by Victoria Yu and Mary Wykstra

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In February 2007, attendees at workshops in Mpala Research Center in Laikipia cranked out the East African Wild Dog and Cheetah Strategic Plan, a program that lays out the strategies for protecting these endangered animals. Conservation experts from Kenya, Uganda, South Sudan, Ethiopia, and Tanzania worked together to draft the Regional plan which was published in 2008.

Immediately following the Mpala workshop many of the international participants joined again at KWS to create the Kenya National Wild Dog and Cheetah Strategic Plan. This plan was taken through all the necessary steps within KWS and was officially launched on 17 February 2010. These guidlines give the full justification for ACK colloboative work with KWS and CCF. It also means that all incoming cheetah proposed research will be guided by the objectives set forward in the plan.

It is believed by many that carnivores are an indicator of a healthy ecosystem. Without the carnivores and scavangers, prey herd size becomes large, unhealthy animals breed and after an animal dies the body rots. Carnivores maintain health in the herds by taking out the weak and controlling the numbers, and they clean up the environment by eating what humans will not. Thus, in addition to these animals being beautiful treasures of Kenya, they also have functions in the long term survival of many other species.

We commend the capacity within KWS to become the first African Country to launch strtegic plans for cheetahs, wild dogs, hyena (spotted and stripped) and lions. It is with great pleasure that ACK will do all that we can to collaborate and compliment the programmes through KWS.