Houston Zoo staff are currently assisting our conservation partners at the Niassa Lion Project (NLP) in Mozambique. This blog was written by one of our Carnivore Staff, Angie Pyle.
I have always thought of conservation as field research, photography, and educating others with the information gathered from both of these resources. This trip to Mozambique has shown me that conservation is a very complicated web that also involves agriculture, healthcare, transportation, politics, hunting, community development, and religion to name a few. For every action taken to help save a species there is an equal reaction within the local communities. The consequences of each action must be carefully considered before the action is put into place. If not the reaction has the potential to be devestating to the species, or to the entire ecosystem.
Angie helping to prepare for Lion Fun Days in Mozambique. Photo by NLP.
If we don’t consider the lifestyle, culture, religious beliefs, and history of the communitities we are working around, then any progress we make may be short lived. If we work with the local communities and give them a voice then the solutions have a better chance of working. The communities must be entrusted with the responsibility to protect their own wildlife. Before the communities are given this responsibility they must first learn more about the wildlife that surrounds them, and how to live within it.
Great turnout from the community on Lion Fun Days! Photo by NLP.
Keith and Colleen have given a lot of thought to every action taken by NLP. With a growing staff of almost 60 people from the local village they are earning the trust and respect of the local communities. Although every meeting at the local village council may not end up exactly the way NLP would like it, the point is that the chiefs are including NLP and listening to their concerns. Earning trust and gaining responsibility takes time. A little extra time and effort given today could yield a lot more time for our lions in the future.
The Houston Zoo Graphics Team designed this lion cutout for kids to use during Lion Fun Days in Mozambique! Photo by NLP.
The extent that NLP is involved with the communities of Niassa is both impressive and inspiring. The longevity of the project is what sets NLP apart from other projects like it. Keith and Colleen are training their staff and giving them the project responsibilities. Someday soon, the lions in Niassa will be protected by the people of Niassa.
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