Masai Mara Project Updates and Achievements from Q3 2017 - African Impact

HOURS ON EACH ACTIVITY Big Cat Monitoring

Game counts

Conservancy work

Conservation Education

KGS Guide school

Data Entry

10% 10%

34%

15% 12% 19%

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23 lions were monitored from the Sampu Enkare pride, Enesikiria pride, Ilkisiusiu pride, Moniko pride and Rekero pride. Within these prides, a total of 17 cubs were monitored, which is a good sign of lion populations increasing in the conservancy.

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Volunteers were able to identify a new lion in the conservancy, which was reported to the conservancy management and is important in understanding the health of the reserve.

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12 cheetahs and 2 leopards were monitored. These sightings were reported to local lodges and conservancy management. A healthy population of big cats is a major boost for tourism, which in turn brings income to the local communities.

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During the April holiday club, volunteers had “I came to African not knowing what to expect, but am leaving with some of the best memories I have ever the chance to Impact work with teenagers completing experienced in my life.

The people here (both staff and volunteer) have become my family and Kenya became my home their Presidents Award physical recreation away from home.”in- Louisa, Canada, Big Cat Research Volunteer 2017 hours. Teens were trained athletics; including sprinting, long jump and high jump!

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• To help the conservancy management with ecological monitoring, we introduced a new method of game counting.

It counts and identifies the sex of every animal in the reserve.

• Litter picking was done at the boundary of the conservancy by rangers and volunteers, which improves the health of the conservancy.

• Volunteers built 15kms of new road along the boundary of the conservancy. This will help us access a wider area in search of big cats.

• The team built 16 erosion fences to combat the effect

of erosion in the conservancy, as well as undertook grass monitoring to monitor the density of grass.

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26 students from Koiyaki Guiding School graduated.

Volunteers helped the students in improving their confidence and communication skills during the term.

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Volunteers prepared lessons and taught a total of 10 environmental education classes in Nkoilale Primary School.

This helps the students embrace conservation and appreciate nature.

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Two binoculars, as well as stationary were delivered to different schools by the volunteers.

“When work was complete, one could spend a day in the Mara Reserve to catch a glimpse of the Great Migration, or hop in a Hot Air Balloon to see the plains from the sky. A bit of R&R is more to your taste, then spend an evening at Encounter or Eagle View to experience the luxuries of exceptional game lodges. Enjoy a sundowner while sharing stories of the day, capture a goat for a ‘Kenyan BBQ’, visit the market for a drink or two, visit the Masai Village to see what culture really is and have a training session under the African Sun.” - Stuart Winship

“I cannot find enough words to describe how beautiful the circle of life that unfolded before me was, everywhere I looked. Thanks to our amazing local guide Francis, I have learned more than I would have ever imagined. Days passed, nights sitting around the fire looking at the beautiful night sky were spent rebuilding the world, sleeping in tents with the lions letting us know of their presence by roaring in the close distance, getting to discover and interact with the Maasai culture… The more I got to know Naboisho, the more I was falling in love with it. And hearing from the community that what I was doing on a daily basis made an actual impact, was the most rewarding thing ever.”

- Arnaud Legrand

THE MARA TEAM ☺