The Fran Duthie African Elephant Conservation Scholarship overseen by Mara Elephant Project launched in 2022 with the inaugural recipient Janeth Jepkemboi starting her MSc in Environmental Studies in September 2022 at Karatina University. Now in her second, and final year, of the program, she’s focusing on her thesis. Janeth began her research internship at MEP HQ in January and is working on gathering the evidence needed to defend her thesis. Beyond completing her thesis work, Janeth has been learning about the work of MEP’s long-term monitoring team, and the suite of tools used for data collection and analysis, and we even had her join a visitor group. The second round of scholarship selection also took place in the first quarter and MEP is excited to announce the new recipients. Thank you to every donor who has supported the scholarship fund, especially Fran and Lorne Duthie, for making it all possible.
A special thanks to Romageco Kenya Limited popularly known as ‘Robs Magic’ and Elephant Cooperation for generously supporting MEP with Mavic Enterprise 3 drones. The Basecamp Explorer Foundation – Kenya continues their partnership with MEP and is not only supporting the implementation of Ecoscope but also a comprehensive training of over 40 Mara rangers using MEP’s best practices. More information to come on this exciting partnership. Long-time partners the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust and Angama Foundation also renewed their support in the first quarter. Unfortunately, the Greatest Maasai Mara photo competition was discontinued in February, but there were several wonderful entries to start 2024. We hope it comes back next year bigger and better than ever.
Thank you to Kampur Travel Diaries for stepping up again in 2024 to support MEP’s conservation education program. Abigael and her team at the Coexistence Farm alongside the Research Department are planning monthly educational activities at local schools. In addition, MEP has been sponsoring Sheema with school supplies since 2017 to keep her education going and ensure a successful transition to the next level. This is after she was critically injured by a rogue elephant and MEP came to her rescue. In January, she sent us an update as she begins a new school year at Kishermoruak Primary School.
MEP has two employees, Tor and Meshack, running in the LEWA Safari Marathon this year and they’re raising money for MEP. They’ve been training hard and are ready to race. You can support their efforts here.
Finally, thank you to everyone who joined Mara Elephant Project on World Wildlife Day and for those who supported us in the first quarter. We’ve had a great start to 2024.
