For the past six years ACK has been monitoring the cheetah and the ecosystem in the Salama area. Results from the data collected are entered into a series of data bases and each year we run preliminary analysis of the data. In our upcoming newsletters and annual reports we are proud to say that we are now able to look at some of the trends in this data. One of the most challenging issues for the staff on the ground is in explaining the importance of collecting the data. Cosmas and I try to give the scouts information to share with the community, but sometimes the community just wants to hear it from us. We organize a community “baraza” whereby the local chief and/or other administrative authorities provide, open and close the meetings. We invite the Kenya Wildlife Service to attend and to also present information on wildlife and environmental management.

In November and December 2011 we held two baraza in newly settled areas. Many of the new settlers have come from urban settings where wild animals do not live. Many did not realize that predators and game animals roamed freely in the Salama area. A large part of the work of our Cheetah scouts is to investigate livestock losses. We use materials that we have developed, starting with a base of information and training from CCF and the Endangered Wildlife Trust. In our recent barazas we explained the importance of identifying the predator and circumstances leading to the loss in order to develop mitigation strategies.

One of the main issues being constantly addressed by our scouts is the strength and predator proof boma (coral). We used photos of strong bomas that are capable of holding livestock in, but that will not keep a predator out, and compared them to bomas that can keep a predator from entering, but that will not keep the livestock inside when the predator approaches. We discussed the bomas that prevent hyena and those that prevent leopard. And we explained that our efforts to assist in keeping all predator loss to a minimum will in the long run help the cheetah as well. After each baraza several people contacted us to request an evaluation of their boma, and we offer to assist them in reconstruction to prevent losses from occurring.

Lumumba, Pius and Jimmy have selected people from their area that have shown the greatest improvements in livestock protection, herding and breed/husbandry. At the baraza we gave an “Environmental Hero” award to the people selected by our team, and explained to the crowd what these people have done to make a difference in their community. We are proud of the people who have put great effort into assuring that their livestock are secure and healthy, thus reducing the likelihood that they will have livestock loss.