Research Grant Awarded to Saadani Lion Project

Throughout 2025 trustees have been working on a new research policy and grant process so that we could support a small start up project with a donation of up to £1000 to assist with equipment and field expenses. We were approached by Montan "Monty" Kalyahe, a Tanzanian born conservationist who has just started his own brand new project within the Saadani National Park in Tanzania. This seemed like the ideal project that would benefit from a grant like this.

The Saadani Lion Project is a field-based conservation and research initiative established in 2024, in response to the lack of documented research on lions in the Saadani-Wamimbiki landscape of coastal Tanzania, despite growing concerns over their declining population. Saadani National Park, located along Tanzania’s central coastline, represents a unique ecosystem where marine and terrestrial habitats meet. The national park features many different and unique habitats including savannahs, coastal forests and riverine habitats. While the park is known for its diverse wildlife, little is known about its large carnivore populations—especially lions. To address this gap, the project was initiated in close collaboration with the Tanzania Wildlife Research Institute (TAWIRI), Tanzania National Parks Authority (TANAPA), and local stakeholders. Monty has also worked with Professor Stotra Chakrabarti from Macalester College on the formation of the Saadani Lion Project and its first year of operation.

Monty Kalyahe is the founder and Principal Investigator of the Saadani Lion Project. With over 18 years of experience working with Africa’s large carnivores including lions, spotted hyenas, leopards, African wild dogs, and cheetahs he has led efforts to collect and analyse data that inform science-based conservation strategies. His work combines practical field skills such as camera trapping, spoor tracking, call-in surveys, GIS mapping, and radio collaring with community engagement and conflict mitigation strategies to foster coexistence between people and predators. He has undergone various degrees and diplomas at universities in Tanzania and the United Kingdom and has worked for a variety of different large conservation organisations. Trustees and members of the SLCF conservation and research committee are incredibly impressed with his experience and his application.

The grant aims to support Monty in the purchasing and deployment of camera traps and other in-the-field related expenses and materials which can be used to monitor the lion population within the Saadani landscape without too much intrusion. This is a population that is currently understudied and an increase of knowledge in the population would be beneficial to creating long term conservation strategies. The Saadani Lion Project is working with local communities as well to ensure that all stakeholders who have to live with lions in the area are engaged within their conservation planning and to engage the local perception of lions currently within the area.

The trustees are donating £1000 in the form of a research grant to cover the cost of camera traps and in-the-field related expenses and materials for monitoring the lion population during the lion population survey Sep-Dec 2025. During this time Monty will also assess the viability of long term prey populations as well as his work engaging with the local communities.

Trustees believe that this work fits very well alongside our charitable objectives and within the remit of our conservation strategy. Upon hearing on the application success Monty had the following to say:

"I am deeply grateful to Safina for this generous grant in support of the Saadani Lion Project. Tanzania holds one of the largest remaining lion populations in Africa, making our work here critical for the species’ future. This contribution not only strengthens our ability to continue vital research and conservation in Saadani, but also gives us hope and encouragement knowing that our efforts are valued and supported. With this grant, we can take meaningful steps toward ensuring a safer future for lions and fostering harmony between wildlife and local communities."

— Monty Kalyahe, Founder and Principle Investigator, Saadani Lion Project

"We are all delighted to be able to support Monty with his pioneering project to gain a better understanding of the lions living in the Saadani landscape. Thanks go to everyone involved in making this grant happen, especially to Knowsley Safari Foundation for their assistance in providing the majority of the funds required. We very much look forward to seeing the findings of Monty's work later on this year."

— James Welch, Chairman, Safina Lion Conservation Fund

Naturally we will keep all of our supporters updated on Monty's progress and we look forward to hearing the results of the population survey and the work carried out by Monty in the last quarter of this year. We would like to once again express our sincere thanks to the Knowsley Safari Foundation for their generosity in making this grant possible. We are also very grateful for the help of the Honeyguide Foundation for their help and cooperation in processing the funds to the Saadani Lion Project.