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Already under pressure from loss of habitat and prey species, it’s no surprise that hungry lions can target livestock. It’s also understandable that when those livestock are a family’s only source of income, people may retaliate by poisoning or snaring the lions.

The majestic lion is under threat: today, as few as 20,000 lions survive, an horrific 90% decline in the last 100 years. If this continues, could lions be extinct by 2050?

Joseph Mutinda, Lion Ambassador

Joseph Mutinda is a Lion Ambassador based in Kaningo, Kenya. Mutinda is on the front line of human-lion conflict, responding to calls from distressed community members who have experienced livestock attacks by lions.

As part of Mutinda’s role with Born Free, he can help arrange compensation for the victims of lion attacks, and prevent retaliatory killings. He also works with communities to implement mitigation measures such as flashing predator deterrent lights, and ‘eye-cow’ – painting eyes on the rumps of cows to confuse lions.

So far, there have been no lion attacks in any of the 24 bomas (secure livestock holding areas) where the lights have been installed, or of the 135 painted cows.

Your gift of just £10 could fund innovative work in Kenya to protect lions and stop revenge killings. You can help lions to live with local people without conflict:

• Buy a pair of strong pliers to cut illegal wire snares
• Help our teams monitor lions and rescue individuals from snares
• Employ local Lion Ambassadors in conflict hotspots to fly the flag for lions
• Use the ‘eye-cow’ technique, painting eyes on the rumps of cows to deter lion ambushes from behind
• Reinforce traditional bomas (night-time enclosures) to keep livestock safe from lions
• Utilise flashing ‘Lion Lights’ to deter lions from livestock
• Help people AND protect lion habitat with energy saving stoves, water storage tanks & solar lights

Above: A 'Lion Light' for livestock
Below: An 'Eye-Cow'