Bomas help save lions by saving livestock


Dear William,

A sustainable fence could be the difference between the lions of Africa thriving once again or disappearing from the wild in our lifetime. You can help build that fence today.

Across Africa they call them by different names – bomas or living walls or kraals – but in every instance they are impenetrable corrals made from strong, chain-link fencing, sometimes with local, environmentally appropriate trees, to protect livestock from big cats.

Donate to help build bomas and save big catsWill you help save a lion by providing a lion-saving fence? Please make your tax-deductible contribution today and help save lions and other big cats.

You see, one of the main reasons that we are losing lions and other big cats is retaliatory killings.

For example, a cat attacks, usually at night, and kills a herder's goat. Since the goats are his only livelihood, the herder goes after the cat – often by using poison.

We lose healthy big cats, and the herd is often still vulnerable.

But once this special fence is in place, the livestock are fully protected from predators, and the herder no longer lives in fear of the lions.

William, please help build more of these lion-saving fences by making your tax-deductible contribution online today.

Your gift immediately goes to work providing the supplies to build the corral. Local community members provide the labor.

Deaths of big cats drop dramatically in areas where these fences are in place – sometimes all the way to zero.

And these lion-saving fences are cost effective, too. Just $500 provides materials and training for a complete corral and $50 will provide a full share.

Will you make a generous gift of $50 or more today to help save lions and other big cats in the wild?

Once the herders are no longer afraid of lion attacks, they become more willing to learn about the important niche that lions and other big cats fill in the local environment, as well as the important historical role lions have played in the herders' communities.

Often the herders become champions for the lions and help protect them from poachers and other threats.

This practical, sustainable means of saving big cats through the building of fences could really turn the tide on the decline of big cats. But only if we can provide corrals in every community where they are needed now.

William, you can help make this happen. Please give whatever you can to help now.

You probably never imagined a fence could make such a difference, but it can.

Thank you so much for doing what you can to help.

Sincerely,

Sarah StallingsSarah

Sarah Festa Stallings
Director, Annual Giving

P.S. A simple, environmentally friendly fence can stop the retaliatory killing of lions and other big cats across Africa.

Your tax-deductible gift today will help build another lion-saving fence right away.



Photos: Children walking past a boma by Deirdre Leowinata, courtesy of African People & Wildlife Fund; lion cub by Michael Nichols/National Geographic

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So did you rush your generous donation right out?

Didn't stop Tsavo lions according to Patterson
Well, if you hungry, there is nothing to stop you from eating...

Wire bomas are best because the wire can ultimately be used as snares.

Curious to know how much of each donation goes into their pockets? I can't imagine a "corral" offers much protection to goats or lions.
Cal

Maybe they should look into a Campfire type program....where the funds go directly to those living with the problem.....

Bomas do work, but the problem is the herders. With drought conditions and during the dry season, the herd spreads and it becomes more work to round up the cattle at night. Even in lion country they don't get too excited about using bomas.

It's just so much easier to poison the entire pride and problem solved. The lion loses every time.

The feel good organizations are simply trying to make themselves feel better about an impossible situation.

Gee Sarah, Just brain storming here; how could we re- introduce historical roles and make that lion more valuable than a goat?