Conservation Masai Mara - Safeguarding Wildlife and Supporting Communities

Origin of Masai Mara National Reserve

Initially, the designated Masai Mara ecosystem as a wildlife sanctuary in 1961 encompassed only 520 square kilometers. That same year, the area was expanded eastward to cover 1,821 square kilometers. Part of this territory was later managed by The Narok County Council (NCC). In 2001, management of the western section of the Masai Mara National Reserve, the Mara Triangle, was transferred to the non-profit Mara Conservancy. Another portion of the land was returned to the local Masai communities, which later formed conservancies. These conservancies are situated just beyond the National Reserve border and are administered by local masai communities and their respective Group Ranch Trusts of the Maasai Community.

Conservation Mara Triangle

Once a haven for bandits and poachers, the Mara Triangle has transformed significantly. Before the Mara Conservancy’s establishment in 2001, large poaching camps operated within the Mara Triangle. Under the Mara Conservancy’s management, Mara triangle anti-poaching and de-snaring scout patrols have made the area safe for its wildlife. Since 2001, a cross-border collaboration with the Serengeti National Park has led to the arrest of over 3,415 poachers, the removal of more than 44,846 snares, the recovery of 200 stolen Maasai cattle, and the treatment of wildlife injured by snares. In 2009, the Mara Conservancy launched a tracker dog unit to protect the Mara Triangle. This unit, consisting of six bloodhounds and eight handlers, plays a crucial role in safeguarding local wildlife from poachers. Poaching for the commercial bushmeat trade, particularly targeting wildebeest, zebra, and Thompson gazelle, is a persistent issue in the Mara Triangle. The dog units’ patrols have significantly increased success in deterring poachers. Discover more about the Mara Triangle.

Conservation in Masai Mara Conservancies

The Masai Mara outlying conservancies receive strong support from the Maasai Mara Wildlife Conservancies Association (MMWCA). Their mission is to “safeguard the greater Maasai Mara ecosystem through a network of protected areas, ensuring prosperity for biodiversity, wildlife, local communities, and tourism for Kenya.” Their vision for maasai communities is “a cultural landscape where communities and partners secure wildlife and sustainable livelihoods for a brighter future.” Discover more about the various Masai Mara conservancies. These conservancies play a crucial role in protecting the Masai Mara’s wildlife, ensuring the preservation of its rich biodiversity.

Comprising twelve independent conservancies in the Greater Masai Mara region, the MMWCA ensures each conservancy follows distinct rules to protect the land and wildlife. The shared objective is to harmonize tourism, conservation, and the local Maasai people for mutual benefit. Most conservancies generate income through leasing land from Maasai landowners to high-end safari operators for approximately 15-year terms. Some allow Maasai cattle grazing, while others restrict it. By leasing their lands for tourism, the Maasai people secure a reliable monthly income from safari operators. To ensure Maasai communities benefit from tourism, safari camps located within the conservancies are mandated to support community development projects. These conservancies provide income for 3,000 maasai landowners and their families, impacting a total of 24,000 people. The Maasai landowners protect biodiversity while the conservancies derive income to Maasai landowners living in Masai Mara.

Beyond financial gains, conservancies offer a sanctuary for wildlife, with around 30% of Kenya’s wildlife residing within them. Each conservancy has tailored conservation programs aimed at preserving the Masai Mara’s wildlife and wilderness. Maasai landowners actively protect biodiversity within the conservancies while adhering to traditional Masai customs. Maasai warriors and scouts, supported by national security services, patrol the conservancies to prevent illegal activities and ensure the safety of wildlife, tourists, and residents. Notable programs include a lion monitoring initiative led by Maasai warriors known as the Simba Scouts and a predator protection initiative program called ‘Wildlife Pays.’ Conservancies strive to protect the environment by limiting tourist numbers, with each conservancy setting a maximum number of beds per square kilometer.