So here is a little about myself!
I was born and brought up in Nairobi the capital city of Kenya. I attended primary and secondary school in Nairobi, and it was whilst in secondary school that I developed a passion for wildlife conservation. Occasional school camping trips and safaris organised by my parents confirmed my passion in wildlife. I remember spotting my first cheetah in Samburu when I was 9 years old and that memory has always remained with me!
I left Kenya for Lancaster University, England, in 1996 to undertake a Bachelor of Science Honours degree in Environmental Science, that included a year’s exchange to the State University of New York at Stony Brook, USA.
Upon successful completion of my studies, I returned to Kenya where I worked with the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS), which included a strong involvement in the CITES conference in Nairobi in 2000 where I campaigned for the continued ban on the ivory trade. The more I immersed myself in wildlife conservation, the more passionate I have become working towards saving Africa’s fauna.
My work within KWS subsequently enabled me to gain employment as a wildlife biologist and education officer with Save the Elephants (STE) in 2000. However, I soon developed a greater interest in lions, especially in 2002, when a lioness named Kamunyak adopted a baby oryx antelope in Samburu.
In December 2002, I moved to Samburu National Reserve, Northern Kenya, where I still reside. I worked with students and schools in the area as part of my position with STE, including liaising with the local communities on the establishment and maintenance of environmental and wildlife conservation programmes.
During my time here in Samburu, I have completed a Master of Science degree in Wildlife Biology and Conservation by Distance Learning with Napier University, Scotland. The focus of my Masters research was on the population size, structure and movements of lions within the reserves in the area. I have since commenced my PhD with the University of Oxford in 2007, where the focus of my research is a continuation of the lion study I initiated in 2003. And this is how Ewaso Lions started!
Below are a few photos in the field – collecting lion scat, identifying lions, measuring manyattas and working in the mess tent at the Echo Lima camp
I often spend time under Gypsy trying to fix something or placing the jack to change a tyre… but more often am sitting on the top of the hatch!
I have had many memorable moments during my years in Samburu. One being in 2003, when I witnessed the death of an elephant matriarch and watched how other elephants reacted to her death and also saw a pride of lions feed on her for a week. I have also participated in many elephant radio-collaring operations as well as assisted with the treatment of 2 cheetahs with mange in 2004. I also took part in 2 district wide cheetah censuses in 2006 which was a fantastic experience.
However, the highlight of all my years in Samburu has definitely been this year as I have worked on my own project with a fantastic team (see previous blogs) and also a great group of volunteers; Paul Thomson from the African Wildlife Foundation, Shane Dallas a public servant from Australia, Nilanga Jayasinghe from Defenders of Wildlife in the US and Shalini Bhalla from SB-Management in the UK.
I have had great support from various organizations who have funded my project to date and from readers of WildlifeDirect. It is thanks to you all that my project is able to continue and I am able to work in this region doing what I can do to conserve the Ewaso ecosystem’s lions. I have enjoyed every minute of working in the Samburu region and I look forward to many more years to come working in this beautiful area.
And now I think I have given you the full picture of the Ewaso Lions team. For more information and photos, please click here: www.ewasolions.org/aboutus
If you have any questions on the project, the Ewaso Lions team or anything, please feel free to ask!