On World Ranger Day, we’re excited to announce the launch of a new Mara Elephant Project ranger team. MEP is committed to training and employing young Kenyans to protect elephants and their habitats across the Greater Mara Ecosystem. This brand-new ranger unit is dedicated to protecting the “Forest of the Lost Child” (Naminina Enkiyio) otherwise known as the Loita Forest. We currently have two ranger teams operating in the Loita Forest, and due to increased security concerns, we’ve decided to launch a third in the Kisokon portion of Loita. MEP started the first dedicated Loita team of community rangers in 2019, and a second team was deployed in the southern section of the forest in 2020. Since then, the two teams have been working tirelessly to protect the forest from loggers, charcoal makers and poachers. The teams have also provided the community with jobs to protect their forest. We are grateful to Lori Price for supporting the existing Loita ranger teams and The Band Foundation for supporting the launch of this new team.
Recruitment for these new rangers took place in early March and they’ve spent the last six weeks on MEP’s campus going through training, all run in house by MEP. The ranger training covers various skills and knowledge including internal MEP standard operating procedures as well as first aid, field craft, how to conduct proper patrols and ambushes, maintaining a crime scene, communicating with the community as well as an overview of the laws of Kenya. MEP ranger Caren lead the first aid training and Assistant Senior Warden Jackson Maitai instructed the rangers in the classroom and on field exercises.
Once they completed their training, the seven new rangers, all from a community in Loita, are now deployed to increase protection for wildlife and communities in this area.
Please join us in welcoming Eric Sarupa, Gideon Koti, Dickson Nyange, Mike Olomunyak, Nancy Nailantei, Brenda Moonka and Benson Sunkuli to Mara Elephant Project.
MEP is committed to investing in the future conservationists who protect wildlife, wild spaces and engage communities to promote co-existence.
Join us in supporting this team on World Ranger Day!
