This quarter, supporters from around the world helped advance conservation. To celebrate Earth Day, Mara Elephant Project highlighted our community-led efforts to protect the Loita Forest, raising vital funds to support local landowners safeguarding this critical habitat.

MEP also welcomed Barbara Chesire, Loic Amado, and Teddy Kinyanjui as new trustees. Having previously served as members of our Advisory Council, their transition reflects their enduring commitment to MEP’s mission. We look forward to their continued leadership and guidance as we enter this exciting new chapter.

In May, supporters rallied behind our Endangered Species Day campaign, helping us exceed our fundraising goal to support our long-term monitoring efforts. As a bonus, two supporters were chosen at random to name two individual identified elephants, with Linda and Dan submitting the winning suggestions, Sophia and Loki.

We also continued investing in the next generation of conservation leaders through the Fran Duthie African Elephant Conservation Scholarship. This quarter, we shared the inspiring story of scholarship recipient Faith Leuka, whose passion for protecting Kenya’s forests has led her to pursue a diploma in Forestry.

As Faith shared, “Receiving the scholarship has eased financial challenges and allowed me to fully focus on my studies. It has strengthened my commitment to conservation and inspired me to aim higher.” Her journey is inspirational to us all and serves as a reminder of how investing in young conservationists today helps build a more sustainable future for Kenya’s landscapes and communities.

In addition to supporting future conservation professionals in Kenya, MEP also inspired the next generation abroad by connecting with Grade 2 students at Sheffield Elementary School in Massachusetts.

Through an interactive virtual classroom session, students learned about elephant conservation, the role of rangers, and the importance of protecting wildlife.

Their curiosity, thoughtful questions, and enthusiasm for conservation demonstrated that a passion for protecting nature knows no borders.

In May, MEP proudly sponsored Car No. 4 in the 2026 Rhino Charge, Kenya’s iconic off-road fundraising event supporting the protection of the country’s vital water tower ecosystems. Although the team was forced to retire early following a mechanical failure, Rhino Charge raised an impressive KSh 365 million (USD 2.82 million) to protect forests including the Mau, Aberdares, and Mount Kenya, safeguarding critical habitat, water resources, and the livelihoods of millions of people.

In June, MEP rangers proudly took part in the Lewa Safari Marathon alongside the Mountain Bongo Project team, joining conservationists from across Kenya to raise awareness and support for wildlife conservation. The team delivered an outstanding performance, finishing among the top 70 of more than 900 participants while showcasing the same determination and resilience they bring to protecting wildlife every day.

Later in June, World Female Ranger Week gave us the opportunity to celebrate the dedication, professionalism, and leadership of MEP’s female rangers, whose contributions continue to strengthen conservation efforts across the Greater Mara Ecosystem. Thanks to the generosity of our supporters, we are sending two of our female rangers through professional drone pilot training. As they join MEP’s growing fleet of drone pilots, they will play an increasingly important role in human-elephant conflict mitigation, wildlife monitoring, and anti-poaching operations. Thank you to How Many Elephants for creating such a wonderful opportunity to spotlight our amazing female rangers.