Photos from the School Trip to the Wildlife Reserves

Dr. Paul Muoria March 5, 2009

About the Author

Dr. Paul Muoria led African Wildlife Foundation’s Grevy’s zebra research and conservation project in Samburu, Kenya. To reverse drastic population declines of this zebra species, Paul worked to identify and record each individual Grevy’s and to track their movements. Also, he trained local wildlife… More

Last time, I blogged about our recent excursion with 28 primary school students to Samburu and Buffalo Springs National Reserves. I wanted to share some photos to help illustrate the story. Enjoy!

[caption id="attachment_484" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="We took the kids to the parks on AWF’s newly acquired bus. Help us think of a fun name for the bus."]We took the kids to the parks on AWF’s newly acquired bus. Help us think of a fun name for the bus.[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_483" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Arriving at the Ngare Mara gate of Buffalo Springs National Reserve. Check out that Grevy's paint job!"]Arriving at the Ngare Mara gate of Buffalo Springs National Reserve. Check out that Grevy's paint job![/caption]

[caption id="attachment_482" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Students take a break at Buffalo Springs, the reserve's namesake."]Students take a break at Buffalo Springs, the reserve's namesake.[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_481" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="The Grevy’s zebra project car drives past some Grant’s gazelles. The students and teachers were surprised that wild animals were not running away. Back home, the wild animals would have taken off fast due to harassment and poaching, which our project has been documenting."]The Grevy’s zebra project car drives past some Grant’s gazelles. The students and teachers were surprised that wild animals were not running away. Back home, the wild animals would have taken off fast due to harassment and poaching, which our project has been documenting.[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_480" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="We encountered a group of 55 Grevy’s zebras in Samburu Reserve. The students saw about 80 Grevy’s zebras in total during our game drive."]We encountered a group of 55 Grevy’s zebras in Samburu Reserve. The students saw about 80 Grevy’s zebra in total during our game drive.[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_479" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Students watching elephants: for most of the students, this was their first encounter with elephants. This surprised me because I know the students come from areas inhabited by elephants."]Students watching elephant: for most of the students, this was their first encounter with elephants. This surprised me because I know the students come from areas inhabited by elephants.[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_485" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="The region is so dry right now. The reserve management is having a rough time as they have to pay people to scoop sand along the dry river bend to create wells to sustain wild animals. "]The region is so dry right now. The reserve management is having a rough time as they have to pay people to scoop sand along the dry river bend to create wells to sustain wild animals. [/caption]

[caption id="attachment_478" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Students listen to talks from reserve management about the value of wildlife conservation. They also learnt about the plight of Grevy’s zebra from the Grevy’s zebra project staff. "]Students listen to talks from reserve management about the value of wildlife conservation. They also learnt about the plight of Grevy’s zebra from the Grevy’s zebra project staff. [/caption]

I had not realized the significance of the trip until a ranger who has worked in Buffalo Springs since 1972 informed us that he has never seen students from Isiolo visiting the reserve. The ranger and other reserve staff hoped that members of the local community would visit the reserves more often so that they can appreciate wildlife conservation.

We might receive very many requests for such trips – We hope we will, we hope we can afford to have more trips, we believe with your support we can. We need to recruit more and more wildlife Guardians particularly among the young generation. If you'd like to help us get more children exposed to wildlife, please click here.

Next month, we will conduct a series of public awareness meetings discuss the conservation of Grevy’s zebras and other wild animals in Isiolo community areas adjacent to Buffalo Springs, Shaba and Samburu national reserves. We will also be counting Grevy’s zebra on community land and Samburu and Buffalo Springs national reserve so do not miss our updates as we continue guarding Grevy’s zebra.