what we do
Holistic thinking
To reduce human-wildlife conflict in Botswana, CLAWS focuses equally on
- Wildlife research and technological innovations for conserving species
- Community needs, such as safety and supporting livelihoods like traditional cattle herding
From the ground up
Started in 2014 as a small research program, we became a Botswana registered non-governmental organization in 2020 to balance the needs of wildlife and local livelihoods. With partners and communities and through our science-based projects, we develop and deploy innovative strategies that reduce conflict between people and predators.
Our Impacts
Lion populations are stabilizing—and we’re supporting local livelihoods to do it.
Since launching our Herding Program, which better protects local cattle and ensures participating farmers do not kill predators, we’ve seen a reduction in lion conflict. And these cattle and herds are healthier, too, thanks to expert veterinary care and “boma” and herder protection from predators.
It’s a win-win for safe, prosperous communities and thriving wildlife populations.
Values
Our work is empowered by local knowledge, innovation and ecological sustainability. We ground our approach in these core values:
