Here is a long overdue field update from TCP. I am also working to get a webpage for the project up and running, soon. It's been very busy in the field... combined with writing grant proposals for all our field needs and issues with technology in the bush!. Thank you to all our readers for their patience

Thus far, capture data from deployed camera traps have provided us with the necessary evidence to carry out ongoing monitoring of cheetahs within that immediate area inside the park, as well as information on the presence of natural prey and other potentially threatened predators in the region. Obviously these findings provoke worry for the cheetahs, lions and other species whom are being prosecuted against, even in a 'protected national park'. We are continuing to move forward with the camera trapping study design, and also proceed in neighboring tribal communities where cheetah conflict (or lack of education on the species-- fear) and deaths have recently occurred. These latter locations were proclaimed off boundaries to all conservationists, during the past couple of months, due to a high level of armed poaching on neighboring ranches, and the shooting of killing of two Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) rangers in March. 

At this stage, deployment within the park boundaries is expected to provide even more captures, thus confirmation of predator – and specifically cheetah, movements from inside to outside park boundaries and herders and livestock from outside to within park boundaries, along with possible captures of livestock or predator deaths, as a result. 

This information is very important in order to work effectively with these residents, for our cheetah monitoring, and also to provide to KWS for increased enforcement and policy development within Tsavo East National Park. Scientifically, camera trap data will also help us to understand when and why cheetahs are predating on livestock when there are adequate prey species populations available. The camera trap deployment inside the park will be carried out with the hiring of a KWS park ranger to protect the cameras from potential vandalism or bandits. 

The Tsavo Cheetah and its Ecosystem 

The Tsavo ecosystem supports a significantly important cheetah population, which has been highlighted in Kenya’s recent conservation strategy for the species.  This population along with connecting populations (Mara -- Serengeti) makes up one of two globally important cheetah populations in Kenya and one of four in eastern Africa. 

Encompassing an area of 40,000 km² (15,000 sq. miles), the Tsavo ecosystem, in south east Kenya, is home to the unfenced Tsavo National Parks. Both parks, (East and West) total a combined area of 21,000 km² (8,108 sq. miles), making it the 3rd largest conservation area in the world.  

Human – wildlife conflict within the region is on the increase, as the local human population continues to grow and expand onto park boundaries and into protected land. There are still many misconceptions among local residents on the cheetah's behavior and ecology. Many people fear the cheetah, unaware of its non- aggressive nature. As a result, reports of needless killings of this reclusive, threatened cat continue to occur in the vicinity—even within the park’s boundaries. Local poaching for bushmeat, includes cheetahs main prey species and has even caused cheetah deaths due to indiscriminate snaring. 
Cheetah Monitoring 

The Tsavo Cheetah Project is a long-term project; hence we monitor cheetahs for trend and threat information on an ongoing basis. TCP employee’s non-invasive monitoring techniques, including direct sightings, our tourists / park staff assisted photographic survey and spoor (paw imprint) tracking. We are building a database of cheetah photographs and Identify individuals through the aid of ‘spot matching’ software. Additional planned methodologies include camera traps, for high-threat areas where cheetahs are difficult to view, and the innovative Footprint Identification Technique (FIT), developed by the organization, Wildtrack.
Education and Incentive

The TCP conducts continuous community interviews and follows up on reports made concerning cheetah, presence, conflict, off-take, and tourist’s harassment, within the Tsavo region. We verify incidents of livestock depredation and educate residents through instilling knowledge on cheetah and predator differentiation and ecology, providing assistance on effective livestock husbandry, and encouraging sustainable, eco-friendly land use. Current program efforts focus on predator retaliation in three Maasai homesteads, adjacent to Tsavo East. We are working with these residents through ongoing meetings and livestock assistance.

Our appreciation to Wildlife Conservation Network (WCN) for hosting the Tsavo Cheetah Project, among over 50 other conservation and animal welfare organizations, at their 8th (and 9th) annual Wildlife Conservation Expo's, held in October, in San Francisco, California. Here, we met many new friends and supporters in the conservation world. 

The Tsavo cheetahs have been highlighted as an important cheetah population in the recent strategic plan for the species. 

Unfortunately, these cheetahs face multiple, growing threats, as the local human population continues to grow and expand onto park boundaries and into protected land. There are still so many misconceptions among local residents on the cheetah's behavior and ecology. Many people fear the cheetah, unaware of its non-aggressive, non-confrontational nature. As a result, reports of needless killings of this reclusive, threatened cat continue to be reported in the vicinity. The majority of cases are not in retaliation of livestock depredation, although some incidents of goat raiding in locations bordering or inside Tsavo East, have been confirmed.

The Tsavo Cheetah Project is working with local residents to educate them on predator behavior and ecology and assisting with effective livestock herding and husbandry. However, the Tsavo region covers a large expanse of human populations and tribes and we need sufficient funds to maintain and expand both our community and cheetah monitoring programs. Most urgent funding is needed for vehicle hire fees, petrol, and stipend compensation for additional, qualified staff. Please consider assisting us, if you can, so that we may assure the protection  of the Tsavo cheetahs for generations to come. 

Just a reminder to please send in your Tsavo cheetah photos, if you are fortunate enough to encounter a cheetah in the Tsavo region.

Given the vastness of Tsavo, tourists' and stakeholders' submitted photographs assist me in individually identifying members of this very important cheetah population. Auxiliary information such as date, GPS readings, landmarks and group composition are also useful in following up on sightings of individuals and monitoring them in areas of conflict. Please let me know if you would like me to send you a guideline / recording sheet, if you're heading to Tsavo, soon!

Remember to be 'cheetah-friendly' and only take photographs from a distance and on designated roads, so as not to invade the cheetah's space and interfere with their hunting or other natural behaviour (this applies to all wildlife).


Stop and scan with your binoculars from an open roof hatch or tour mini van. This is often the way I sight individuals from afar, without the need to get much closer or ever go off road (which is not permitted in Kenyan Parks) for an optimal photograph. 

See my "Spotting a Cheetah" post, for desired angle positions. 

As mentioned in an earlier post, last month, I was privileged to attend the Wildtrack Footprint Identification Technique (FIT) Monitoring Workshop at the breathtaking N/a'an ku se Wildlife Sanctuary and Lodge, near Windhoek, Namibia.
Here, the presence of great conservationists and wildlife researchers met to discuss the technology and utilization of an innovative (yet ancient, in origin) endangered species' non-invasive monitoring technique.
I look forward to employing FIT in areas of the Tsavo region to monitor the cheetah, as it is developed further for the species.
Thank you, to Sanctuary wildlife researcher, Florian Weise, for kindly sending me the group photo and for organizing and implementing much of the workshop, along with the awesome Wildtrack team, and first class hosts and staff at N/a'an ku se!
And a special thank you, to Simone Eckhardt, for making it possible for me to attend. :)

(Although, by plane) 

Next week, I will be leaving for Namibia to attend a wildlife monitoring workshop at the N/a'an ku se Wildlife Sanctuary near Windhoek. With my interest in exclusively non-invasive monitoring techniques and continued correspondence with the folks at Wildtrack, I am very much looking forward to attending. 

Researchers from Cheetah Conservation Fund (Namibia), Cheetah Conservation Botswana, Africat and other awesome international wildlife organizations will also be present. I'll post from the workshop, upon my return! 

It's always refreshing to get into the park, especially after dealing with the hurdlles and complex issues that come along with all the field work... Although I did not catch glimpse of the two cheetahs I was tracking today, I did come across--and stopped-- to watch a couple of lions... This first photo represents the area and distance from the road on which I took the photos. Although I did not get a picture of the the vehicles themselves, within the approximate 8 minutes that I had stopped, two local vehicles from Mombasa passed my vehicle and approached the two lions (who were trying to sleep, much of the time) within a distance of 20-30 ft, off the designated road! KWS needs to do a better job at passing out literature which stresses Park rules... and visitors need to do a better job at following them and respecting the wildlife.This was appalling. Imagine how many times it goes unwitnessed? 

While my primary task on the Tsavo Cheetah Project is trying to get an accurate count and distribution assessment of the Tsavo cheetahs and monitor them over time, this all ties in with evaluating their threats-- knowing where particular cheetahs go brings heaps of information

Since I was out with my assistant, Catherine, all week, getting her started on the community interviews in the area of Tsavo east, attitudes of the surrounding people began to (cadidly) surface.

People are not shy to admit they are having serious conflict with many wild animals, both INSIDE parts of Tsavo East on which they (openly) graze their livestock and outside the park boundaries. They admit to the killing of all the big cats as the cats'approach their homes or livestock-- or even when they simply see them nearby.

They do not see the point on 'conserving' an animal, which is a threat to them or their livestock or changing their culture to prevent attacks. In Maasai communities, even though they were firm about maintaining cultural traditions and the fact of the young boys guarding the stock during the day, while moran and elders just sat together and talked. They said that they were 'open to change' if this involved paid employment, such as some sort of promoted 'guardian program' of the wildlife. Word spreads quick among tribes!! The Maasai also see 'compensation' as a means of ending the killing. Other tribes were not so open to change and see their people as coming before the wildlife, even with all the tourism and employment the adjacent Parks bring to nearby communities.

Bomas were clearly not tall enough or strong enough to keep the predators out or, in some cases, even the livestock in! Other tribes admitted to simply tethering cows to trees during the night. It's clear in the majority of communities interviewed, so far, that preventive measures are not being adequately put in to place and that much education is needed..

Much of April and May, I will be camping at the Red Elephant Lodge, near the Voi gate at Tsavo East. After Catherine, my research assistant returns from Easter holiday, we look forward to beginning our community interviews in the in this area.
The camp staff claims that they have rarely seen cheetahs at their waterhole, but from other reports and personal sightings within the vicinity... I know, for a fact, that they do come around.

More exciting project updates to come, in the following weeks!