Academic News

The academic highlight of these past two weeks at the Center for Wildlife Management Studies was a five-day expedition to Maasai Mara National Reserve. The Reserve gave students an opportunity to draw clear comparisons between the state-managed national parks they've visited (Amboseli, Tsavo West, and Nairobi) and a locally-run protected area. Maasai Mara is world-renowned for its diversity of wildlife; however it is managed by the Narok County Council and has a very different management structure than Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS).

We started the expedition with a field-based lecture which exposed students to various aspects of management and conservation issues in the Maasai Mara National Reserve and its environs. Specifically, it examined the effects of tourism on the ecology of the reserve and its implications to wildlife conservation, as well as the socio-cultural consequences of expanding tourism activities in the Mara region. Students saw first-hand how issues such as trash disposal and finding proper sewage outlets for the numerous lodges pose challenges to the local ecosystem.

On day two of expedition the students were fortunate to be visited by a guest lecturer from Moi University who is currently undertaking his post doctorate research on human-elephant conflicts and interactions in the Transmara District adjacent the Maasai Mara National Reserve. The guest lecture focused on the extent of human-elephant interactions, conflicts, and their resolution in an attempt to promote elephant conservation and their co-existence with local communities. This gave students an opportunity to compare and contrast human-elephant conflict issues in the Amboseli region vs. Maasai Mara.

We had a second guest lecturer from the Mara Hyena Project, which was started in 1988 and whose work has greatly contributed to our understanding of the complex ecology and social organization of the spotted hyena. This lecture was delivered by a Ph.D. student from Michigan State University and dispelled many common myths about the spotted hyena. Our guest also elaborated on various methods and techniques used by the researchers such as animal darting, morph metric measurements, collection of blood and fecal samples for hormonal and DNA analyses, and the use of radio telemetry.

Finally, the three faculty delivered a joint lecture covering the ecological characteristics of the Mara-Serengeti ecosystem and their influence on wildebeest migration patterns, population dynamics, the spatio-temporal distribution of large ungulates and carnivores, and vegetation dynamics (herbaceous biomass production and its effect on food resource availability). It also provided an overview of the extent and rate of vegetation changes in the ecosystem, their causal factors and implications to wildlife conservation, and the ecological integrity of the system. Trends and population changes of key wildlife species in the past few years were also examined in relation to different threat factors currently facing the entire ecosystem.

The students are now finishing assignments from their coursework and getting ready for the best part of the semester: Directed Research! Dr. Simon K. ole Seno, Center Director

Student Reflections

After a month and a half of living under the silhouette of Mt. Kilimanjaro, we relocated for a two week stay at our Nairobi National Park site.  Five of these days were spent on expedition to Maasai Mara National Reserve, an area which is home to some of the richest wildlife diversity in Kenya.  Our days were spent traversing the expansive grasslands in Land Cruisers on game drives and receiving field lectures concerning the Mara's ecology, conflicts/challenges, and conservation goals.  We were even lucky enough to have a member of the Hyena Project give us a special talk concerning the behavior and social structure of hyenas in the reserve.  The days were long but rewarding, and every night we enjoyed incredible sunsets and dramatic lightning storms in the distance.  Maasai Mara was one of the highlights of the semester so far, and it's hard to believe that we only have one month left. Will Douglas, McGill University

Students set off for an afternoon of hiking at Ngong Hills in the Kajiado District. Once out of the Land Cruisers, the different philosophies and styles of all of us stood out in the way we approached the steep, rolling hills. Of those who made the journey some talked and sat to enjoy the view, some ran ahead, while others made a more steady journey, some got safari ants in their pants. A view of the various rows of crops, cattle herds, and industries of this southern point of Kenya could all be seen within one scan of the eyes. I recall trying to imagine what thoughts were on everyone's minds as we made the climb. The clarity and openness of the air brought reflections of who we missed and cared for, as well as thoughts of what lay ahead for us. Treks like these help us stay mindful of where we are in this vast place, and remember or rethink why we have come. Ashley Riessen, Boston University

The Maasai Mara expedition was an experience I will never forget, and I think my fellow classmates feel the same.  In our first full day at the Mara I saw 14 lions!  Also spotted were some other fellow carnivores: spotted hyenas, black-backed jackals, and even a cheetah.  It was amazing, but the trip only got better with time.  Hyenas were seen at night around camp, lions were heard at night, one group even spotted a leopard, but the peek for me was the spotting of two male lions.  They were majestic, just like you would picture them in your mind.  We even spotted a black rhino on one of our game drives.  This experience, not just in the Mara but the entire experience in Kenya, is certainly an experience I will never forget.  It has forever changed me. Nicole Fox, Cedar Crest College

Meet the Students!

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