empowered through education, conservation training, environmental stewardship, and providing alternative livelihood income. One of their major tasks is removing invasive plant life that kills the vegetation eaten by wildlife and used by lions for shelter.
Ewaso Lions believes conservation education should begin early. That is why they created their Lion Kids Camp program. It consists of a five-day camp that teaches children about the value and importance of lions, large carnivores and other wildlife species, the threats to their survival, and techniques communities can adopt to promote peaceful coexistence. Since launching the LKC program in 2013 the Ewaso Lions team has successfully run 41 Lion Kids Camps, bringing more than 1200 children to the camps.
Kura’s Pride is also a major part of Ewaso Lions.
In 2019, Ewaso Lions launched an innovative program, named after its renowned first dog, Kura.
This initiative works to face the challenges experienced by communities and domestic dogs in the Samburu landscape. Kura’s Pride strives to promote healthier dogs, reduce human-carnivore conflict, minimize disease transmission to wild carnivores, and foster a harmonious balance between people, livestock, wildlife, and the environment. These goals are accomplished through a comprehensive vaccination program of pet dogs in the Samburu villages and conducting ongoing surveillance and monitoring of diseases, particularly rabies and canine distemper.
The Kura’s Pride team also provides urgent care for domestic animals injured by wildlife. They also offer education and awareness programs to communities to reduce disease burden and promote responsible domestic animal ownership and welfare.
You will meet everyone from all of these Ewaso Lions team and witness the important work they do in our special Saving Lions: The Pride of Kenya. It airs Friday, December 12 at 8pm. Be sure to watch on KPRC2 or KPRC2+. Be sure to watch what promises to be an incredible show.
What you will also see are our up-close experiences with not just the majestic lions of Kenya, but also elephants, leopards, cheetahs, zebras, giraffes, ostriches, and so many more beautiful animals!
It was amazing to encounter all of these creatures, but for me, the most special part of the entire trip were the Samburu people. They were all so warm and welcoming and made us feel part of their community. You could see how proud they were in there efforts, using their hands, feet, and minds to restore the lion population while at the same time improving their own lives. They realize that the environment is dependent on them and they, in turn, are dependent on their environment.
So we invite you to tune into Saving Lions: The Pride of Kenya tonight at 8pm! You won’t be disappointed in Kenya or its people.