 | Kenya program update Program: Wildlife Management Studies Program Description
Students will have the opportunity to observe and conduct research in three geographical regions at various stages of development: Nakuru-Hell's Gate (a completely fenced park), NairobiNational Park (partially fenced), and the Amboseli-Tsavo ecosystem (unfenced). The research question is: What lessons can be learned in the Nakuru-Hell's Gate and Nairobi National Park regions that can serve to assist the Amboseli-Tsavo ecosystem in maintaining its integrity while simultaneously promoting sustainable cohabitation between human communities, wildlife, and other natural resources? The diverse habitat surrounding our Kilimanjaro Bush Camp (KBC), which is close to the Tanzanian border and Mt. Kilimanjaro, is used by wildlife as a migration corridor between Tsavo, Chyulu, and Amboseli National Parks. The KBC research is framed by the needs of dispersing and migrating wildlife between the wildlife dispersal areas of Amboseli National Park on the west and Tsavo West–Chyulu Hills National Parks in the east; the conflicts between wildlife, livestock and humans in the group ranches which occupy the spaces between the protected areas; and the changing human community and land use patterns of non-Maasai cultivators and Maasai livestock herders in these previously Maasai owned and occupied spaces. The Maasai, and now other settlers, very much depend upon this same area as a communal grazing zone for livestock as well as for growing food, now bringing about localized overuse of natural resources. As a result, they often face economic hardship due to crop damage, loss of livestock, and sometimes personal harm inflicted by migrating wildlife. Student interviews with local Maasai gather data on the priorities and challenges of addressing wildlife conservation among resource-constrained communities - a critical first step in developing integrated land-use strategies that will enable residents to derive optimal benefits from their land and forestall additional fragmentation of key wildlife areas. While based at our National Park Camp, student research focuses on the needs of the wildlife, which are on protected land when in the Park, but on private land when in the dispersal area; and the needs of the people which are excluded from the Park but are exercising their rights as landowners to settle and cultivate, or develop industry on their land making up the dispersal area. This increased development around Nairobi National Park threatens its biological integrity and has led to the precipitous decline of large mammal populations. Pollution and climate change threaten the already strained water supply and play a role in the mortality of numerous birds and animals. Increased human and livestock populations in areas surrounding the park are leading to intensified human/wildlife conflicts, including disease, predation, and destruction of crops by migrating wildlife. The inevitable encroachment on Nairobi National Park is stimulating intense debate as to whether the best way forward is simply to fence off the Park, such as was done with Nakuru-Hell's Gate, from the dispersal area, leaving the wildlife trapped inside, but at least giving better protection to the Park and its wildlife. SFS students are assisting the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) and managers of the park through a suite of research projects including: vegetation mapping; grazing and browsing impact surveys; large mammal population counts and distributions; educational facility upgrades; and human impact in the park. Learn More Program Details Credits | 18 environmental studies credits | | Dates | Spring 2008: Feb 1 - May 8
Fall 2008: Sept 5 - Dec 11
Spring 2009: Jan 30 – May 6 | | Location/Base | Center for Wildlife Management Studies, Kenya: Kilimanjaro Bush Camp in Kimana and National Park Camp on the southern border of Nairobi National Park. Tour the field stations. | | Program Fees | Fall 2008 / Spring 2009: $16,290 (includes all tuition, room, board, local travel. Fee excludes airfare). | | Prerequisites | One semester of college-level ecology or biology; 18 years of age | | Financial Aid | Need based scholarships and loans available. Visit our financial aid section for more information. | Field Research, Lectures, & Exercises | - Amboseli elephant research: students learn elephant ecology and wildlife management techniques through recording elephant sightings, collecting census data, understanding ecological keystone and tourism flagship roles and examining human/elephant conflicts.
- Lake Nakuru National Park & Hellsgate: world-famous for its flamingos, also an important sanctuary for rare birds, black and white rhino; huge herds of waterbuck, zebra, and buffalo; endangered Rothschild giraffe; prides of lion; and leopard. Examine ramifications of an enclosed ecosystem on wildlife biodiversity.
- Manyatta: rare opportunity to glimpse Maasai culture, including rural settlements not usually visited by tourists. Maasai women musical ceremonies, demonstrations in fire-making, dances by Maasai morans (warriors), and lessons in spear throwing.
- Amboseli and Tsavo National Parks: multi-day excursions illustrating the management implications of high concentrations of animals in a confined area. The impact of the elephants, whose trumpeting punctuates the night, are clearly visible by daylight.
| Sample Directed Research | - Population dynamics, distribution, and vegetation preference of specified fauna residing in Nairobi National Park.
- Rangeland and grazing capacity assessment of the grasslands of Nairobi National Park.
- Land-use patterns and human/wildlife relations in the southern dispersal corridor of Nairobi National Park.
- Large mammal dispersal corridors and dispersal areas: human activities and structures causing contraction of wildlife dispersal area, and implications for neighboring protected areas such as Amboseli National Park.
- Impact of humans and large mammals such as elephants on plant communities in group ranches and implications of these on wildlife conservation and human livelihoods.
- Human population growth and structure, their distribution and use of resources, and implications of these on wildlife conservation in communal Maasai rangelands.
- Subdivision of the Maasai group ranches and their implication on land-use and wildlife conservation.
| Community Focus
| Above all else, we seek to give back to our host communities around the world. Understanding community views on wildlife, the challenges faced, and management policies employed by park managers is central among our research goals. Students have many opportunities for social interaction as well, including: - Presentations of research findings to community stakeholders.
- Visits to local markets and a neighboring boma (Maasai homestead) for traditional Maasai celebrations, a lecture on culture and artifacts, jewelry making with Maasai mamas, and to conduct interviews for research work.
- Community service work in local schools, hospitals, orphanages, and with a local women's group.
- Visits to an elephant orphanage and a giraffe center.
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Language of Instruction
English Application Deadlines
Rolling admissions. Early submissions encouraged for acceptance into program of your choice. Housing
Our Kilimanjaro Bush Camp is located southeast of Nairobi on 25 acres of fenced land at the foothills of Mt. Kilimanjaro, bordering a permanent river fed by natural springs. Adjacent to the river is a lush zone of yellow Acacia trees with clear undergrowth giving a perfect view of the magnificent vegetation mosaic. Across the river is Kimana High School, where SFS students enjoy a rare opportunity for cultural exchange with Kenyan youth and to visit nearby Maasai bomas (villages). Our National Park Camp, which is located on 60 acres of the Athi-Kapiti plains, on the southern border of Nairobi National Park. The combination of rocky outcrops, riverine vegetation, bushland, and open grassland support amazing biodiversity. From the plateau and ridge above the camp, one can look down into the park and spot giraffe, buffalo, rhino, zebra, cheetah, lion, and even leopard. The Ngong Hills and the Mbagathi River, where wildlife commonly crosses between the park and the dispersal area, are also within view. At both camps, students sleep in thatched-roof bandas, with a main building, or chumba, which houses a dining room, kitchen, classroom, and library. Additional facilities include a duka (shop), bathrooms, and open-air showers. Tour the field stations. Courses
Semester students are registered in five academic courses accredited through Boston University: BI/EE (NS) 371 Techniques of Wildlife Management (4 credits)
BI/EE (NS) 372 Wildlife Ecology (4 credits)
EE (SS) 302 Environmental Policy and Socioeconomic Values (4 credits)
EE 491 or 492 Directed Research (4 credits)
LE 205E Introduction to Swahili Language and East African Tribal Communities (2 credits) See our course description page for more details Apply Now
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