Lion Project Update - Namunyak Sighting!

On Thursday April 17, the MWCT Conservation Team had an amazing interaction with Namunyak (collared in December 2013), and her companions. She was seen with two other grown females, and three cubs. 

Namunyak looking very healthy - she has gained a little bit of weight since the collaring!

It was pouring rain, and the lions seemed very relaxed and at ease. They were also yawning quite frequently, so we think they must have had a late night out hunting! Enjoy the photos and a short video below!

The three cubs and one of the adult females

Being quite photogenic! 

Namunyak lounging

Numunyak and a yawning cub

A very sleepy Namunyak! 

MWCT President in New York

Last week, Maasai Wilderness Conservation Trust President, Samson Parashina, returned from a 10 day journey to the United States. Organized by the Kenya Tourism board, Samson travelled along with a group of others for the purposes of spreading a specific message of Kenya, tourism, and conservation, to the USA.

MWCT President - Samson Parashina

Samson was a Community Ambassador on this journey to the USA, representing the Maasai community of Kenya (the Southern region). Others in the group included: a second Community Ambassador representing the Turkana (Northern) region of Kenya, there was a representative from the Kenya Wildlife Service, and there were a few representatives from the Kenya Tourism Board.

The representatives from Kenya at US News & World Report

Together with all of the individual presentations given, the message that this group wanted to provide to its' audience emphasized that visitors to these particular communities in Kenya (Maasai and Turkana were the specific examples), are making a tremendously positive impact on both the communities, and the environment. Samson shared the many success stories of the Maasai Wilderness Conservation Trust (Wildlife Pays Program, tourism partnership with Campi ya Kanzi, the Simba Scout Program, the Maasai Olympics) and how tourism, and visitors has allowed this organization to succeed and flourish within the community.

In front of Fordham University

Whilst in the US, Samson had the opportunity to share this message to: The UNDP (United Nations Development Program) in New York, Fordham Law School in New York, 70+ Journalists from in and around the New York area, National Geographic Traveller, The US News/World Report, the Smithsonian Magazine, and many many more.

At National Geographic Traveller

This journey was not only essential for establishing a positive image for tourism in Kenya the particular regions represented; but also to fully communicate that conservation and tourism CAN and WILL work together. Samson emphasized this passionately on his journey, through examples of what has happened, and what is currently going on here right now, on Kuku Group Ranch.

Conservation Program Update - Wildlife Pays Success Story

Although many people come to spend and visit a significant amount of time in Maasai land, many do not understand the importance and value of livestock herds as well as the value of living in the traditional Maasai way.

Recently, our Conservation Program became aware of a scenario in which 5 grown cow calves were killed near Olpukai swamp by lions in the daylight, with the herders present and nearby. Two lions were involved in the killing (one of the male collared lions and his companions), and the herders were standing very nearby, but unfortunately could not herd the calves away quickly enough to save them.

Olpukai Swamp - location of the incident

Historically and traditionally, the reaction would have resulted in a direct killing in retaliation, or a pursue of a lion hunt of these two lions. However, it is very clear that there is some major success to report in this story. The Wildlife Pays program with MWCT seeks to teach the Maasai that by not killing lions, by saving them in the ecosystem, that they will receive benefits. Through this program, with any loss of livestock due to predation with no negligence on the side of the herder and the boma (boma being a certain size, and herder acting appropriately) a compensation is paid to the owner of the affected livestock.

Livestock and wildlife grazing and living simultaneously at the swamp

To many Maasai, livestock is the sole source of income for the entire family. In this scenario, 5 cows is worth a compensation payment of 100 000 KSH. For this family to have a loss of five animals it was a very large detriment, despite the repayment. It is a large success for the Wildlife Pays program to know that the Maasai are compliant in not killing these lions, as they are aware of the negative consequences of a lion killing on themselves and their community,  as well as the potential economic compensation they may receive.

Conservation Program Update - April Lion Collaring

Earlier last week, the Conservation Program set out on their second lion collaring expedition! The purpose of this exercise was to replace the collars of the 2 male lions collared in early December 2013. Unfortunately, these collars had stopped transmitting the GPS function to track the lions location - so the team received new collars, and scheduled the week to locate these lions using the telemetry capabilities (pictured below) and replace their collars with the properly functioning ones. 

MWCT Simba Scouts using the telemetry tracking device to locate the lions prior to the collaring exercise

The team was out for 3 full nights last week. The first night two big males approached the car, but they were much too far away for the vet to dart them. The second night had four lions approaching the cars (two males and 2 females). They also did not come close to the car! 

On the final night, no lions showed up (only an elephant and a ton of hyenas and jackal), although they did hear some roaring in the distance. 

The positioned car, camouflaged, ready to begin the calling station

So unfortunately, it had been three long days and nights without success. However, we think that the reasoning of this was due to the very bright moon, and the animals did not dare to come close. It was nearly a full moon so it was very bright at night - the lions could not only see the team more clearly, but were aware that the team could also see them due to the light, so they were very cautious in coming closer, despite our calling station and effort to camouflage the cars! 

Working to camouflage the vehicles!

Fortunately, the vet has agreed to come back for another 3 days at the end of May. The moon will not be as bright during this time, so we are incredibly hopeful for positive results as these functioning collars are incredibly crucial for our efforts to protect this incredibly vital lion population in Kuku Group Ranch! 

One of the aspects of tracking lions deep in the wilderness - punctured tires! 

Health Program Update - March Efforts

As usual the Maasai Wilderness Conservation Trust Health Program team has been working hard. The month of March had them extending their efforts all across Kuku Group Ranch.

The routine health outreaches continued into the month of March, including an outreach to Kuku in which 85 patients were attended to. Further, a new outreach was initiated in the month of March - a mobile laboratory. The MWCT lab technician, whom is permanently stationed at Iltilal Health Center, travelled 25 kilometres away to the Langata Dispensary. Here he managed to do complete prenatal testing for 7 women, as well as a total of 5 tests from the outpatient clinic. The objective of this mobile outreach is to increase the diagnostic capacity of all the health facilities within Kuku, and also increase revenues in order to allow the laboratory to become self-sustained.

As a part of ensuring access and continuity of health services by residents of Kuku Group Ranch, Dr. Gabriel travelled to Langata dispensary and stayed there for 4 days.

The second round of the Tetanus Campaign continued in March. As you may remember, MWCT has partnered with the Ministry of Health to immunize all women of reproductive age. The Iltilal Health Centre Team managed to exceed the set target of 900 women, and immunized a total of 997 women at the end of the campaign!

Lining up for the Tetanus vaccination

Some exciting news about our Community Health Volunteers! The new group of 15 community health volunteers attached to the Iltilal Health Centre completed their 10-day training at the Marla on March 7! Certificates were awarded by the District Medical Office of Health.

New Community Health Workers