Conserving Large Carnivores Through Community Partnerships: Sharing Knowledge

Conserving Large Carnivores Through Community Partnerships

At Lion Landscapes, sharing knowledge is at the heart of our work. Through daily community engagement, practical training, and applied research, we work alongside local partners to co-develop conservation solutions that are informed, inclusive, and effective.

This month, we’re sharing highlights from our outreach work with community partners across Tanzania and Kenya—showing how community-led action is supporting coexistence with large carnivores and other wildlife.

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Wildlife Clubs: Expanding Conservation Education to Reach More Communities

The Wildlife Clubs initiative was launched last year in Tanzania’s Selous-Nyerere landscape to deepen the engagement of primary school students in conservation education. These clubs help children learn about their local environment and the role of wildlife—building understanding of ecosystems and inspiring the next generation of conservation advocates.

Following the success of the Wildlife Clubs in Selous-Nyerere, we are now expanding the programme to the Ruaha landscape. In April, we trained primary school teachers from five Wildlife Clubs in Selous-Nyerere, using a ‘teach the teachers’ approach that equips educators with the skills and materials to lead conservation lessons independently within their schools. The Ruaha team also travelled to Selous-Nyerere to benchmark the training as they prepare to roll out the model in their landscape.

“This journey was not just about training—it was about building a network of passionate individuals committed to protecting wildlife and the environment. With collaboration from educators and conservationists, the future of the Wildlife Club programme looks promising.” — Nyangeta, Research Assistant, Lion Landscapes

This year, we’ve also introduced waste management lessons into the Wildlife Club activities, showing how reducing litter can help prevent human-wildlife conflict and support healthier communities. Teachers took part in practical sessions making dustbins from recycled plastic bottles—a skill they will now share with their students, with schools competing to develop the best waste management initiatives.

Left to Right: Teachers and Lion Landscapes staff and teachers participating in the practical activities of the training.

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Poison Prevention: Working Together to Reduce Threats to Wildlife and People

Poisoning remains one of the most devastating threats to large carnivores, vultures, and many other species. Often used to retaliate against livestock losses or protect crops, poison can kill dozens of animals in a single incident—and also risks harming people and the wider environment.

Through our poison prevention training, we work with communities to share practical, evidence-based alternatives and create space for open conversations about conflict reduction. This month, we held a training session in Ngorongo, Selous-Nyerere, with 26 participants from both pastoralist and non-pastoralist backgrounds.

The session encouraged peer-to-peer learning, with participants sharing valuable knowledge and ideas. One attendee spoke about using cow dung for crop storage as a natural method to deter pests, while others highlighted the importance of well-built livestock enclosures to reduce attacks from carnivores. These exchanges help identify locally appropriate solutions that work for people as well as wildlife.

Left to Right: Poison Prevention training in sessions and training participants.

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CoPro Training: Engaging Rangers and Community Members

Our CoPro (Coexistence and Protection) Training reflects the evolution of what was formerly known as the Lion Ranger Programme. While the original programme focused on conflict mitigation and predator ecology training for rangers employed by partner conservancies, the scope has now expanded significantly. CoPro Training equips a broader range of people—including herders, livestock supervisors, and non-ranger personnel—with the skills and knowledge needed to mitigate conflict and promote coexistence across different landscapes.

This name change acknowledges that successful coexistence requires the engagement of everyone who shares space with large carnivores—not just rangers. The programme now serves conservancies, private ranches, and community lands, responding to the growing demand for practical, low-cost, high-impact training that supports both people and wildlife.

In April, our team led a multi-day CoPro Training in Mukutan and Mugie Conservancies in Laikipia, with sessions covering large carnivore ecology, predator identification, and realistic strategies for reducing conflict. Training included practical advice on recognising predator kill signs, staying close to livestock when grazing in dense bush, making noise to deter predators, and regularly counting animals to avoid losses.

The outreach also featured a community DVD night, where footage of lion behaviour sparked valuable discussions and improved understanding of predator movements. With over 6,000 cattle currently leased for grazing in Mukutan Conservancy, these sessions are both timely and impactful. Follow-up visits with herders show positive feedback and a growing willingness to put this advice into practice.

Left to Right: CoPro Training in Mugie and Mukutan Conservancies respectively.

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Drums, Dancing, and Dialogue: Connecting Through Conservation Celebrations

Community celebration remains one of the most powerful ways to share conservation messages and strengthen relationships.

In Ruaha’s Magombwe village, we held our first Lion Defenders dance event with the growing Sukuma community. The turnout was excellent, with enthusiastic participation and lively performances. After the entertainment, the Lion Landscapes team facilitated a conservation discussion—providing an opportunity for the community to share feedback and raise questions, including requests for more frequent updates on carnivore presence in grazing areas. Local Lion Defenders were on hand to explain how these interventions are prioritised and accessed.

Meanwhile, in Ndundunyikanza village in Selous-Nyerere, a Lion Extension Officers dance event brought together elders, women, and young people at a local homestead. Invited Sukuma dancers joined the celebrations, helping to build unity between the Barabaig and Sukuma communities while amplifying the conservation message through shared culture.

Dancers in action.

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Looking Ahead

As we look to the months ahead, Lion Landscapes is focused on expanding and deepening conservation awareness efforts across the Ruaha, Selous-Nyerere, and Laikipia landscapes. 

Catch up on our previous monthly updates to learn more on how each piece of our work connects to drive lasting positive impacts for people and wildlife.

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Help Make Large Carnivore Conservation Valuable to Local Communities

Your support enables us to co-develop practical, evidence-based approaches with local communities, which help reduce conflict, protect livelihoods, and create an easier future for both people and wildlife.

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