Kenya Wildlife Trust

31/08/2026

Last week, we had the privilege of hosting Ann from March To The Top to show her how their funding is impacting conservation in the Mara. First Stop was Irbaan School Wildlife Club, where 27 of 60 members and their patrons, George Rop and Stanley Kioko, welcomed the team. The highlight was a storytelling exchange where Ann and the kids shared stories and photos comparing the different lion and leopard species found in the Mara versus the USA.

We also checked on their kitchen garden, which is currently facing water challenges following the recent long dry season and inadequate supply. Second stop was where Zone 15 Lion Ambassador, Michael Sumare, demonstrated how our Mara Predator Conservation combines recycled plastic pole bomas with EarthRanger technology to stop human-predator conflict in real time.

Seeing the impact firsthand, Cathlyn, who joined Ann for the visit, noted that these are “simple solutions to a big problem.” A huge thank you to March To The Top for their support.

27/08/2026

Serving as scientific consultants on National Geographic's series LION, the Mara Predator Conservation Programme team provided field insights and ecological context for Kio’s story. Following the journey of a cub named Kio, the series was filmed over 4 years with nearly 1,400 days logged in the field, and is the first natural history production to document a lion’s transformation from a cub!

We're so glad the Mara Predator Conservation Programme was part of guiding this story, and that through the continuation of the campaign with Disney, we are continuing to support lion conservation across the Greater Mara ecosystem.

📸 Lion Noomugein

27/08/2026

Did you know that wild dogs in the Mara often avoid protected areas because of high lion densities? Instead, they travel through community rangelands, bringing them into close contact with local pastoralist herds.

Also known as painted dogs (Lycaon pictus), African wild dogs are among Africa's most endangered carnivores. In Kenya’s Greater Mara Ecosystem, these wide-ranging pack hunters have been making a gradual return after regional declines caused by disease outbreaks and human-wildlife conflict.

To protect these endangered predators, our team conducted an ecosystem-wide Community Survey across 282 households to understand local attitudes and conflict patterns.

70% of community members reported livestock conflict, leading to fear and misunderstanding about wild dog behavior. Even with these challenges, over 50% of community members still loved seeing wild dogs on their land.

We held community barazas across 5 villages to share facts about pack dynamics and dispel myths (like clarifying that wild dogs are a wild species, not feral domestic pets). After learning the facts, 97% of community participants pledged their support for wild dog conservation.

When we listen to communities and address their concerns with solutions, coexistence happens. Consider supporting these efforts by clicking here: https://bit.ly/4pNaEJG

17/08/2026

We are pleased to share the release date for National Geographic’s four-part series, LION, premiering 19th August on National Geographic TV and streaming 20th August on Disney+ and Hulu.

Executive produced by Jon Favreau (The Lion King) and BBC Studios’ Mike Gunton (Planet Earth II), with the score by Hans Zimmer, LION follows the four-year journey of a young cub named Kio growing up in Kenya’s Maasai Mara.

Filmed over 4 years with nearly 1,400 days logged in the field, this is the first natural history production to document a lion’s transformation from a cub. Our team at Mara Predator Conservation served as scientific consultants, providing field insights and ecological context to bring Kio’s story to a global audience.

In tandem with this release, Disney is continuing its campaign in partnership with the Wildlife Conservation Network’s Lion Recovery Fund, supporting our efforts in lion conservation across the Greater Mara Ecosystem.

📸 (c) Felix-Studios-Disney-LRF

12/08/2026

“Conservation isn’t just for men, it’s for women, and it’s for our youth.”

On International Youth Day, we celebrate stories like Veronica Simaloi’s, a highlight to what happens when we invest in young people.

Growing up in Amboseli, Veronica faced the threat of early marriage. Through a KWT scholarship, she was able to pursue her education at wrtikenya (formerly the Kenya Wildlife Service Training Institute) and build a career in conservation.

Today, Veronica is a Monitoring & Evaluation Officer with Big Life Foundation and a passionate mentor and trainer with CHD Conservation Kenya, inspiring young girls across Kenya to step into conservation leadership.

“My favorite part is seeing a lot of other women and girls coming into conservation... and seeing the community start to believe that girls can do better.”

When we empower youth, they don’t just change their own futures, they impact entire communities and protect nature.

12/08/2026

04/08/2026

In conservation, every hour saved in transit is an extra hour our research and community teams can spend protecting apex predators.

Whether deploying our Mara Predator Conservation teams for EarthRanger geofence monitoring or facilitating community conflict resolution, our official safari airline partner, Airkenya Express, keeps us connected between Nairobi and the Greater Maasai Mara Ecosystem.

Thank you, AirKenya, for flying with purpose and helping us protect Kenya’s predators.

Click here to book with Airkenya Express today: https://bit.ly/4g3PEKB

27/07/2026

Starting August 1st through October 31st, our Mara Predator Conservation research team will spend three months in the field tracking, photographing, and mapping the large carnivores of the Greater Mara Ecosystem.

Marking our 13th consecutive year, every photo captured and coordinate logged feeds directly into our long-term ID catalogues, ensuring that predator conservation in the Mara remains grounded in science.

Follow along as we bring you live updates from the Maasai Mara during our Intensive Monitoring Session (IMS) over the next 3 months.

Photo 1 (c) Fernando Faciole/Governors’

23/07/2026

If you missed our Mara Predator Conservation Programme's recent report launch, we’re breaking down the most important insights from our 2025 Lion & Cheetah Census.

Click here to download your copy: https://bit.ly/449G1p5

21/07/2026