A belated happy B-day to the Mark Bellamy - previous US ambassador to Kenya.

In support of our bee keeping projects in Salama, Ann Bellamy gave her brother a special birthday present… bee suits and a smoker for Sam. You can read more about this at the Cheetah Alliance web site.

http://cheetahalliance.ning

by Mary Wykstra

In 2008, two organizations proposed to engage the Salama community in competitive sports in the name of conservation. It is well documented that youth and community involvement in sports builds morale in individual participants and engages participants in a “team” mentality. Improving team work on the playing field also improves co-opreation through networking.

Our trapping methods have been explained in previous blogs. We set traps in the end of July and through the month of August.

After closing traps from 1-3 August we returned to reopen the trap on the fourth.
First - I had a problem with the robo-goat… In pluged the 110volt speakers directly into the 220volt power. OOOPPPSSS. Speakers be fried! In a few weeks I would be leaving for the US, so we decided to pack up Robo until I return with fixed or a new set of speakers.

This event will be a competition involving bicycles. A course of approximately 30 KM will be set up for participants to ride. We are looking for gifts to give participants for placement in the race as well as for other environmental prizes and efforts. We are inviting participants to race against the members of the local community and international friends from Tand’Afrika (www.tandafrika.com) who are enroute from France to South Africa by bicycle.

Eco-Sys Wana Duma is partnering with Action for Cheetahs to conduct sporting events in the Salama area to raise awareness for conservation and the environment

“Playing for Cheetahs”
This event will be a football competition in the name of conservation. It is hosted by "Eco-Sys Action Football Cup" and supported by Sporting Conservation. The 7 a-side competition will involve local community teams for children, women and men. The theme of this event is also to bring awareness to Action for Cheetahs in Kenya and the need for environmental conservation.

Written by Victoria Yu

In April 2007, KWS hosted a biodiversity conference for local and international research in Kenya It provided an opportunity for researchers to share information with each other and with young students who are breaking into the field of conservation. Bonnie Schumann (CCF Namibia) and our very own Mary Wykstra gave a presentation on our efforts to incorporate community development into cheetah conservation programs in Kenya and in Namibia. Good job, ladies!

By Mary Wykstra

By Mary Wykstra

In March 2006, ACK (then still called CCFK) was given a donation by the Cleveland Zoological Society through the Cleveland Metro Parks Zoo for the purchase of a motorcycle. This motorcycle was used by our Community Liaison Officer (CLO) for transport to locations of livestock loss and for community and research activities. Let me tell you....

Setting cheetah traps is a time consuming event in itself. The months/years of Cheetah Scout data and the security of our equipment dictate the location of the trap. We use a box trap triggered by the cheetah stepping on a foot plate in the center of the box. The goats used as bait are rented from local farmers and are placed in their own secure cage. These goats are given food and water daily, and remain in the trap 5-7 days at a time. Although it may be a little stressful, the goats are returned to their herd unharmed, even when we manage to catch a cheetah (baboon, vervet or jackal).