Kenya Wildlife Trust

Congratulations, Brian Kaelo, Our Mara Predator Conservation Programme (MPCP) has installed 160 predator deterrent lights in bomas (livestock enclosures)within four hotspot areas, benefiting 48 households (12 in each zone). These zones are characterized by dense vegetation, making nearby livestock vulnerable to predation. This initiative has significantly secured cattle and reduced the fear of lion attacks among the local community.

We continue to celebrate the achievements of our Conservation Leadership Programme (CLP) beneficiaries who participated in the 2nd annual mentorship camp. Empowered by the camp, the students are now working collaboratively with other student council members to positively impact the Wildlife Research and Training Institute (WRTI) community. Newly elected members include Jonah Lelanga from Samburu as treasurer, Christopher Saruni from Amboseli as gender representative, James Lalampa from Samburu as wildlife management representative, and Isaiah Parmuya from Amboseli as resident representative. KWT provides scholarships to deserving conservation champions from Kenya's ecosystems (Amboseli–Tsavo, Samburu–Laikipia, and the Greater Maasai Mara) through CLP and this promotes leadership among future wildlife conservation and management professionals. The support enables them to pursue higher education in fields related to wildlife and conservation. To read and hear more about the CLP progress head over to our website: https://bit.ly/3YlmbVS

We’ve successfully deployed a GPS collar on a male cheetah named Kayioni, with help from the dedicated rangers of Mara Ripoi Conservancy, Kenya Wildlife Service KWS, and Sheldrick Wildlife Trust. Kayioni, named by the conservancy rangers, was once part of a coalition of three brothers, but sadly, his companions have disappeared, likely due to human-wildlife conflict near areas with high sheep density. Now, this collar will help keep a close eye on Kayioni, providing vital information to the conservancy manager and our Lion Ambassadors through our EarthRanger platform. With this tech, we hope to ensure Kayioni's safety in the Mara. To learn more about our MPCP's collars for conservation, click here: https://lnkd.in/dNPc5hXP Banovich Wildscapes Foundation generously donated the collar and we’re grateful for their continued support towards our Cheetah conservation efforts. Video filmed and produced by Matthew Williams Ellis

The Maa Trust, through our Chief Programmes Officer, Simon Kipila, had an incredible opportunity to participate in an exchange learning programme at The Lewa Wildlife Conservancy! Alongside Kenya Wildlife Trust (KWT), we explored Lewa’s exceptional conservation education initiatives, empowering local communities to take an active role in wildlife protection. During this three-day visit, Simon gained insights into Lewa’s innovative approaches to wildlife monitoring, anti-poaching strategies, and—most importantly—their deep community engagement in conservation. This experience has enriched our understanding of how education and conservation work hand in hand to preserve biodiversity for future generations. With the support of Tusk and KWT, this exchange has provided invaluable knowledge that will enhance our efforts in the Maasai Mara as we continue to protect wildlife and empower local communities through sustainable practices. We look forward to applying these learnings and driving forward our conservation initiatives! #TheMaaTrust #ConservationEducation #LewaConservancy #TuskTrust #KWT #Sustainability #WildlifeConservation #CommunityEngagement #ExchangeLearning #PACE #EmpoweringCommunities

Would you like to know what SNI have been up to in the last month? July was an intense and fulfilling month for us! - We had the launch of the DOTphin project, together with WalletConnect, Unique Network & Polkadot. - Annual report from Kenya Wildlife Trust with many mentions to the work we have done together - Our participations at World Biodiversity Forum in Davos, Decoded 24 in Brussels, Blockchain for Good - France Unconference also in Brussels - The next event we will be part of: Cryptomondays Lisbon, Web3 Summit in Berlin, Decoded Asia & TOKEN2049 in Singapore! Have a look, and if you haven't signed up yet, follow the link! https://lnkd.in/d4T9NAHm

In quarter two of 2024, our Mara Predator Conservation Programme's (MPCP) research team drove 2,900 km in search of predators. The team recollared a female lion whose collar failed, and another female collar dropped off as programmed. The remaining collared lions were monitored closely through our Earth Ranger platform. All MPCP collars are linked to our Lion ambassadors who monitor the collared lion's movements when they approach the community areas to prevent conflicts. A new male cheetah was recorded and added to our database.

 They continued to engage with Conservancy and Maasai Mara National Reserve rangers through meetings. The MPCP community team implemented various initiatives targeting human-predator conflict mitigation, conservation education, and livelihood support programs. Key activities included two herders' training sessions, one art camp, patron's training, and nine pasture management training sessions, as detailed in the report. Click here to access the MPCP Q2 2024 Report: https://bit.ly/4dn6S3M

J’ai eu la chance de séjourner au Masai Mara au Kenya en compagnie du professeur Craig Packer. Une occasion en or pour m’imprégner dans les activités du projet Mara Predator Conservation Program. J’ai eu à participer au suivi intensif des lions, à des opérations de pause de collier sur les lions, au Club wildlife et de visiter des enclos réalisés avec du matière plastique recyclée. J’ai été particulièrement choqué par le degré d’implication des communautés résultant à une cohabitation spectaculaire entre la faune sauvage et les communautés. Je remercie très sincèrement le Wildlife Conservation Network d’avoir financé ce voyage dans le cadre du WCN carrer programme dont je suis bénéficier mais également PANTHERA pour l’accompagnement et l’autorisation. #Panthera #Kenya Wildlife Trust #Wildlife Conservation Network #Sénégal

The KWT team was honored to host Conservation International, led by Julius Court, at our Mara Predator Conservation Programme's 'Tony Lapham Hub'. During the visit, presentations were given on our work in the Greater Mara Ecosystem, followed by brief discussions on challenges and partnership opportunities. We look forward to finding ways to collaborate on various predator research and community livelihood initiatives.

Learn about KWT's progress, and achievements in predator research and community engagement initiatives for 2023 in our Annual Report, available here: https://bit.ly/4cAARFg “2024 is going to be a very busy and fascinating year for KWT, and I would wish all our friends and supporters to stay the course with us.” - Allan E. Earnshaw, Chairman Emeritus

Coming Up: Join Kasaine Sankan, Senior Programme Researcher at our Mara Predator Conservation Programme (MPCP), for a Fireside Chat today (Tuesday 18th) from 6 pm to 7 pm EAT. Hosted by Alessandro Mazzi, Head of Partnerships and Field Research at Sovereign Nature Initiative (SNI), Kasaine will discuss KWT's data-driven approach to predator research and human-wildlife conflict mitigation in the Greater Mara ecosystem. This is also a great chance to learn about the work of other SNI eco-steward partners around the world and discover ways to support their initiatives. Sign up to attend here: https://bit.ly/3KI36Fy