There is a special kind of joy in checking a camera trap and finding something wonderful and unexpected amongst thousands of images.

And recently we were treated to a thrilling sight: two lionesses trailed by six cubs at one of the waterholes in the Chyulu Hills.

As the dry season takes hold, wildlife increasingly relies on waterholes to survive, and camera traps help us to unobtrusively monitor these populations as they navigate tough periods.

The status of lions in the Greater Amboseli Ecosystem is of special importance given its history. Twenty years ago lions were on the brink of extinction here, their numbers diminished by traditional hunting and retaliation for livestock losses. Today, the population is approximately 250, a seven-fold increase that has been monitored by our partners at Lion Guardians.

Big Life’s predator protection programs have played a central role in this success, including our Predator Compensation Fund, which reduces retaliatory killing, as well as the Maasai Oympics, which is helping to shift culture from lion killing to conservation.

It’s also thanks to our partners in the field, who are working just as hard to protect Amboseli’s lions as we are.

And most importantly, it’s thanks to you, our donors. You make our work possible, and by doing that you are creating a safer world for these little lions to grow up in.

BY RICHARD BONHAM

It is with great personal sorrow that I write of the loss of one of Big Life’s longest standing team members, our co-founder and treasurer: Tom Hill.

Not many can claim they left this world a better place than they found it; Tom can do so in no uncertain terms.

Tom first came to Amboseli in the mid-nineties, joining me on a walking safari across the Chyulu Hills. It was the beginning of a love affair for him with all the land where Kilimanjaro casts its shadow.

During this safari, Tom, always with his sharp and inquiring mind, probed with questions that pierced the shroud of pristine, unthreatened beauty. He began to understand that the places we walked were on the brink of potentially irreversible change and that interventions were needed, fast.

Tom’s first contribution was a donation to what was then a fledgling community ranger operation; just 30 rangers tackling the poaching that was widespread at the time. Today, this team has grown to 390 dedicated men and women who have all but eradicated poaching in Big Life’s area of operation.

Together, we watched the lion population plummet in the late 90’s. Maasai pastoralists were no long tolerating the losses of their livestock to lions, and retaliatory killing was driving the lion population to local extinction. I remember Tom’s words as we considered solutions: “There is no better incentive to man than an economic incentive…”

The idea was reflected in our discussions with community leaders and the Predator Compensation Fund was born. Started in 2002, this program has been fundamental in stopping retaliatory predator killing and led to one of the most remarkable lion recoveries in Africa, to an impressive population of approximately 250 today.

Tom’s passion for lions took him one step further. He worked with the Menye Layiok, or ‘fathers of the warriors,’ to create the Maasai Olympics, an athletics competition designed to engage warriors, who are the age group most likely to spear lions. Since 2012, Tom’s passion has made the Maasai Olympics a cultural phenomenon.

For 25 years, Tom has quietly been one of Big Life’s most dependable engines. I could go on and on about his contributions to making this world a better place. Tom had a huge impact on so many lives, both human and animal, including my own.

Thank you, Tom. I will hear your voice every time I hear a lion roar.

RB

Excitement is in the air as team selections are underway for the upcoming Maasai Olympics finals in December!

Amboseli’s Maasai warriors are gearing up to showcase their incredible athleticism, skill, and dedication to conservation. These athletes are not only competing for glory but also championing the protection of wildlife and the preservation of their cultural heritage.

It’s been two years since the last Maasai Olympics, and everyone is excited to see who will make the cut to represent the local group ranches. In the coming weeks, a series of tournaments will determine the top-level athletes that will participate at the finals scheduled for December 14, 2024.

Stay tuned for updates as we prepare for an unforgettable event that celebrates strength, tradition, and the spirit of community.

In the meantime, you can learn more and support the Maasai Olympics, or by purchasing a limited edition shirt from FLOAT, available now until August 12purchasing a limited edition shirt from FLOAT, available now until August 12. 

 Image: Jeremy Goss 

While the world watches the Paris Olympics, we’re gearing up for a different kind of games: the Maasai Olympics.

The Maasai Olympics represent a history-changing shift from killing to conservation.  The idea was first hatched in 2008 by the Menye Layiok, or Maasai “cultural fathers,” to create an organized sports event based on traditional Maasai warrior skills to replace the long-held tradition of hunting lions as a mark of manhood, bravery, and prestige.

Today, the Maasai hunt for medals, not lions.

To commemorate the next Maasai Olympics in December, we’ve partnered with FLOAT to bring you a limited edition design to show your support for the games.

The design is only available from August 5-12 and is available on a variety of colors and styles.

Proceeds will support our critical conservation work in Greater Amboseli for species like lions.

Order yours today!