One of the most precious commodities in any walk of life is trust.

As the saying goes, it takes decades to build and seconds to destroy.

The Greater Amboseli ecosystem is vast. Despite the fact we coordinate almost 400 rangers, 15 vehicles, and 2 aircraft, it’s impossible to cover every blade of grass every day. However, we have something just as valuable as our vehicles, planes, and uniforms: trust.

We have earned this after decades of presence here in this ecosystem, from providing employment for hundreds of local people to helping thousands more. We do what we say we will, and that means something.

This quality helped us recently when our rangers were alerted to two separate poaching incidents on the same day. Both incidents shared grisly similarities: two giraffes had become entangled in snares set by poachers. Once immobilized, they were butchered.

Yet they also shared the fact that both poachers were seen by community members who quickly called Big Life, and in both cases our rangers arrived at the scene quickly to arrest the poachers, literally red-handed.

The photo of one of the crime scenes is hard to look at, but we believe it is important to share it. Because sadly, across much of Kenya, wildlife is still being targeted. We see an uptick in bushmeat pushing during dry seasons such as this, as resources become scarce. Giraffes are targeted due to their immense size. 

Keeping wildlife safe from poaching, and other threats to habitat, is an ongoing battle. These poachers will be held accountable for their crimes.

We have earned the trust of the people we work with, but now we need to help show the value of wildlife. Please consider donating to Big Life today to help keep Amboseli’s wildlife safe.

Giraffe 📸: Jeremy Goss

We are thrilled to welcome Holmes and Watson back from their training at the impressive Kuru ‘The Conservation Dog’ School in Arusha, Tanzania. They’re now actively integrating with our dog handlers based at Big Life’s Headquarters in Kenya.

Over the second quarter, Big Life’s ranger teams have responded to a noticeable uptick in bushmeat poaching incidents—an unfortunate reality during times of economic hardship. Our rangers, drawn from the very communities most affected, have been relentless in their patrols, arrests, and community outreach, all while navigating the complex dynamics that drive these offenses. Thanks to their vigilance, numerous illegal activities were intercepted, and the lives of countless wild animals spared.

At the same time, we’ve seen a promising trend: fewer crop raids by elephants, largely due to consistent and widespread rainfall last Spring. When water and food are readily available in the bush, conflict between people and wildlife decreases—a welcome reprieve for both. However, this doesn’t mean our work slows down, especially as the dry season sets in. If anything, it underscores the urgent need to secure and protect critical wildlife corridors and habitats, ensuring that as Amboseli’s wild inhabitants roam, they have the space they need to survive and thrive.

None of this would be possible without the steadfast support of our donors. You are the reason our boots stay on the ground, our vehicles stay moving, and our rangers stay watchful. Thank you for standing with us and with the communities who share their land with wildlife. Together, we are building a future where people and animals can flourish side by side.

Benson Leyian
Chief Executive Officer –
Big Life Foundation Kenya

SEE THE FULL 2ND QUARTERLY REPORT

Photo: Joshua Clay

Being face-to-face with a lion will always send shivers down your spine. It’s quite literally human nature.

It’s part of the reason lions are always at the top of every safari “must-see”.

But here in Amboseli, lions share this land with people, many of whom keep livestock. For them, the reality of living side-by-side is far from magical.

This is because cows are the wealth upon which entire families depend. And the loss of just one cow is just as emotional as it is a financial strain.

This strain reached catastrophic levels in the early 2000s when lions almost completely disappeared from Amboseli due to retaliation by people for livestock losses. At the time, the negatives of living with lions far outstripped the benefits. Lions account for more than 60% of attacks on cows by wild predators in Amboseli.

The bottom line is simple: people must benefit from living alongside wild animals.

As a result, we established our Predator Compensation Fund.  We give an average of $114,000 dollars each year in compensation to livestock owners who suffer losses to predators.

The program is collaborative, with checks and balances. Thanks to our compensation program, along with the dedicated conservation efforts of other partners like Lion Guardians, Amboseli has become a stronghold for lions, with the population now at a healthy level of approximately 250.

We need the support of people like you to ensure we can keep these programs running.

If you care about lions, please consider donating to Big Life today for World Lion Day.

📸: Joshua Clay