A Samburu warrior, Jeneria Lekilelei has been shortlisted for the Tusk Award for Conservation in Africa. The Kenyan has been nominated alongside Senegalese Tomas Diagne and Ugandan Dr. Gladys Kalema-Zikusoka.
Jeneria has earned recognition for his work with Ewaso Lions, a non-profit wildlife conservation organisation in Samburu.
“In an area as remote as this, it is easy to think that we have been forgotten. We find our strength and reward from being with the lions who we now love as we love our cows. But sometimes, especially in times of drought, things get very difficult. Winning this award would remind us that we are not alone,” Lekilelei enthusiastically remarked.
Lekilelei fell in love with lions who he previously thought were man’s enemy, when he was growing up as livestock herder in Samburu.
With the passion for lions, he later joined Ewaso Lions where he became Director of Community Conservation. At Ewaso, he works with local people to solve wildlife-related conflicts. He is succeeding at this by creating sustainable lion conservation by changing attitudes and behaviors towards lions amongst the younger generation in his area of northern Kenya.
I really want everyone to take ownership of lions and wildlife. It’s not just about me and my team, it’s about the whole community. We all need to save lions for our children.” the shortlisted Moran exclaimed.
Jeneria started a program known as Warrior Watch which works towards transforming young morans who killed lions into protectors of the endangered species. He is also mentoring a new generation of conservationists reminding people that wildlife and humans can coexist peacefully.
The winner will be announced in November 2019 at a ceremony in London, where they will be presented with a £20,000 (Ksh.2,565,900) grant to further their work.
The Tusk Award for Conservation in Africa is organised by Tusk Trust in partnership with Investec Asset Management and is celebrated annually.
“As so much of the natural world continues to face the alarming and real threat of extinction it is vital we recognise how much we owe to conservation’s unsung heroes whom the Tusk Awards shine a spotlight on,” Britain’s Prince William, Tusk’s royal patron heaped praise on the nominees.
“Living alongside Africa’s precious wildlife means they each face huge challenges, but their bravery and determination to preserve all life on the planet gives me hope for the future,” the prince added.
The previous award was won by Uganda’s Vincent Opyene who established Uganda’s National Resource Conservation Network.
Vincent has been a front runner in various investigations in wildlife trafficking and corruption which has seen culprits have been prosecuted on various occasions.
