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Center for Wildlife Mangement Studies
Summer Session I, 2009
Academic Update
 Summer one students at CWMS arrived on June 8th and were instantly immersed in the academic program. The first week, they studied large mammal social organization and visited Nairobi National Park to identify them and observe their behavior. They also had lectures on challenges and threats to Nairobi National Park, traveling and seeing these challenges in the field. In the second week, students went to Lake Nakuru National Park which is completely fenced in. Here they learned the consequences of this fencing to large mammal species dynamics, and explored solutions to both external and internal challenges facing the park. They observed many unique large mammals (such as rhinoceros, lions, leopard and a diversity of large mammals). While in Nakuru, they also undertook field observations on animal/habitat relationships. After returning to the camp, they took an exam. They are now preparing to move into a two–week research project on either domestic tourism in Nairobi National Park or large mammal habitat use and diversity comparison between Nairobi National Park and its Kitengela Dispersal Area.
Dr. Moses Makonjio Okello. Summer Program Coordinator, Kenya.
Student Reflections
 One morning soon after we got here, several students woke up early to go on a nature walk in the area just outside of camp. Just five minutes into the walk we saw a giraffe rise out of the morning mist. Everyone took out their cameras and all that could be heard was the click-click-click of shutters as we rushed to capture the moment. The giraffe turned to look at us for a second of mutual curiosity. Then, quietly, it began to run back into the safety of the trees. It was lumbering and graceful, beautiful, and strange. This was only one minute of the ten days that we have been here, but it perfectly describes the experience so far. We lumber through the days ourselves, never knowing exactly what will come next, but each day turns out to be beautiful in the end.
-Cassie Freund, Wake Forest University
 Our hike in the gorge in Hellsgate National Park was the most incredible hike of my life. I was hesitant about taking off my boots and trekking through the stream, but the beauty of the gorge made me quickly forget my fears. Layers upon layers of rock showed how ancient the riverbed under our feet truly was. Waterfalls of cascading hot water pummeled down the cliff face and I can honestly say I have never been more tempted to take an outdoor shower. I wished we could have spent days there, an hour and a half was not nearly enough to appreciate the cliffs, the water, and the epic hike. At the end of it all, our Swahili teacher, Daniel, smeared our cheeks with clay like the Maasai do. In that simple act, I felt a tie to the land and its people. No longer am I just a tourist, I am a part of this place, and I know that my path will lead me back here again one day.
-Katia Chikasuye, University of San Francisco
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