Through the Big Cats Initiative (BCI), the Great Plains Foundation supports a diverse portfolio of grantees working on the frontlines of conservation. BCI not only funds established efforts but also invests in emerging, locally led organisations, strengthening community-based conservation, fostering innovation, and scaling solutions that reduce human-wildlife conflict. One such organisation is CLAWS Conservancy, a Botswana-based nonprofit dedicated to lion conservation by promoting human-wildlife coexistence through community-led herding, education, and science-backed monitoring.
In 2023, CLAWS expanded its Communal Herding 4 Health Programme, celebrated the first sale of certified Wildlife Friendly Beef in Africa, and surpassed 50,000 lion alerts to farming communities. These efforts have helped more than double the known lion population in northern Botswana since 2013. In 2025, CLAWS announced a new predator-proof boma in Beetsha village, including predator-proof bomas in Eretsha and Gunotsoga, three of five Okavango Community Trust (OCT) villages that the Great Plains Foundation actively supports in the northeastern Panhandle of the Okavango Delta. We are proud to partner with CLAWS as grantees of the Big Cats Initiative and collaborators in lion conservation and advancing human-wildlife coexistence across this critical landscape.
CLAWS Conservancy is a Botswana-based nonprofit working to protect lions by promoting human-wildlife coexistence through community-led herding, education, and science-backed monitoring.
Great Plains Foundation both directly and via Big Cats Initiative have supported the expansion of CLAWS’ Communal Herding Program and Lion Rapid Response Team in northern Botswana with three grants since 2021.
Great Plains speaks with Dr. Andrew Stein, Founder and Executive Director of CLAWS Conservancy.
Conservation Impact – Lion Conservation
What has been the most meaningful conservation success you’ve seen since the project began?
There have been many successes; the development and expansion of our Communal Herding Program, the first ever sale of certified Wildlife Friendly Beef in Africa, the deployment of over 50,000 lion Alerts, but the best outcome for lions has been the more than doubling of the known lion population since the devastating poisonings occurred in 2013.
How has your approach helped reduce conflict between community’s and big cats?
By collaring lions, delivering alerts and now deploying our Lion Response Team, we have intercepted lions before they come to the village and kill cattle. Occasionally, while our team is tracking the lions, they encounter hunting parties from the village and use the opportunity to share our efforts, this leads to the hunting party returning to the village with lions unharmed. Additionally, we have not had a single livestock lost to lions in three years in our Communal Herding Program, and those farmers participating receive a premium price for their certified Wildlife Friendly Beef if they pledge not to kill lions.
Can you describe a moment that reminded you why this work is so important?
There are many of course, but seeing lion cubs is always a top one for me. The potential that they have- and it’s hope for the future. Additionally, when we are in village meetings and share our results, I am often struck by the response we receive from happy farmers who are participating in our program.
Community Engagement
How has your work changed the way communities view big cats in the landscape?
This is a big challenge because some beliefs are deeply held. The farmers that participate in our Communal Herding Program don’t fear lions like they once did. Those outside of the program still experience losses as they leave their cattle exposed to various challenges including lion attacks. We have made significant strides, and many communities are seeing benefits from living with lions. I believe that broader change is coming in the next 5 years.
What role do local people play in the success of your project?
Our staff is 94% Batswana. Most of these staff come from our partner villages- they are our administrators, herders, lion response team. The communities have invited us to work with them. They have direct input into how the Communal Herding Program is managed, where cattle should graze for optimal resources, and what outcomes they hope to achieve. When the program is not working well, they give us alternatives to try, and we seek the resources to implement. It is truly a partnership.
Can you share a story of someone in the community whose life was positively impacted?
Mathata Tomeletso; also known as “Pro” is the first employee of CLAWS. He is from Eretsha Village. By most accounts he was a troubled youth with little direction and minimal education. When we hired him in 2014, he helped set up community meetings and directed us to hidden roads for our field work. Pro has been involved in every aspect of the development of CLAWS and even has livestock in our Communal Herding Program. He has built a large, beautiful house in the village, has recently married and claims that lions are now his favorite animal because “they gave me my life”. Pro now leads the Lion Response Team.
Technology & Innovation for Lion Conservation
What recent new tools or methods has your team introduced, and what have you learned from them?
CLAWS partners with the University of Siegen to develop and adapt the Lion Alert System- a first-of-its-kind, it’s an automated warning initiative that delivers real-time messages to farmer’s cell phones when collared lions’ approach. The participants can choose the media (text or voice note) and language (Setswana or English) that the message is delivered. The message includes the name of the lion (provided by the communities) and distance, so farmers can take preventative action to reduce conflict. We currently have 391 participants and dispersed over 50,000 alerts.
What we have learned is that it is important to be transparent with farmers if we want to gain trust with them. When we hide information (especially when lions are close by) then the communities do not extend trust to us. These warnings provide an opportunity to start a conversation about lions, cattle husbandry and ways of co-existing
What lessons could other conservationists learn from the technology you’re using?
Technology is powerful and can be used to strengthen relationships with farmers. This technology can be used for any species with a tracking device, anywhere in the world. But technology is a tool and not the solution, you must still
Education & Capacity Building
What impact has training, and education had on the long-term success of your efforts?
Training and education are essential for success- not only for lion conservation, but for the investment in the people we work with. We have trained over 250 staff and community members in animal husbandry, technology, financial literacy, leadership, first aid and lion tracking. Without this training, we would not have any success. We have identified five staff who want to pursue graduate degrees in the next five years, and we are committed to finding support for their professional growth.
How are you building local leadership and capacity in your region?
We are building local leadership through providing leadership training, opportunities to present at conferences and workshops. As our program grows, we find opportunities for our staff to promote themselves into leadership roles in program development and administration. Our herders become lead herders. Our lead herders become program managers. Our field assistants become leaders of our Lion Response Team.
What advice would you give to the next generation of ‘big cat’ conservationists?
My advice is that there is room for you to lead, and we need you more than ever. If you have an interest in nature and big cats specifically, volunteer for a few weeks or months with an organisation to learn what we do, then show initiative. When I see a young person with potential, I will do what it takes to keep them, invest in them and give them opportunities to grow.
The Bigger Picture
Why is protecting big cats critical to protecting broader ecosystems?
Big cats are part of the natural system and play an important role in removing sick or injured animals. Big cats keep herbivore herds moving so that they don’t overgraze, causing environmental damage. Beyond that, big cats are a fascinating part of the living world, a world that deserves our respect and admiration. When we lose it, we lose part of what makes this world whole, exciting and endlessly interesting.
What gives you hope for the future of lion conservation in Botswana?
What gives me hope about lions is what I have seen myself in the northern Okavango, Botswana. Lions can recover quickly if we give them a chance. They don’t require much…space and natural prey. If these two things are provided, then lions will rebound and fast!
A final message to the world about lion conservation.
Big cats, and lions specifically, have captured our imagination of what it is to be strong, royal, caring (towards family). Despite this, they face grave threats throughout their range. Lions need our help, and now is the time to step up and ensure they survive now and into the future.
