The Lion Pride Initiative |
| Lion distributions for September (red) and October (blue) |
Mara Predator Project
Report #12 September / October 2009
Sara Blackburn maralions@gmail.com
Laurence Frank lgfrank@berkeley.edu
In summary, time has been spent over these last two months on setting up the computers and cameras for lodge reporting. A good deal of time has been given to Papiyio`s training, although unfortunately he has not shown to be suitable for the position. One 'missing` lion has re- emerged, and distributions for others have been shifting. Cattle have mostly moved from key lion areas, and lions have moved across from the river. I have also been night filming, which has been extremely interesting. Emma has also been here helping, and will stay until December.
- LION MOVEMENTS AND THE DATABASE
The amount of cattle in the immediate area has declined, and lions from the River Pride have been spending time close to camp on the rocky hills. Marley and Sophie`s pride (1M, 1F, 4 SA 18mo) have moved back across the river and acquired an unknown cub of around 6 months of age. It is not known where this cub has come from or who he belongs to, but most probably he originated from the escarpment.
Tailend (MLF03) was found close to camp on Mulima Maui on the 28th October, with two cubs aged 4mo. Her last sighting was seven months ago with her pride mates by Musiara. Her last litter did not survive (last seen 5th February). It is thought that she moved across the river, mated and had these cubs on the escarpment. Her pride mates Honey (MLF01) and Sugar (MLF02) are still missing but thought to be across the river.
Sophie (MLF37) has been identified as a member of the old River Pride from images dating 2006.
There has been a large increase in the amount of hyenas around the Military and Maternity areas, which have been relatively quiet in terms of lion activity.
Lady (MLF04) from the Gorge Pride had three cubs on the 15th September. Caesar, the River Pride male, joined the group 5 weeks into her pregnancy and consequently killed the cubs on the 17th September. He has since mated with her and remains with the group.
A solitary male was sighted in Military, and identified as Frank (MLM16) from the Acacia Pride. He was in poor condition and has travelled 15km from his last known location.
The database has been redesigned slightly (automatic filling to reduce time). I have also created a record sheet for matings so that we can predict births.
- PAPIYIO
Papiyio came to camp for a month, during which he was thoroughly introduced to the project and given a large amount of training. His enthusiasm and ideas for the community aspect of his job were good, but there were major concerns that he was unable to learn IDing and lion ecology, and learn to use equipment such as the GPS, and his driving and computer skills needed a lot of work. His attitude and communication with myself was also not acceptable, and he proved to be untrustworthy from the outset. A decision was made to send him home after the month.
It is very unfortunate that he did not work as an assistant – Laurence, Stephen and myself have all devoted a lot of time to him. An assistant is still needed and an interview based selection process will begin in early 2010.
- EMMA
Emma has come from the UK to help with the project. Initially she was to stay for a month, but can now extend to December when I am to fly back to the UK. This is very helpful following the departure of Papiyio, and she is assisting with computer work, redesigning of the booklet and the general running of the project. She will also help with some redesign work of the website in the UK.
- COMPUTERS AND CAMERAS FOR LODGES
Two computers have been brought over from the UK, and set up for guest use. They have been updated to Vista Home Premium so that they can support an offline version of the database, which has been installed on both. They have been set up with facilities and instructions for photo uploading and browsing, reporting of lion sightings via a digital form, and for browsing the database and identifying lions from images. This is incorporated into an interactive desktop. All features that could lead to their misuse have been disabled, including games and wireless.
Because of my Laikipia visit and nearing departure to the UK, I have decided not to introduce the computers into lodges until I return in 2010. It is generally thought that this system will need a lot of initial follow-up and tweaking, and I will be unable to do this whilst in the UK. However, a computer will be trialled at Serian when I return from Laikipia.
The cameras have also been set up, and we have made an instruction booklet to be attached. One will be trialled at Serian – again after Laikipia. One should be supplied to Kicheche and the other possibly to Elephant Pepper or to remain at Serian.
If the cameras are successful, it is possible that I may be able to get some good 10MP cameras for around 7,000Ksh in the UK. Successful use of cameras in several lodges would give good information on the local population, if not distributions.
- SCHOOLS
Emma and I visited Ololomei Primary School to hold a workshop focussed on lions. We covered issues of lion conservation in very simple terms, and the children did posters and collages of the local lions. We are planning to return and hopefully strengthen a positive image of lions.
- LION PRODUCTS FOR SALE
Lion claws were found for sale at Aitong market on the 15th October. This was worrying as they were rather fresh. I took photographs of the claws discreetly with a mobile phone. I later learned from Elephant Pepper that they also had guests returning from a cultural manyatta visit with lion teeth. Marc Goss is aware of the situation and taking action.
- ELEPHANT PEPPER
I visited Elephant Pepper again at the end of October, and discussed a training day for the guides. The guides are very enthusiastic about reporting lion sightings, but find the IDing process difficult. They have requested a small camera to help them with sightings, and also an external drive or memory stick for uploading. I think that this will be sufficient for their participation. I do not think that a computer will be necessary, but the external drive can be loaded with the offline version of the database.
- NIGHT FILMING
On several occasions in September and October I accompanied Martin Dohrn night filming, both in the Mara Reserve and the Mara North Conservancy. We used thermal imaging to track two groups of lions – the Elephant Pepper females along with the River Pride Male (Caesar; MLM04) and Marley`s Pride. In both cases, the groups moved far into areas that they have not frequented by day. It was very interesting to see the large distances covered by the lions at night, and note the wider range and degree of pride overlap, which is not apparent during daytime observations.
- GAME VIEWING AND HIGH-SEASON TOURISM
Some issues arose following the birth of the cubs in the open bushes by Elephant Pepper Camp regarding responsible viewing. The managers contacted me regarding an unacceptable amount of traffic around the cubs, after Marc Goss was unable to supply a vehicle for monitoring the situation. I was able to control the amount of cars visiting the site at any one time and also maintain a reasonable distance. I am aware that it is not a good idea for me to be personally involved with controlling game viewing, and in future the rangers should be able to supply an anti-harassment team and vehicle for such occasions.
There has been an overall improvement with game viewing, mostly due to the reduction of vehicles and less predictable sightings. I was not able to talk to Mara Safari Club about game viewing etiquette, but have prepared a presentation for guides which can be shown at any time.
- HOUSE
The build is complete and hopefully the roof issue has been resolved. Furniture still needs to be made for the house and funds have been put aside. The solar power should be installed early 2010.
- LAIKIPIA
I am going to adapt the booklet to the lodges in Laikipia together with Emma. We are planning to stay for a fortnight or so, depending on the redesign and so on.
- DATABASE AND WEBSITE
As per last report, new lions will be added to the database, and the large collection of maturing cubs will be added. Work will be done on this over the next month. I am going to explore how these will be arranged so that this key information on pride relationships will be made obvious. However, I have decided to leave most website development until I return to the UK and have access to a more favourable internet connection.
- ASSISTANT
I am asking round for suitable candidates to replace Papiyio, and have completed a job description. Hopefully there will be some potential candidates for the new year.
- GUIDES AND LODGES
As camp is quiet for November, I will plan training days for guides. Reporting is still inconsistent, and so we will come up with a tighter system of monitoring reporting to coincide with the camera use. I will also do some training at Elephant Pepper and Kicheche. Offbeat and Kicheche will also be visited again, both for reporting and for mapping and adding new lions to the database.
Although a notebook system of reporting is good for Serian guides, I will design a printed report sheet to be distributed to lodges and collected via a drop-in box so that guides have an easier system of reporting.
- LONG TERM PLANS
I will be returning to the UK to redesign the website, redesign the MPP booklet for future printing, and finish the booklet for Laikipia. This should take a couple of months.