Born Free and Kenya Wildlife Service save male lion from snare

General the lion

Meru National Park, Born Free’s spiritual homeland, experiences huge pressures from the adjacent community. Poverty levels in communities in the region are high, so some people feel the need to illegally hunt wild animals with snares, either to obtain protein as food, or to sell to make money. Snares are indiscriminate and, whilst lions are not necessarily the target, these lethal traps pose a significant threat to the welfare and survival of lions in the national park. 

As apex predators, lions play a crucial role in maintaining the ecological balance within Meru National Park. These majestic creatures have wide home ranges and move long distances in pursuit of prey, occasionally straying outside the park’s boundaries. Unfortunately, in rare instances, lions may fall victim to snares set by community members near the unfenced sections of the park.

The removal of the snare around General’s neck © Dr. Aminga, Kenya Wildlife Service

One of these very rare occurrences arose recently. In early June, Mohammed Boru, a tour guide from the nearby Elsa Kopje Meru Lodge and a member of Born Free’s ‘citizen science network’, spotted General – a male lion from Elsa’s Pride – during his usual safari route. Elsa’s Pride is Born Free’s adopted family of lions and the 16-strong pride is led by two dominant males – General and his brother King. This is known as a ‘coalition’.

“Upon observing the lion closer, Mohammed noticed General had a wire snare around his neck,” said Michael Mugo, our Pride of Meru Programme Manager. “He quickly shared a photo and video via WhatsApp to the Lion Watchers’ group – a collection of people including local guides in the area and members of the Born Free team. Here, information about sightings, injuries and any other event of significance can be easily communicated.”

KWS Vet Doctor Aminga and his team immediately sprang into action. In collaboration with Born Free and Elsa Kopje Lodge, they successfully removed the snare, and General is expected to make a full recovery. “This incident highlights the importance of partnerships in wildlife conservation,” explains Michael Mugo. “It allows for a rapid response and a commitment to a high standard of animal welfare.”

A diversity of wildlife species and habitat integrity are the hallmarks of a protected area; however, the habitat is compromised by the numerous snares posing a threat to all animals in the national park. “Events such as these highlight the need for community sensitisation to educate the communities neighbouring Meru National Park,” Michael continued. “They have such an important role in the conservation of wildlife in the Meru Landscape and in promoting harmonious coexistence.”

Born Free’s locally employed Twiga Team (Twiga is Swahili for giraffe) embark on daily patrols within the park in collaboration with KWS to remove these wire snares. Their work is vital in addressing the challenge of snares being laid throughout MNP and, with their long legs, giraffes can be especially vulnerable. The team also play a vital role in sensitising and educating the community on the negative consequences of snares. Over time, we hope to see a reduction in the use of snares, helping protect hundreds of animals from slow, excruciating deaths.