In southeastern Kenya, a remarkable reversal of centuries-old
tradition has taken place: Maasai tribes have made the choice to
start protecting lions and other large predators. On the
community-owned Mbirikani Group Ranch, cattle herders have found
a financial alternative to killing the lions that prey on their
livestock. Through the Predator Compensation Fund (PCF) – an
innovative program that provides economic incentives for
conservation – the Maasai are compensated every other month at
market value for livestock killed by predators such as lions,
cheetahs and hyenas. Upon proof and verification of a predation,
herders receive $80 for every donkey and $200 for every cow
killed. Since its inception in 2003, the fund has paid claims to
Mbirikani herders for nearly 750 head of livestock every year.
In a region where the predators are being slaughtered to
extinction, the PCF has nearly eliminated lion killings on the
ranch. Only four lions were killed on the Mbirikani Group Ranch
since 2003, compared to 65 kill