Kent project helps lions in the wild and Kenyan villagers

A Kent-based charity is funding a “pioneering” scheme helping villagers in Kenya and discouraging them from killing lions in the wild.

Chris Macsween runs Lion Aid from her home in Dover. The project was devised together with the Maasai communities, who administer it themselves.

The charity’s Merrueshi Project helps villagers to protect their livestock, discouraging them from retaliatory killings of wild animals.

Macsween described the scheme as “the biggest joy of my life, allowing rural communities and wildlife to coexist harmoniously”.

She added: “It has never successfully been done before and it’s a wonderful project.”

The charity has so far equipped six villages bordering the Amboseli National Park on the Kenya-Tanzania border and aims to expand to more.

The former accountant said: “Lions are so special because they are the iconic predator.

“They are at the top of the food chain and they are losing their lives.”