Onward: “Living Walls” Protect Lions, Livestock | National Geographic

in order to make a real difference in

in order to make a real difference in conservation you have to be dedicated

conservation you have to be dedicated

conservation you have to be dedicated you have to make a commitment to an area

I’m dr. lei Li Lichtenfeld I am the

I’m dr. lei Li Lichtenfeld I am the director of the African people and

director of the African people and

director of the African people and Wildlife Fund and I am running the Masai

Wildlife Fund and I am running the Masai

Wildlife Fund and I am running the Masai steppe big cats initiative in northern

steppe big cats initiative in northern

steppe big cats initiative in northern Tanzania I’ve been working here for 13

Tanzania I’ve been working here for 13

Tanzania I’ve been working here for 13 years with my husband what we’re trying

years with my husband what we’re trying

years with my husband what we’re trying to do is to find the interconnections

to do is to find the interconnections

to do is to find the interconnections between people and wildlife and

between people and wildlife and

between people and wildlife and particularly here on the Masai step

particularly here on the Masai step

particularly here on the Masai step between people and the big cats the

between people and the big cats the

between people and the big cats the Lions the cheetahs and leopards a boma

Lions the cheetahs and leopards a boma

Lions the cheetahs and leopards a boma is a Masai homestead we saw a need to

is a Masai homestead we saw a need to

is a Masai homestead we saw a need to help fortify the Bowness in a better way

help fortify the Bowness in a better way

help fortify the Bowness in a better way Ruth’s way to make sure that the big

Ruth’s way to make sure that the big

Ruth’s way to make sure that the big cats are not coming in and killing the I

cats are not coming in and killing the I

cats are not coming in and killing the I think I like some good morning exercise

building a living wall is a

building a living wall is a collaboration between my team and the

collaboration between my team and the

collaboration between my team and the homeowner the team will come through and

homeowner the team will come through and

homeowner the team will come through and roll out 15 meter rolls of chain link

roll out 15 meter rolls of chain link

roll out 15 meter rolls of chain link fencing going around the livestock

fencing going around the livestock

fencing going around the livestock Corral because they’re circular so we’re

Corral because they’re circular so we’re

Corral because they’re circular so we’re gonna stretch it as far as it’ll go and

gonna stretch it as far as it’ll go and

gonna stretch it as far as it’ll go and they’ll afix it they’ll nail it to the

they’ll afix it they’ll nail it to the

they’ll afix it they’ll nail it to the Camilla

so after the trees are planted sticks it

so after the trees are planted sticks it in then you have a living wall and

in then you have a living wall and

in then you have a living wall and they’re the only other thing we need for

they’re the only other thing we need for

they’re the only other thing we need for our recipe is right I hope it comes to

our recipe is right I hope it comes to

our recipe is right I hope it comes to life as soon as it rains now we just

life as soon as it rains now we just

life as soon as it rains now we just pray for rain it’s really all based on

pray for rain it’s really all based on

pray for rain it’s really all based on having a sincere relationship with Annie

having a sincere relationship with Annie

having a sincere relationship with Annie so soccer my number two the new Peter

so soccer my number two the new Peter

so soccer my number two the new Peter 190s idea was always boomer I did I mean

190s idea was always boomer I did I mean

190s idea was always boomer I did I mean I do think it’s harder than it works

it’s really that innovation of using the

it’s really that innovation of using the live growing tree we’re actually adding

live growing tree we’re actually adding

live growing tree we’re actually adding trees to the world at the same time as

trees to the world at the same time as

trees to the world at the same time as we’re protecting livestock off to the

we’re protecting livestock off to the

we’re protecting livestock off to the next FOMA

next FOMA

next FOMA and ensuring that the Masai don’t have

and ensuring that the Masai don’t have

and ensuring that the Masai don’t have to go out retaliate and kill Lions Lions

to go out retaliate and kill Lions Lions

to go out retaliate and kill Lions Lions are in crisis across the continent we

are in crisis across the continent we

are in crisis across the continent we believe they’re between 600 and 800

believe they’re between 600 and 800

believe they’re between 600 and 800 Lions back in 2003 and 2004 but that

Lions back in 2003 and 2004 but that

Lions back in 2003 and 2004 but that population has since crash there maybe

population has since crash there maybe

population has since crash there maybe 50% of them remaining now take away that

50% of them remaining now take away that

50% of them remaining now take away that conflict people can then think about

conflict people can then think about

conflict people can then think about food cats in a different way our idea is

food cats in a different way our idea is

food cats in a different way our idea is not just to keep ourselves in business

not just to keep ourselves in business

not just to keep ourselves in business constantly installing living walls if we

constantly installing living walls if we

constantly installing living walls if we see that they’re working and they

see that they’re working and they

see that they’re working and they certainly are and we’re able to turn

certainly are and we’re able to turn

certainly are and we’re able to turn around that big cat population and bring

around that big cat population and bring

around that big cat population and bring those Lions back then yeah I think we’ll

those Lions back then yeah I think we’ll

those Lions back then yeah I think we’ll have been successful we have the

have been successful we have the

have been successful we have the beginning of the change Tanzania is a

beginning of the change Tanzania is a

beginning of the change Tanzania is a remarkable country it’s to me the jewel

remarkable country it’s to me the jewel

remarkable country it’s to me the jewel of Africa in terms of large massive

of Africa in terms of large massive

of Africa in terms of large massive wildlife populations

huge wild spaces so for me Tanzania is

huge wild spaces so for me Tanzania is just its home now

just its home now

just its home now I feel like we’re all just one group

I feel like we’re all just one group

I feel like we’re all just one group working together towards a common goal

working together towards a common goal

working together towards a common goal first signs of new growth and it hasn’t

first signs of new growth and it hasn’t

first signs of new growth and it hasn’t even started to rain