The Maasai do not typically hunt wildlife, unless there is a severe drought or an attack on their livestock. Some communities also build their bomas in woodland areas where the trees provide additional protection.
As the conservation movement and tourism industry have grown over the last several decades, there have been conflicting interests regarding how to use and protect the land the Maasai have taken care of for centuries. Many Maasai communities have been forced off their land, and the areas where they are permitted to graze have shrunk as efforts to designate the lands as protected areas have increased. This challenge has also led to decreased financial security since the Maasai rely heavily on their cattle for their livelihoods (for example, by selling byproducts, such as milk). Additionally, since the Maasai build their bomas in remote areas, access to sanitation services, public healthcare and quality education are significantly reduced. Bomas often lack electricity and running water, and children and women often walk several miles to a local tap to collect water daily.
As more communities are forced to remain in one place instead of practicing a semi-nomadic lifestyle, some individuals have begun farming or planting gardens, both eating and selling the produce. Many NGOs (non-governmental organizations, or nonprofits that work independently from the government), including the one I worked for in Tanzania, partner with Maasai communities to help them meet their basic needs.
