"Fostered human-carnivore coexistence: a future where humans and carnivores thrive together"

More information about Matana Ng'weli

Professional experience

Matana Levi Ng’weli is a Tanzanian wildlife research scientist and M&E expert in results-based management. He holds a BSc in Wildlife Science and Conservation from the University of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, a Masters in Life Sciences in Biodiversity Conservation and Ecosystem Management from the Nelson Mandela African Institution of Science and Technology, Tanzania, and a Masters of Arts in Monitoring and Evaluation from the Open University of Tanzania.

Matana has extensive experience in wildlife research and conservation, having served as a biodiversity scientist for both governmental and non-governmental conservation organizations in Tanzania. He has worked as a research assistant on various projects focused on birds and large mammals. His master's study, examined giraffe foraging ecology in the Tarangire-Manyara Ecosystem. This research unveiled how human influences intricately shape wildlife behaviour, emphasizing the vital need to explore animal resource selection behaviours in altered landscapes.

In 2020, Matana joined the Swiss NGO (ADAP) as a Livelihoods and Natural Resources Officer before he became a Wildlife Research Scientist at the Tanzania Wildlife Research Institute (TAWIRI: in 2023), where he also leads the Serengeti lion project team in Mara, Tanzania. Matana has been at the forefront of wildlife population monitoring efforts across Tanzania, employing camera trap techniques. His expertise extends to designing and implementing effective M&E systems for results-based project/program management.

Matana's research interests include wildlife population ecology, movement ecology, foraging ecology, prey-predator interactions, and the complexities of human-carnivore conflict and coexistence. His proficiency in socio-economic and ecological surveys, coupled with his analytical and problem-solving skills, underscores his commitment to achieving high-quality research outcomes.

Research topic

Matana’s PhD research focuses on understanding the adaptive predatory behaviors of lions and their interactions with humans in Africa’s human-wildlife interfaces, specifically within the iconic Serengeti Ecosystem in Tanzania. His research seeks to quantify and predict human-lion conflict incidents, understand changes in lion resource selection behaviors at the edges of core protected areas influenced by both environmental and anthropogenic factors, and evaluate the effectiveness of existing conflict mitigation tactics. The ultimate goal is to develop a comprehensive and effective conflict mitigation strategy that enhances community livelihoods, alleviates poverty, and preserves Africa's iconic lions.