MPCP Boma Update

In 2024 trustees completed a new conservation strategy, as part of this new strategy the building and strengthening of bomas is seen as a vital tool to support local communities at homestead level to promote coexistence with the local lion population. Since then, we have included the Mara Predator Conservation Programme along with KopeLion in our efforts to grow this project with a new focus of building new bomas rather than just strengthening. This has seen this effort evolve from the Boma Strengthening Scheme to our new ‘Better Bomas Project’.

As you may remember earlier this year we donated towards the Mara Predator Conservation Programme to sponsor the cost of a brand new boma made out of recycled plastic poles and chain-link fencing. The need for stronger bomas is incredibly important as if cattle are not kept secure lions and other predators such as hyenas may attempt to break into this bomas and night to take livestock. This is more likely to happen in times of low prey density and drought. If this becomes a repeated problem then communities have been known to retaliate as livestock are an important part of their livelihood. By strengthening and building better bomas this project aims to reduce the incident rate at bomas by trying to prevent incidents before they occur we can protect losses of livestock and lions too.

Unlike our scheme with KopeLion which work within a world heritage site, all builds there have to remain traditional so unlike other areas where lions are present, they are not able to use barriers like chain-link fencing for added security, this is however an option for communities living around the Maasai Mara. Various different methods of boma building have been deployed, even those with mesh roofs have been seen in some places. The triple twisted chain-link is considered secure enough that lions and hyenas have not been able to gain access to any of these bomas since the original pilot boma group was built in 2022. Three trustees visited the MPCP in February this year and visited one of these bomas and the photo is included at the end of this page. We have heard from Michael Kaelo from the MPCP who shares more details below about this new boma:

"One of the five bomas we constructed during this period was from the support received from Safina. We constructed the boma at Olesere and it belongs to a widow who lives next to Naboisho Conservancy. She had experienced frequent conflicts with lions and hyenas in her previous boma and the few livestock she was left with she decided to move them to a neighbour’s home for safe keeping." 

— Michael Kaelo, Programme Manager - Mara, Mara Predator Conservation Programme

The boma has been built next to the Naboisho Conservancy which has been visited by trustees several times. This area borders the Maasai Mara National Reserve and is known as a dispersal zone for many species. Over the years lions have been renewed in Naboisho since the conservancy was founded in 2010 and the area is particularly known as a good place to see the three African big cats. The photos of the previous boma are shown above, and it can be easily seen that although it would have kept cattle inside it would not have been much of a deterrent to lions, hyenas and other predators. Sadly though money for new and better bomas is not something that everyone can afford.

The new boma is pictured below and the difference is striking. This new boma should keep the families cattle and other livestock safe for many years to come.

"We are sincerely grateful for the support as it has really had a big impact on the family and their livelihood. We look forward to hear on possibilities for future support so we can keep supporting families and lions in the Mara Ecosystem. Please pass our gratitude to your supporters for making such transformations possible."

— Michael Kaelo, Programme Manager - Mara, Mara Predator Conservation Programme

We look forward to hearing more about the progress of future bomas being built by the MPCP and we would like to continue our support for them if our funds allow.

We would like to take the opportunity to thank Cotswold Wildlife Park & Gardens, Folly Farm Adventure Park & Zoo, Noah's Ark Zoo Farm, Linton Zoo, All Things Wild and Folly Farm Zookeeper Peter Bonser for their help in supporting our Better Bomas Project. With special thanks for Noah's Ark Zoo Farm in particular for donating the majority of the funds required to build this boma.

Two SLCF trustees with Safari Guide Dama, Niels Mogensen and Dominik Sakat of the MPCP and the owner of the boma that we were shown.