Mara Predator Conservation Programme

“The people protecting predators are the people living alongside them.”

To strengthen community-based predator conservation, the Mara Predator Conservation Programme (MPCP) community team recently completed an intensive, 2-day capacity-building and induction training for our seven newly recruited Lion Ambassadors.

These seven local champions were recruited through a transparent, community-led selection process, specifically targeting high-conflict and previously underserved areas across the Greater Mara Ecosystem.

Over the course of the training, the new ambassadors transitioned from classroom theory to practical, hands-on field protocols, bridging the gap between wildlife science and grassroots action.

This investment successfully expands MPCP’s footprint across the landscape. We are securing a community-led network by empowering these local leaders with the modern technical tools and scientific knowledge they need.

To support these efforts, click the link in our bio.

We are proud to share the Q1 2026 Progress Report for KWT's flagship initiative, our Mara Predator Conservation Programme (MPCP).

MPCP's spatial data this quarter revealed territory shifts, with the Isanchu Pride moving westward and displacing the Fig Tree Pride along the Olerai corridor - a movement that guided our community intervention patrols.

Through Mara Predator we are creating practical pathways toward sustainable human-predator coexistence by combining cutting-edge technology like EarthRanger with herder training and school programmes.

We invite you to read the full technical update: https://bit.ly/449G1p5
Access the Q1 2026 Report here: https://bit.ly/4at6Ecf

📸 © Sam Ruby

How do we bridge the gap between rigorous predator research and community-led economic resilience?

KWT is proud to officially launch our 2025 Annual Report. In a year marked by intensifying land-use pressures, climate variability, and ecological challenges, our flagship Mara Predator Conservation Programme (MPCP) proved that sustainable conservation is built at the interface of science and people.

As Board Chair Arnolda Shiundu notes: "You cannot protect predators without securing the livelihoods of the people who live alongside them."

Read the full report to discover how data-driven, community-grounded action is shaping the future of predator conservation:https://www.kenyawildlifetrust.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/2025-KWT-ANNUAL-REPORT-web-17.06.2026.pdf

“It’s a drama with documentary truth, meaning every time you see Kio, that’s actually Kio. We learned very quickly how to identify these lions, following the Mara Predator Research ID format - photographing portraits, recording markings, and updating them as scars changed over time.” - Alice Owen, Field Producer/Researcher

We are honored that Kenya Wildlife Trust's Mara Predator Conservation Programme (MPCP) is credited as the Scientific Consultant for the stunning new National Geographic series, LION.

On Friday evening, our team attended a special Kenyan pre-screening of the series at Wildscreen Festival. The Q&A panel provided a fascinating look into what it takes to tell an authentic wildlife story. The crew spent four years and over 1,400 days in the field, tracking the real life of a male lion named Kiongozi (Kio) from the time he was just two weeks old.

To make this unparalleled storytelling possible, the production relied on MPCP’s long-term lion identification catalogues to accurately track Kio and his pride through the years.

Data is crucial for conservation, but storytelling is what connects people to the cause. When audiences understand the perilous, emotional journey of a lion growing up in the Mara, it builds empathy for the survival of the species.

Huge congratulations to the National Geographic and the BBC Earth team for this masterpiece, and thank you for allowing our science to support your work on the ground.

Wildlife does not recognize national borders, and our conservation strategies shouldn’t either. We are proud to celebrate the launch of the Transboundary Corridor Atlas for the SOKNOT Landscape (Southern Kenya-Northern Tanzania).

Developed by scientists from Center for Large Landscape Conservation in partnership with WWF and other regional partners, including KWT, this Atlas is a monumental step forward for data-driven conservation.

KWT helped map 24 critical wildlife corridors by sharing our long-term movement and presence data from the Greater Mara through Mara Predator Conservation Programme. The Atlas focuses on seven species, including the lion, cheetah, and African wild dog. The findings are: 13 of these corridors are currently considered functionally connected, but they require immediate, collaborative protection.

This Atlas provides the baseline data needed to track connectivity over time and offers actionable recommendations for governments, NGOs, and local communities to conserve these corridors for both wildlife and people.

We are honored to be a partner in this transboundary initiative. Read the full report and explore the Atlas here: https://bit.ly/3RJNiZW