A local cattle herder in the Okavango Delta in Botswana, supported by the Wilderness and CLAWS Conservancy initiative, faced a long-standing problem of coexisting with Africa's large predators.
Historically, the threat of livestock loss deprived families of their livelihoods, leading to an unstable situation that culminated in a tragedy in 2013. In northern Botswana in 2013, a serious human-wildlife conflict crisis arose when farmers, tired of constant livestock losses, began indiscriminately poisoning and shooting lions.
Thirteen years later, the safari operator Wilderness, together with the non-profit organization CLAWS Conservancy, won the Economy category at the Virtuoso Global Resource Management Award 2026, held in Las Vegas. This international award recognizes the creation of the first certified wildlife-friendly meat program in Africa, an innovative project that directly links lion conservation with sustainable rural incomes.
Local farmers in the Okavango Delta in Botswana are turning nature conservation into a viable business model through agriculture that accounts for predator presence.
Transforming Lion Conservation
Instead of viewing nature conservation as a constraint on local agriculture, this initiative transforms peaceful coexistence into a premium business model. With logistical and financial support from Wilderness, local farmers are implementing predator-safe methods: they use traditional grazing techniques, build predator-proof enclosures (bomas), and apply technological innovations such as a Lion Alert System.
This system uses satellite collars to send early warnings about lions approaching villages or pastures to farmers' mobile phones. In return, Wilderness acts as the exclusive buyer, purchasing beef from participating farmers who commit not to kill lions. Vincent Shacks, Head of Impact at Wilderness Group, stated: 'This partnership represents a truly holistic conservation model where protecting lions also means supporting local livelihoods, which aligns with our impact strategy.'
A Double Victory
The Virtuoso 2026 Economy award marks the second major international recognition for the safari operator this year. The non-profit arm of Wilderness, Children in the Wilderness (CITW), was also included in the Virtuoso 2026 Impact List. Celebrating 25 years of operation in Botswana, CITW runs weekly environmental clubs, annual educational camps, and academic scholarship programs in the districts of Chobe, Maun, Gaborone, and the Okavango Delta.
Shacks noted: 'This recognition from Virtuoso reflects our ongoing commitment to nature-based tourism and coexistence with wildlife. These awards are a testament to the collective efforts of our teams, partners, and local communities across Botswana.'