Niassa Lion Project

31/08/2026

Coexistence is not always peaceful and neither is it harmony. It is mostly respectful and built on hundreds of years of experience and local knowledge That still means we have to work hard to reduce the cost for people who live with wildlife so that they and their families are safe. People who live here and grew up here have a nuanced and complex relationship with nature that has many sides and defies easy definitions. Image: Keith Begg

30/08/2026

A sacred mountain, Lipumbulu where Chefe Nantusi was buried more than 100 years (estimated) ago. And a buffalo herd with a white buffalo not see in this photo but was seen by the guardians that are here for a workshop and went for a game drive. All of Reserva Especial do Niassa - REN is a landscape of coexistence

26/08/2026

Happy African Wild Dog Day! 🐾
African wild dogs were deliberately chosen for the Niassa Special Reserve logo. Niassa is a major stronghold for the species and is globally important for their conservation. It was also important that the Reserva Especial do Niassa - REN be represented by an animal that local communities generally viewed positively. African wild dogs rarely come into conflict with people and do not pose a threat.

We monitor their pack size and distribution through a network of more than 50 Community Wildlife Guardians working across almost all villages in Niassa Special Reserve. They also record wild dog mortality and any incidents of conflict, helping us track changes in the population and identify emerging threats.

A fitting species to celebrate in Niassa, a globally important stronghold, a symbol of the Reserve, and an important part of this extraordinary landscape.

22/08/2026

It means so much to all of us and the Mbamba community, that Mario is home, walking and back to work this next week after a very long and difficult recovery resulting from the attack in April 2025. We all take this step by step.

Significa muito para todos nós, e para a comunidade de Mbamba, que o Mário esteja de volta a casa, a caminhar e a regressar ao trabalho na próxima semana, depois de uma recuperação muito longa e difícil na sequência do ataque de Abril de 2025. Todos nós seguimos em frente, passo a passo.

22/08/2026

19/08/2026

A vida está difícil em Reserva Especial do Niassa - REN neste momento, para todos, com exigências e necessidades cada vez maiores de trabalho, alimentação, segurança e um futuro. Mas há momentos de alegria e beleza em que nos lembramos por que Niassa importa, por que a natureza importa e por que temos de continuar a encontrar o compromisso que permita que as pessoas e a vida selvagem coexistam.
Temos de encontrar formas de aliviar a pressão imediata, mantendo ao mesmo tempo uma visão clara do bem-estar a longo prazo, para as pessoas, a vida selvagem e a paisagem.

Os indicadores podem ser avistamentos de leões, rendimento gerado, eventos de conflito, crias nascidas ou leões mortos em laços. Um resultado pode ser a tendência da população de leões. Mas o impacto é de longo p razo. Em 2050, precisamos que leões, leopardos, hienas-malhadas e cães selvagens africanos ainda estejam aqui, coexistindo com as pessoas num ecossistema funcional. Não podemos saber hoje exatamente quais serão esses números. O crescimento populacional, as alterações climáticas e a perda de habitat irão transformar Niassa. O número não é o mais importante. O importante é que estas espécies ainda estejam aqui, que o ecossistema continue a funcionar e que estes momentos de alegria, beleza e ligação com a natureza ainda sejam possíveis. Image. Miguel Matias 18 Agosto 2026

19/08/2026

Life is hard in Reserva Especial do Niassa - REN right now, for everyone, with increasing and competing demands and needs for work, food, security and a future. But there are moments of joy and beauty when we remember why Niassa matters, why nature matters, and why we have to keep finding the compromise that allows people and wildlife to coexist.

We have to figure out collectively how to relieve the immediate pressure while keeping a clear line of sight on long-term wellbeing, for people and nature.

Indicators might be lion sightings, income earned, conflict events, cubs born, or lions killed in snares. An outcome might be the trend in the lion population. But impact is long term. In 2050, we need lions, leopards, spotted hyaenas and African wild dogs to still be here, coexisting with people in a functioning ecosystem. We cannot know today exactly what those numbers will be. Population growth, climate change, redimensioning and habitat loss will reshape Niassa. The number is not the point. The point is that they are still here, that the ecosystem still functions, and that these moments of joy, beauty and connection with nature are still possible. Image. Miguel Matias. 18 August 2026

17/08/2026

Niassa the beautiful... precious and irreplaceable. A Mozambican cultural and natural treasure.

Niassa, a bela... preciosa e insubstituível. Um tesouro cultural e natural de Moçambique.

Reserva Especial do Niassa - REN Image: Keith Begg.

16/08/2026

An elephant "visits" the elephant memorial. The memorial at Mariri Environmental Centre tells the story of the estimated 10, 000 elephants that were lost to targeted poaching for ivory in Reserva Especial do Niassa - REN between 2009 and 2018. Each skull in the memorial was an elephant that died in concession L5 South alone. Image. Samuel Massingir

15/08/2026

Children from the Macalange Wildlife Club were excited to harvest their excellent crop of couve (leafy greens) and take it to the local market.
All our Wildlife Clubs follow the One Health philosophy: Healthy Me, Healthy Environment, Healthy Community, Healthy Brain and Healthy Livestock. Each club works with their teachers and our education team in collaboration with SEDJT in the Mecula District to complete projects linked to these different pillars.
Today, the Mbamba Wildlife Club is spending the day at Mariri Environmental Centre and were very excited to see the elephant bull in camp!

As crianças do Clube de Vida Selvagem de Macalange ficaram muito entusiasmadas por colher a sua excelente produção de couve e levá-la ao mercado local.
Todos os nossos Clubes de Vida Selvagem seguem a filosofia Uma Só Saúde (One Health): Eu Saudável, Ambiente Saudável, Comunidade Saudável, Cérebro Saudável e Animais Domésticos Saudáveis. Cada clube trabalha com os seus professores e com a nossa equipa de educação, em colaboração com o SDEJT, Districto do Mecula para realizar projectos ligados a estes diferentes pilares.
Hoje, o Clube de Vida Selvagem de Mbamba está a passar o dia no Centro Ambiental de Mariri e as crianças ficaram muito entusiasmadas por ver o elefante macho no acampamento!