Why do the Maasai warriors hunt lions?
The practice of lion hunting is viewed by the Maasai society as bravery and achievement. In the past, when the lion population was high, the community encouraged solo lion hunting. However, over the last ten years, due to the decline of the lion population, because of rabies, the community has adapted a new rule that discourage solo lion hunting. The elders encouraged the warriors to hunt a lion in a group of ten. Group hunting, known in Maasai as olamayio, gives the lion population a chance to grow. According to Maasai customary laws, the warriors are not allowed to hunt a lion, suffering from drought, snared or poison. The Maasai believe that females are the bearers of life in every species. As a such, it is prohibited to hunt a female lion– unless the lioness has posed threat to human or livestock. The Maasai understands that lions are important to the savanna’s ecology and culture. For that reason, the Maasai takes extra caution when it comes to lion hunting. The Maasai warriors d
