Cheetah Project Mara-Meru

RUKA IN THE RAIN

Wild animals face many challenges, including harsh weather conditions. Heavy rains not only hinder cheetahs' river crossings but also reduce visibility and, along with strong winds, their ability to detect danger. If a cheetah fails to hide under a bush, it must periodically scan its surroundings to be alert if a lion or other predator unexpectedly appears dangerously close.

A severe thunderstorm with heavy rain caught Ruka in an open field near the main road, and he, clearly uncomfortable, wandered further into the field to disappear into the thick grass amid the rain.

EDUCATION IS THE KEY TO CONSERVATION

Conservation education and awareness is part of the Mara-Meru Cheetah Project's initiatives aimed at promoting human-wildlife coexistence. Recently, our team visited Wildlife Tourism College of Maasai Mara for training sessions with the students and their tutors.

Among the areas covered were: cheetah behavior, ecology, and the day-to-day realities of coexistence in a shared ecosystem. Building knowledge in these areas is not just essential for tour guiding, but for developing problem solving, critical thinking, and responsible decision-making across various disciplines. Passion, commitment and curiosity stood out amongst the students, some of the essential values enabling deep understanding which is significant in balancing development with sustainability. Their understanding today is an investment in the long-term protection of ecosystems and the species living in them.

HAPPY INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY!

Today, we congratulate all women, but especially those who have chosen the difficult path of environmental protection in different parts of the world. We salute strong women who have dedicated their lives to cheetah conservation, and in particular Dr. Laurie Marker of the Cheetah Conservation Fund, Namibia, Dr. Rebecca Klein of the Cheetah Conservation Botswana https://web.facebook.com/CheetahConservationBotswana, Mary Wykstra of Action for Cheetahs in Kenya https://web.facebook.com/Action4cheetahs, Cherie Schroff of the Tsavo Cheetah Project, and Brenda Kantai of the Mara Cheetah Unit. Thanks to your daily, long-term hard work and the tireless work of your colleagues with animals, local communities and stakeholders, with adults, students and children, cheetahs have a chance to face tomorrow. Your dedication and high professionalism, your resilience in overcoming challenges, and your strength of spirit inspire thousands of people around the world! May you be accompanied by success, comprehensive support and good luck in everything!