Viewpoints

Earlier this year, a community wildlife ranger made a startling discovery while on patrol in a Tanzanian nature refuge. The carcass of a lioness lay exposed to the midday sun. Her four legs, paws, head, and vital organs were missing. The ranger then uncovered the unimaginable: the lioness had been pregnant. Her two unborn cubs died with her, their hairless bodies removed from her womb by poachers and discarded at her side.

There is a lion in Tanzania who ignites my passion. A beautiful young male ranging through one of our focal areas, a place where people and lions cohabitate and sometimes conflict. I’ve been tracking him for several years now, and still, he survives. He is part of a coalition with two other males. About a year or so ago, they battled their way to the top, becoming the dominant pride males in the area.

Gerard Raphael surveys the horizon of the vast Maasai Steppe landscape, always on high alert for any sign of danger or illegal activity. As the deputy commander of a small but dedicated team of community game scouts, Raphael is responsible for policing the lands of his own community—sometimes hiking in the heat for up to 20 miles a day—all in the name of protecting wildlife.

It has been just over a year since the senseless killing of Cecil the Lion ignited a worldwide firestorm of outrage over trophy hunting. The tragic event spurred conversation and debate in many public spheres and became one of the most widespread conservation stories in history. It was a defining moment for not only the scientific and conservation communities, but for people from all walks of life.