WILDEBEESTS' UNUSUAL COMEBACK TO MAASAI MARA

East or West home is best. Wonders of the Great Wildebeest Migration in Maasai Mara will not be seizing any time soon as for the first time, the boys and girls are making a comeback in the least time I expected. Two months ago, thousands of wildebeests left Maasai Mara for Serengeti as usual but have now returned thanks to a drought that has rocked several parts of Tanzania

Wildebeest Migration: Photo by Burrard Lucas

 

Normally, The Great Wildebeest Migration spectacle starts in July when the animals cross Mara River to Maasai Mara National Reserve and ends in October when they return to Tanzania’s Serengeti National Park.

This comes as an early Christmas present for hoteliers in Mara and tour operators with hopes of having new bookings as tourists return to watch the spectacle again.

GRUESOME TRAGEDY AS ANOTHER ELEPHANT SUCCUMBS TO POACHING

Maasai Mara, Kenya: One by one, big tuskers are taken out of our ecosystem. On Sunday night, gunshots were heard from the forest 7km from the Oloololo gate. Later MC and Mara Elephant Project (MEP) rangers found Heritage, one of the few magnificent bulls in this area with radio collar, shot dead. Heritage lived peacefully in this forest for many years but with increasing poaching pressure there seems to be nowhere that one can call "safe" for elephants.

(photo credit: Marc Goss)

Elephants roam extensively outside the park and protection beyond park boundary is crucial to their survival. Mara Elephant Project needs help in expanding their rapid response unit (patrol car with rangers) to cover greater area outside the reserve but they are donor dependent project and cannot do without your help! Please donate, share and spread the message that elephants need help! STOP THE TRADE!

Rapid Response Unit (Mara Elephant Project)
http://www.crowdrise.com/MaraElephantProject

for paypal:
http://www.escapefoundation.org/donate/

Source: Mara Triangle

OLOISUKUT COMMUNITY CONSERVANCY

The Oloisukut Community Conservancy is a 50,000 acre area of community lands which borders the World famous Maasai Mara Game reserve. Oloisukut Conservancy is an intriguing new conservation concept on land-use solely owned and managed by the community members of Oloisukut. 

The area boasts’ a high density and variety of game including the big Five except the Rhino (but plans to introduce them are underway). Over 500 different species of birds have been identified. Some of the common animals’ species are: the Maasai giraffe, Burschell zebra, Klipspringer, Oribi, Waterbucks and the elusive and timid bushbuck. Oloisukut has the highest concentration of Leopards in the Mara per unit area. Currently they have the biggest pride comprising of 18 adult Lions with several cubs.   

Tourism in the Conservancy is highly controlled, a move that is aimed at maximizing the client wilderness experience at the same time minimizing negative environmental impacts. At Oloisukut Conservancy, wildlife is prolific and bird watchers, flora and fauna lovers are richly rewarded thanks to the vegetation cover of the conservancy. For more info on Oloisukut click here.