P.R.I.D.E. Chem Chem Lion Project

We believe that implementing the lion collaring project in Burunge WMA could have a great impact in helping to reduce Human-Carnivore conflict in the area. The first step will be to have a clear picture of the lion population dynamics in the targeted area, followed by a capture and collaring of selected individual(s). After that, a system of constant monitoring and alert systems whenever the lions exit or enter a predefined area will be put in place.

BURUNGE WMA, one of the first WMA to be gazetted, is located in a key conservation area, the Tarangire-Manyara ecosystem, and is hosting an important wildlife corridor that connects Tarangire and Manyara National Parks.

The WMAs comprises 10 member villages, all of which lie between Tarangire National Park to the East and Lake Manyara National Park to the west. Unfortunately, the corridor has progressively been reduced and disturbed by the ever increasing anthropization of the landscape, a phenomenon that is sadly occurring increasingly throughout Africa.

P.R.I.D.E. Chem Chem Lion Project

P.R.I.D.E. Chem Chem Lion Project-April 2017-The first one of two Banovich Wildscapes Foundation GPS Collars is placed on a lioness by Riccardo Tosi, Conservation and Community Coordinator, Chem Chem Foundation.

P.R.I.D.E. Chem Chem Lion Project

P.R.I.D.E. Chem Chem Lion Project

About

The Banovich Wildscapes Foundation is proud to join the Chem Chem Association for the Chem Chem Lion Project to raise funds for the purchase of GPS collars enabling anti-poaching initiatives to track the movement of lions between the Ngorongoro Crater, Lake Manyara and Tarangire National Parks. We are also assisting with the funding of LIVE BOMAS, (massai huts surrounded by a chicken-wire fence) which is lion proof and shown results in protecting community livestock and thus protecting the lions from retailiatory poaching.

The mission of the Chem Chem Lion Project is to re-create and save the last corridor between the two ecosystems of Tarangire and Manyara which is essential for the entire ecosystem of Northern Tanzania. Knowing what threats the lions are under and the massive growth of the Tanzania population, a proper lion overview project will be a big help to save these amazing animals and teach the communities how to live among lions.

Funds are needed to continue and maintain our lion research program in collaboration with the Tarangire Lion Reseach program. It is essential for our concession (WMA Burunge) to get a full understanding of the movements of the lions in our corridor which connects two important eco-systems: Tarangire in the South and Manyara in the North. Further we believe that the collaring of the three prides we have will help us to understand better the danger for the communities living around our concession. To start a strong cooperation with these communities and convince them that lions are important for the eco-system we need to take their worries, fears and threats serious. Knowing where the lions are will not just help us to protect them but also make sure the communities feel safe living around them.

Updates

P.R.I.D.E. Chem Chem Lion Project - Our Work - Banovich Wildscapes Foundation, nonprofit (501c3) organization fostering cooperative efforts to conserve the earth's wildlife and wild places benefiting the wildlife and the people that live there.

Wildscapes helping to fund the Chem Chem Lion Project, by building Bomas.

As the Human/Animal conflicts rise, Banovich Wildscapes Foundation joins Chem Chem Association in raising funds for Bomas.

"We plan to put in place 60 bomas in the next three months, 20 for each of the three villages, we will need more but is already a big project, and we are looking for funds…. The bomas will be made of cement and steel poles, and they cost around 750 usd each to build." Riccardo Tosi, Chem Chem Foundation

P.R.I.D.E. Chem Chem Lion Project - Our Work - Banovich Wildscapes Foundation, nonprofit (501c3) organization fostering cooperative efforts to conserve the earth's wildlife and wild places benefiting the wildlife and the people that live there.

April 2017-The first of two Banovich Wildscapes Foundation GPS Collars is placed on a lioness by Riccardo Tosi, Conservation and Community Coordinator, Chem Chem Foundation.

April 2017-The first one of two Banovich Wildscapes Foundation GPS Collars is placed on a lioness by Riccardo Tosi, Conservation and Community Coordinator, Chem Chem Foundation. The lioness is part of the “Altipiano Pride” that moves in the corridor along lake manyara. There are around 8 lions and is the pride about which the least is known so the information gathered will be particularly useful.

Phase 2 - Capture and Collaring:
The second phase will consist in the identification and selection of the individual(s) to be captured and subsequentiy collared.

P.R.I.D.E. Chem Chem Lion Project - Our Work - Banovich Wildscapes Foundation, nonprofit (501c3) organization fostering cooperative efforts to conserve the earth's wildlife and wild places benefiting the wildlife and the people that live there.

BURUNGE WMA, one of the first WMA to be gazetted, is located in a key conservation area, the Tarangire-Manyara ecosystem, and is hosting an important wildlife corridor that connects Tarangire and Manyara National Parks.

The WMAs comprises 10 member villages, all of which lie between Tarangire National Park to the East and Lake Manyara National Park to the west. Unfortunately, the corridor has progressively been reduced and disturbed by the ever increasing anthropization of the landscape, a phenomenon that is sadly occurring increasingly throughout Africa.

January 2017-Banovich Wildscapes Foundation's funds the purchase of two GPS collars to participate in the first step to have a clear picture of the lion population dynamics in the targeted area.

The goal of this project is to hand over the monitoring and following up of the collared individuals to local communities which will be in charge of following the movements of the lions and, after some training period, respond autonomously to the potential conflict situations.

The project will be structured in three phases:

A) Phase 1 - Survey
A preliminary survey of the area is required to have a clear idea of the lion population, number and composition of prides and areas interested. This would be carried out by TAWIRI (Tanzania Wildlife Research Institute), in collaboration with Dr. Bernard Kissui of “Tarangire Lion Project” and Chem Chem Foundation, and will give a picture of the current Lion population status in the area.

B) Phase 2 - Capture and Collaring
The second phase will consist in the identification and selection of the individual(s) to be captured and subsequentially collared.

C) Phase 3 - Monitoring / Data Collection
The third phase of the project consists in monitoring the movement of the collared lions and alerting the community when the lion exits the protected area towards the villages. The monitoring will be carried out by Chem Chem Foundation in partnership with Tarangire Lion Project.