Samburu warriors (morans) are world famous for their striking appearance. Dressing in beautiful sarongs and adorning themselves with intricate beaded jewellery and brightly coloured feathers and faux flowers, these young men serve as messengers and protectors for the community. A young man entering the moran phase, must leave his mother’s home and venture out into the world, living off the land and preparing his own food in the company of fellow warriors. Despite their important role as the community’s eyes and ears on the ground, their autonomy as a separate group, means they are often excluded from decision-making; this is also true of decisions concerning conservation. As the next generation of leaders, engaging this youth group in conservation is critical for long-term success.

The Grevy’s Zebra Trust started working in Laisamis in 2012, a region that hosts one of the most important northern Grevy’s zebra populations in Kenya. Here, we employ a team of ten Grevy’s Zebra Warriors who monitor approximately 200+ Grevy’s zebra, raise awareness, and provide protection to the species. Their outreach to communities has created a large network of local support through which conservation messaging is disseminated and practical conservation action, including dry season water management, mud rescue efforts and supplementary feeding, is implemented. This approach very effectively addresses key threats facing the species which include poaching, impeded access to water during the dry season, seasonal mud flats, and disease.