Wildlife poisoning in the Mara puts species at risk

On February 6, a tragic poisoning event in Maasai Mara National Reserve took the lives of a lioness and a hyena, just days after a similar incident in the Pololeti Game Reserve in Tanzania, which borders the park.

The first incident led to the deaths of three adult lionesses, a pride male wearing a tracking collar, and one cub, along with 13 hyenas, according to the Mara Predator Conservation Programme. The re-emergence of wildlife poisoning incidents has raised concerns among wildlife experts, who stress the need for greater awareness of the dangers of poisoning and increased funding to support mechanisms that reduce human-wildlife conflicts and compensate affected communities.

“These incidents are worrying. There is a need for funding to improve efforts aimed at reducing conflicts between humans and wildlife,” said Michael Kaelo, an officer with the Mara Predator Conservation Programme. 

Despite global efforts to highlight wildlife conservation, experts warn that poisoning remains a silent and growing threat that requires creative solutions. According to Nature Kenya, between August 2019 and December 2024, 53 poisoning incidents involving 13 species were recorded in Kajiado and Maasai Mara. The most affected species, include lions, hyenas, leopards, cheetahs, wild dogs, vultures, and eagles.

While wildlife poisoning is illegal, environmentalists argue that arresting and prosecuting offenders may not address the underlying problem. They call for funding to support initiatives that reduce poisoning incidents, such as compensation schemes and measures to minimise predation on livestock.

“These cases are too frequent and costly. There needs to be proper compensation schemes to ease the burden on affected communities, as well as support for predator-proof bomas in areas bordering conservancies and protected areas,” said Paul Matiku, Director of Nature Kenya.

While compensating for human-wildlife conflicts remains expensive, the global push for biodiversity funding underscores the need for sustainable solutions. Matiku points to successful programmes, such as predator-proof bomas in Maasai Mara, Laikipia, and Kajiado, which have significantly reduced livestock predation. Expanding such programmes would help communities coexist with wildlife.

Most poisoning incidents are retaliatory, with farmers and pastoralists lacing carcasses of livestock killed by predators with poison. While predators are often the target, scavengers, such as vultures, which feed on poisoned carcasses, also suffer. In December 2015, two lions from the famous Marsh Pride and 15 White-backed Vultures were killed by poisoning.

Community awareness campaigns have been launched in these regions, with rangers, vulture ambassadors, and first responders trained on poisoning response protocols in Laikipia, Maasai Mara, and Kajiado. “Although poisoning cases still occur, detection and response have improved. In 2024, no vulture poisoning incidents were recorded,” said Gacheru.

He added that combating poisoning requires further equipping communities and stakeholders and providing funding to build capacity for investigators.

Dr Caroline Ng’weno, a policy expert, stressed that without sustainable financial solutions, biodiversity loss will accelerate and climate resilience will weaken, negatively impacting local communities.

She emphasised the need for investment in nature-based solutions, such as eco-tourism, to generate revenue for communities and foster appreciation for wildlife conservation.